Innocent on Riot Charge

w _o A.- - -u4 1 - - FRIDAY, OCTOBER 30.n1970PStonyBoN.Y. VOLUME 14 NUMBER 12 STONY BROOK, N.Y. - Innocent on Riot Charge A six-person jury in Suffolk County District Court at quitted Ira Wechsler, Wednesday, of one of two charges stemming from a demonstration in May, 1969, following a narcotics raid. The court's judge cimissed a third charge. Ia Wechsler, a senior, originally faced charges of criminal mischief, criminal tampering, and second degree riot by a Suffolk County Grand Jury, which accused him of setting fire to a campus security car and stoning the security building. Having been charged by Judge Peter M. Nucci to find the defendant guilty if he had acted with intent to create an inconvenience for a person by doing certain acts, the trial jury convicted Wechsler of criminal tampering, but found him innocent on the mischief charge. Jury Selected Attorneys for both the prosecution and defense used three preemptory challenges allowed to them in selecting the jury, as well as dismissing some prospective jurors because of beliefs they expressed during questioning. One man, who said he worked for the U.S. Customs House, was dropped from the panel after he said he saw results of the building being bombed and went through a bomb scare "once or twice a week." Another prospective juror was dropped for cause when he said he believed a self-avowed Communist would not tell the truth as a witness. The district attorney asked one man to be discharged from the jury panel after he told Robert Reiter, one of Wechsler's two long-haired attorneys, "You look like my daughter's boy-friend." All jurors were asked if they had ever heard of SDS or Students for a Democratic Society. All said they had heard of the name by reading about the group in the newspapers, but knew little about the group or its goals. One of the jurors said, "There's so much of that stuff in the papers, T don't even bother with it." Five for The People The People callet( fiver witnesses, two of whom were students at the time of th« incident, University housing director Robert Chason. chief of campus security Richard Walsh, and institutional safety officer John Draskin. The students placed Wechsler at the scene, in the security parking lot, and indicated that they were able to see his face at times, from a ANNOYING: Bomb threats have become a nuisance 'to a memuw uan mem..r«nr»y .UMw..»niiy, distance of up to 100 feet. They also mentioned seeing a cloth-like causing the disruption of classes. ho by M A substance in his hand, but could not indicate what he was doing with it. In testimony by Chief Walsh and Lieutenant Draskin, both officers stated that the parking field was dimly lit, and therefore were not able to recognize any persons in the area. as wen as other witnesses, were unable to connect Throa Chason, Wechsler to stoning the security building, although Chason noted By KEN GARTNER engineering building the buildings all received th wreats, as that Wechsler had an object in his hand, but it was too dark outside Campus police report the Lecture Center, the Humanities did Douglass College aand the to see what it was. clearing of approximately 43 building, the Stony Brook Humanities buildingg was Riot Dismissed buildings this week as the result Union; and the Social Sciences threatened three times. On a motion by the defense after the prosecution rested, Judge of bomb threats, and a buildings received threats of Over 60 Threats Nucci dismissed the charge of riot, citing insufficient evidence. continued high rate of vandalism bombs, according to University Wechsler is being held in jail for sentencing for these and other and theft. police. According to UIniversity o l ic e h ie f R ic h a r d WJ. charges on November 20. Thursday morning, both Wednesday, the Stony Brook P C Walsh, a s o f T h u r d a y a f t e r n in a total Union, the heavy engineering s ool o f o v e 6 0 b o m b t h r e ait hadi building, the Earth and Space r w , campus Sciences building, the Lecture been called in affecting m o r t h a n 815 times Group Studies Activity Fee; Center, and Tabler cafeteria buildings e s nc e t h e of the were evacuated. The Humanities i beginning o n and Social Sciences building had m th- to be cleared three times each Security reports its routine Reports to Trustees in Dec. that day.A.