UC Berkeley has decided not to pursue action against students involved in protests against budget cuts which took place at Cal in November and December last year, and involved the occupation of Wheeler Hall.
In a memo distributed yesterday to the campus, the university stated: “We have decided not to pursue student conduct actions against students involved in activities during Live Week on the morning of December 11. Given the genuine confusion on the part of some students regarding dispersal orders, we understand the need to continue our efforts to educate faculty, staff, and students on specific campus policies so that individuals can make more informed decisions about actions governed by the Code of Student Conduct.”
The university had threatened to suspend students and make many of them write academic papers concerning their role in the occupation of Wheeler Hall. Police arrested 61 protesters at Wheeler Hall on December 11.
Journalism student Josh Wolf is facing a seven-month suspension from UC Berkeley for being in Wheeler Hall when it was occupied.
A group of Cal students began a hunger strike yesterday on campus to protest a number of issues, among them a call that the university drop disciplinary charges against protesters from the occupation of Wheeler Hall.
Clarification: The university’s decision relates purely to those who were protesting on December 11.
Update: Reader Icarus writes in to say that there are still over 50 students facing charges, and that the first conduct hearing is set for tomorrow at 3 pm.
