tl19721201-000 "towerlight Volume XXVI, No. 12 photo by Buddy Rehrey SOLIDARITY FOREVER- Arrested student Bill Bleich makes fist of solidarity as security officer Bob Baeuerle escorts him to waiting bus. Three others were arrested after the group took over the TSC switchboard Monday. Towson State College SDS action: December 1, 1972 Towson, Maryland 21204 Four students arrested during protests of Southern U deaths by Susan DeBolt Four Towson students were arrested during a flurry of activities which resulted after the shooting of two students at Southern University in Baton Rouge, two weeks ago. According to one SDS member the activities were designed to endorse the Southern students demands, but at the same time rally support for the Towson organizations' demands. Highlights of the activities included a take-over of the campus switchboard November 27, the digging of two graves between Linthicum and Smith Halls November 20, and a sit-in at President Fisher's office the same day. ""The purpose is to destroy racism here and everywhere it exists,"" explained one SDS member. Switchboard take-over Students entered the Audit discussions initiated State auditors met with college officials Monday for a preliminary discussion of their SGA audit findings. The audit report is the result of an eight week investigation into alleged mismanagement of certain funds. The investigation looked into all SGA records, receipts and fiscal practices, with special emphasized on concert proceeds of last year. Recommendations of the auditors will be made to SGA officials and then released to the public. Present at the meeting were Robert Phillips and William Lambros, state auditors; two members of the Maryland State Police; Security Director Gene Dawson; Jesse Harris, SGA President; and Wayne Schelle and Richard Gillespie, vice-presidents of Towson State College. Schelle said the meeting was held to review and discuss the auditors' findings and recommendations. He could not, however, make those findings public at this time. After further discussions, audit findings and specific recommendations will be released. This is expected to take place before the end of the semester. Another meeting of those involved was scheduled to take place this morning. Senator quits in protest move by Sylvia Weaver Sonny Gadsden resigned as SGA Senator ""in stern protest of Dr. Fisher's apathetic attitude regarding the Southern University incident"" Tuesday, November 28 at the Senate meeting. Gadsden openly criticized the SGA for not accomplishing anything outside their own affairs and should be actively involved in more political issues rather than social. ""SGA Senate is non-existent in cohesiveness and student involvement. Senate should be a leader, not a follower,"" stated Gadsden. He continued that it was pertinent to be concerned about students and the Southern University slayings were disregarded as were the six demands presented by the SDS to President Fisher. Senator Robert Ryan felt that ""jumping on the bandwagon"" after group causes is not relevant. Senator Robert Leatherwood said that ""Sonny Gadsden's resignation is a cop-out"" in place of his real feelings. Leatherwood said that although the majority of TSC students sympathized with the slayings, they would not actively participate in a stand or moratorium. He stated, ""It is not the duty of Senate to override the majority of students' opinions."" Vice-President Craig Schloer suggested that this situation called for a proper debate. A special order of business was called with the purpose to consider the Southern University crisis and Fisher's stand. Attempting to discuss all six SDS demands, Senate decided to hold a special meeting Thursday, November 30, at 4:00 pm. President Fisher expressed regret and surprise at the report that some criticism had been raised at the senate meeting of the official mourning period declared as a result of the deaths at Southern University last Monday. He said he was ""troubled and saddened that no one had attempted to register the complaint sooner."" However, he added that ""the tragedy continues to warrant the serious concern of our community"" and that further comments by him would be inappropriate at this time. switchboard office and ejected three operators Monday at noon. According to college officials, there was no damage and no injuries. SDS members debated whether or not to take over Stephens Hall, but decided against it. Bill Bleich, Sean Flannery, Pat Messina and Susan Cohen were arrested and charged with disrupting campus activities. They were released on $200 bail that night from the county jail. Hearings will be January 25 in the Baltimore County District Court. Threatened arrests According to John Young of the SDS, Associate Dean of Student Academic Affairs Thomas Knox told them that warrants would be issued for their arrest if the students did not fill in the graves. Monday, November 20, Young said that Director of Orientation and Student Activities Mary Viernstein came out later and asked the students how long they wanted to leave the graves and okayed the proposition until Monday, November 27. Director of Security and Safety Gene Dawson said that he only sent one security officer over to the grave site and his purpose was to caution the students to the under ground cable. The graves were filled in Monday. SDS demands After a rally in front of Linthicum Hall where Towson representatives to the New Orleans strike meeting spoke, students marched to the Administration Building and presented Presidnet Fisher with the following demands: 1. Military recruiters off campus; 2. The administration appoint a commission to overview all texts which have been charged as racist; 3. The administration shall immediately install a sickle-cell anemia testing center and gynecology clink in the health center; 4. all campus security be disarmed; 5. All racist firings and racist or sexist pay differentials shall cease; and 6. no non-union lettuce shall be used on campus. Fisher said, ""I will not respond to a condition of intimidation."" In the course of the meeting, he explained why some of the demands would not be met. Recruiters will be allowed on campus. The SDS referred to the military as the worst racists. Fisher said that he would call on outside authority if a confrontation erupted between the SDS and recruiters. Racist texts There is a ""thin line between banning books and eliminating racist texts,"" Fisher said in response to the second demand. He explained that he would ""be the last one to ban texts."" Although there are limited areas of health service on campus, there are readily available outside services (Continued to Page 7) SGA Senator Sonny Gadsden protest to the Senate's lack of action on political issues. photo by Jud Almond resigned his position Tuesday in "