^ AiwjsII.V+"j +fA .. ZUEKer absrupwt aby an On Tuesday, according to estimated 4,000 calls daiily from By MAUREEN SHERR been diverted by methods and Security, the Stony Brook students inquiring on iwhether dedicated Active Student Affairs Committee was organized at for purposes of groups Union, and the Physics, Social. their particular class hi,as been An to destruction, violence and Sciences, Biology, and Gym "bombed out." a recent meeting of the Student Association of the State anarchy on the campuses of University of New York to decide upon a voluntary or universities and colleges of our state." mandatory Student Activities Fee, according to Polity The eight-member panel President Vincent Montalbano. stated that university committee for Investigation of to Offer $500 Reward 4-Man Committee administers should "cease the student activities fee withold grades or transcripts for The Committee is composed government have (presently mandatory at all failure to pay student activities The administration and student of Jim O'Rourke of SUNY centers) Montalbano will f-es and student referendums united in an effort to discourage bomb threats on Binghamton, Jack Frolich and reward 'for be directing his efforts toward should be held at all branches to campus by jointly offering a $500 Vincent Montalbano of Stony convktion of anyone an amiable solution. The decide whether the fee should be information leading to the Brook, and John Charles, on this campus,'f committee is to report to a voluntary." responsible for a bomb threat student vice president of Wednesday. Board of Trustees meeting in $70 Limit according to a statement released Buffalo . Becau seu of An Affront December. The student activities fee was Montalbano's involvement in the The statement, co-signed by University Vice-President Fee Causes Unrest? voluntary state-wide until 1968. Active Student Affairs Alexander Pond and Student Polity President Vincent- The New York State Panel on The SUNY Board of Trustees T. committee, and his appointment Montalbano, condemned the bomb threats as "an Campus Unrest has called for an stated that the University could the Chancellor's special academic community." to end to the mandatory student impose a mandatory fee of up to affront to the entire : threats) have caused senseless, activity fee on State University $70 to be used for social, "They (the bomb of University functions, and campuses. The temporary cultural, educational and wanton disruption for both the members and the commission based its recreational purposes. However, exhibited a total disregard Inside community. Such acts cannot be recommendation partially on the failure to pay the fee by some values of the campus premise that requiring students students caused a funding tolerated." to the statement, along with Statesman to pay the fee is "an irritant and problem, leading to a The action, according is aimed at bringing the rash of bomb underlying contributory cause to campus-wide referendum of "other steps," a halt. Just what these "other steps" are was campus unrest." students. They voted to make scares to not specified. Nixon Stoned The suit brought against the fee mandatory. See page 2 Criminal Offense SUNY Albany and the Board of Recent Directive The calling in of a bomb scare, warned the statement, Trustees by two Albany State A recent directive from the Almost Dies is a criminal offense under state and federal laws. Dead Concert challenging the use of Trustees made the disbursement See page 3 students Conviction on such an offense can bring a maximum money for political purposes, of the fee, previously controlled penalty of five years in prison and a $5000 fine. solely by student organizations, Arthur Levitt concerning the The University is taking "every step possible" to bring Courtroom Drama - The subject to administrative review. spending of student Activity's about the prosecution of those involved in these acts "to Young Lawyers Attempting to bolster student I funds were also mentioned as the full extent provided by law and University, See page 7 activity monies in order to make reasons to end the mandatory regulation." Anyone who has any information the fee voluntary, students are fee. concerning the bomb scares is directed to call the- Fricke to See NCAA Funds Diverted trying to institute student See page 12 I Campus Security office at 246-3333. The resolution stated, "It is cooperatives to run some have student enterprises. I reported that student funds - m October 30, 1970 STATESMAN New Chairman ixon Stonedin Calif Polity Picks S-in Jost', Calif .,Oct. 29. Reuter Ronald L. Ziegler, said the --- Angry demonstrators pelted President reported feeling To Govern Student Election President Nixon's Motorcade something fly by his head before on the referendum, will take rocks. eggs and other he entered his car. A secret By JAN WOLITZKY vith place from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. on tonight as the President service agent told Nixon it was a The Polity student council missiles Wednesday. Run-offs, if from a campaign small rock.

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