<Course>
Lead
An antique dealer, Meryl Pinsoff Platt, was sentenced to jail today with an additional $6000 fine after she pleaded guilty of stealing two sacred masks from the Hopi Indian tribe.
News
Sixty four students from Fairmont University were arrested on Friday after several people were injured during a protest relating to the university’s plan to require a class in cultural diversity.
More than 600 demonstrators from two campus groups, the Students Against Racism and the American Student Organization, gathered inside Fairmont University on Friday during the Board of Regents Meeting. The meeting was supposed to tackle the plan to implement a mandatory cultural diversity class, both for the students and the faculty.
The Students Against Racism participated in the protest in order to show their support to the idea of the mandatory cultural diversity class. On the other hand, the American Student Organization gathered to oppose the implementation of the regent’s plan.
According to University Police Chief Barclay Peterson, the protest got out of hand when the two groups started being too loud and rowdy as they marched towards the Regents Hall.
Peterson added that despite efforts to make the demonstrators go back to the fountain area, their supposed spot, they continued shouting while others began throwing rocks and bottles. Peterson added that they had no other choice but to use force.
On the other hand, the president of Students Against Racism, Jonathan Walterson, insisted that the police officers started the violence. He added that at least 12 members of his group were injured by the police.
Although Police Chief Peterson did not deny his group’s use of batons to push the demonstrators, he stated that the condition at that time required the use of force. Three police officers were also injured during the incident.
Peterson added that they are not against rallies. However, he said that rallies must have the necessary permit from the university and it must not not cause any disturbance to those who are having classes.
Except for a 17-year-old student who was released into his parents’ custody, the other 63 students were charged with trespassing. Twelve of them were also charged with resisting arrest while 15 were charged with assault.
In line with the protests, the regent decided to continue studying the matter relating to the possibility of implementing a mandatory cultural diversity class. They plan to discuss it again on their meeting next month.
Despite the incident, the Students Against Racism and the American Student Organization are both decided to continue with their rallies to stand for their opposing beliefs.
