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TheS pECT^IIM State University of New York at Buffalo Vol. 20, No. 55 Wadnoday, February 18,1970 ROTC trial: prosecution begins case by Bill Vaccaro the October incident. During cross-examination, Dean Welch said that “ROTC must be valuable to its end” but he didn’t know the function of ROTC because he had never served in the armed forces. ‘Stop the war’ During cross-examination, he replied that he brought a camera because he was warned in advance of the incident and because they were to record a close-order drill. To questioning he said that the demonstrators “insulted them (the ROTC cadets) by their presence on the field.” Dr. Fleming told eht court that the demonstrators circled around chanting anti ROTC slogans like Stop ROTC - Stop the war. Contributing Editor Despite repeated attempts of defense sympathizers to discredit the proceedings, the prosecution introduced its first witnesses as a chaotic and, at times, contradictory Student Judiciary “ROTC Dance” trial began Monday night. During Dean Welch’s interrogation, Amos Porges, who identified himself as the person responsible for attempting to get the dance course as a Bulletin Board course, leaped to the lecturn to argue with Student Judiciary Chairman Yigal Joseph. The nine defendants are Barbara Morrison, Peggy Driairsh, Lawrence Gamer, David Weiss, Robert Mattem, Donald Sullivan, Terry Keegan, Peter Rubin and Arnie Stanton. Walks out “The drill was going on and the outside formation broke up. The demonstrators moved in the cadet ranks, sometimes countermarching, still chanting and taunting,” he continued. They are charged with the violation of various University rules and regulations stemming from the “Revolutionary Dance 101” demonstration which resulted in the alleged disruption of an AFROTC drill Oct. 28. Violations When Mr. Joseph overruled him he tossed his microphone back to the defense table in disgust and walked out of the improvised courtroom. He said that “1 don’t think there was no question about it” that the drill was disrupted. During cross-examination, he replied that he was told about the demonstration from Assistant Advocate Ronald Stein, adding, “There was no violence at the demonstration. None whatsoever.” “It looked like mass chaos,” Mr. Stein said during his testimony as he identified Mr. Stanton as one of the participants in the demonstration. After the incident, Dean Welch said that from his point of view “1 feel that in its present form ROTC should be removed from the campus. He pointed out under questioning that “there was not consultation with the student bodies” on whether ROTC should be accredited on campus. He added that ROTC is prohibited from using guns on campus because of recent state legislation progibiting the use of firearms. The prosecution brought Thomas E. Connelly; outgoing vice-chairman of the Faculty Senate, to the stand. He established the existance of Aerospace Studies as a legitimate course and later described during cross-examination the procedures for the removal of a course such as ROTC. These were Section 1.45 Disruption: Intentionally interfering with University activities and obstructing University activities. Section 1.50 Unauthorized Entry: Knowingly, recklessly or negligently entering into any University facility without authority. Section 2.10 Picketing and Demonstrations; Jeopardizing public order or safety and interfering by mingling with the University’s programs; interfering by mingling with organized meetings or other assemblies for the purpose of harrassment; obstructing or physically interferring with the integrity of the classroom. Maj. Gerald H. Tonnell said that Mr. Stanton “was vocally leading the group with chants like “Stop the war ) Stop ROTC” and that Mr. Keegan was “milling around and disrupting the students.” He testified that he found it impossible to continue the drill after it was disrupted. In his opening statement, defense counsel Jerry Levy told the student court that “we’re on trial tonight because we have taken a stand” for self-determination. “The real criminal is across the room,” he said, referring to University Advocate Robert B. Fleming who pressed charges against the defendants. ‘‘We have come prepared to educate together. We will wave our flag until the people and the people of this University rise up behind that flag,” he continued. Demming testifies Athletic Director Robert Demming testified that ROTC had, to his knowledge, the authority to utilize the field in front of Clark Gym as a drill field. He told the court that there was no notice that the field was going to be used on Oct. 28, but pointed out that ROTC has exclusive use of that field at that time. ‘Someone with a bullhorn' Maj. Robert K. Garwood, Director of Aerospace Studies, said “We had a disruption of our drill. A group of people came from the direction of Diefendorf. . . led by someone with a bullhorn, marched through our ranks and disrupted our drill.” Henrik Dullea, an Assistant to the President of the University, testified that he was at the drill field that day in official capacity. He said that he was asked by a professor conducting the drill to ask the demonstrators to stop but was unable to do so. Amid shouts of“Seig Heil,” from the audience, Maj. stand. He testified that he saw a group of about 75 or 80 people approach the field as the drill began. He said that 80 people approach the field as the drill began. He said that “they interfered and disrupted our class by excessive noise and chanting. It was impossible to hear any of the instructions.” The prosecution introduced into evidence pictures taken at the time of the incident. Maj. Kasanjian identified Arnie Stanton as the person in the photos with the bullhorn. As the audience then rose to applaud him, Mr. Jospeh jokingly said, “Would you please save the applause for later?” The major also identified Mr. Cohen, Mr. Keegan and Mr. Rubin as co-disruptors. Contempt for court Mr Mattem, who is also counselling for the defense, said that there was no longer any possibility of dialogue and stated: “1 personally stand in contempt of this court.” He told the court that at that time the instructor found it impossible to continue and called off the class. Prosecution counsel Jeff White said in his opening statement that the Advocate’s office would prove that the defendants were guilty as charged by proving that ROTC is an authorized University activity, the drill field is an authorized University facility and that there was a disruption. Claude Welch, dean of the Division for Undergraduate Studies, testified that Aerospace Studies was an accredited course at the time of Maj. Mark Costello, who assisted the class at the time of the disturbance, said the disruption occured as “we were getting under way. The fact that it was very difficult to hear\ made it impossible to continue, he said. He said that all disruptoins of ROTC classes are reported to Maxwell Air Force Base and pointed out that in his view such disruptions “could effectively cripple ROTC.”
