Don’t you think these protesters (who went to ND to get publicity) are milking this for all it is worth? Even in Indiana first time misdemeanors don’t result in jail terms. So they were not really facing any peril, even if some publicly stated before going to Indiana that they were going there to get arrested!
So those arrested could have gone on their merry way about a year ago. However, they got publicity-seeking counsel and whined for about a year about the college dropping the charges.
These protesters are not seeking leniency but are seeking to keep the incident alive as long as possible. How often do trespassing cases take a year to be heard?
Beau, this isn’t a popular position here on CAF, but I tend to agree with you. I graduated from ND last year and was active in NDResponse before and during Commencement weekend. My husband (also a graduate) and I chose to attend the peaceful prayer rally and protest at the Grotto instead of the Commencement Exercises at which Obama received his honorary degree. Perhaps the most frustrating part of all of this was that Randall Terry, Alan Keyes, and a few others brought a media circus to campus in the weeks leading up to Commencement that distracted from the thoughtful response originating among those on campus to those events. Most of the media coverage of actual Commencement Day activities just consists of reports of the numbers of arrests, completely ignoring the moving, life-affirming, CATHOLIC witness that had taken place on campus.
“Free the ND88” does strike me as somewhat melodramatic, as no one is in jail currently and it was their decision to pursue actions that could negatively affect their criminal records. All of the individuals who were arrested were welcomed by ND Response and invited to participate in our events, but they chose not to. The stated aim, at least of Terry’s Stop Obama at Notre Dame group, was to “make this thing a circus,” and that has been carried out even in the year since Commencement.
As for the “need for consistency” issue, I do think that is what ND is seeking in this instance. Yes, others have been arrested for trespassing at ND in the past under different circumstances and while protesting other causes, and some of those charges were dropped (I’m not familiar enough with the details as of yet, but I know that at least one of the examples was under a previous administration). The key issue here is that those were different circumstances. It was clearly stated in no uncertain terms that unapproved protesters on campus last May would not be tolerated–especially with the President of the United States on campus, the volatile nature of the issue at hand, and the statements being made by some that their aim was to disrupt the campus community. In some cases, the same individuals came to campus day after day and repeatedly sought arrest, even after being released from jail. That’s different than coming to campus on one occasion, being told their demonstrations are not allowed and facing arrest, and complying with orders not to return. I’m not sure how else people expect the university to have handled this situation.
