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MSU suspends 6 Cedar Fest participants

April 9, 2008

The names of the six MSU students suspended for their involvement in the Cedar Fest riot last weekend will not be publicly released, a university official said Wednesday.

“The (university) judicial system deliberations are confidential,” said Lee June, vice president for student affairs and services. “Never, during any part of the process, will names become available.”

A total of 11 students have had their cases submitted for judicial review by MSU police. Seven students’ cases have been reviewed by MSU so far, with six being deemed worthy of suspension.

June said the university took swift action against the six students because they represented “clear and present danger” to the MSU community based upon their actions during the riot, which included throwing objects, starting fires or interfering with police.

The one student whose case was reviewed and wasn’t suspended didn’t meet the “clear and present danger” qualifications, but still could face suspension at the end of the judicial process, June said.

“It’s possible the student could be suspended later, as well as additional students we haven’t currently reviewed,” he said.

June said the students were notified by 8 a.m. Wednesday of their interim suspensions. As of Wednesday afternoon, he wasn’t aware of any appeals.

Interim suspensions have no bearing on the final outcome of the judicial process, June said, adding that there is no predicted timetable for how long the judicial process could take.

As per the judicial policies set by Student Life, a student facing interim suspension can appeal to have the suspension lifted until the judicial process is final.

Once an appeal has been made, the university must grant a student a hearing to decide whether the interim suspension is to be lifted within five days, June said.

“I won’t speculate about these particular students, but in the past, people have tended to appeal disciplinary proceedings,” he said.

MSU spokesman Terry Denbow said the university wanted to make a quick, effective statement that actions have consequences.

“We want to make sure those that were perpetrators were addressed and most that might carry a stigma are cleared in the public’s mind, because most people out there behaved appropriately,” he said.

MSU Trustee George Perles said trustees would be discussing the riot at their next meeting April 18.

This riot was particularly disturbing to Perles, he said, because students weren’t celebrating or protesting an event or action.

“This is something that seems premeditated,” he said. “They were going to have a riot no matter what, and now the consequences will be paid by all parties involved.”

Denbow said MSU officials are anxious to put the events of the riot behind them, but they aren’t going to rush through proceedings at the expense of the accused students.

“It has to be swift, but can’t be precipitous,” he said.

“Most importantly, it has to be fair. It’s not about, ‘Hurry up and send a signal.’ It’s about sending a signal, to be sure, but a signal to those very, very few that need to receive it.”

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