A student walkout originally scheduled for this week was canceled after several student groups withdrew fearing disciplinary action from the university.

The walkout, scheduled for April 20, was organized to rally support for SF State faculty, as well as decreases in class size and an increase in the budget for higher education. The six groups that received the disciplinary letters, Students Against War, Voices for Sexual Freedom, Moviemiento
Estudiantil Chicano de Aztlan, La Raza, the International Socialist Organization, and the Pilipino American Collegiate Endeavor, are all being evaluated after taking part in a March 9 rally to protest
military recruitment on campus.

According to an e-mail by Lauri Owen, office manager for the California Faculty Association, “many student groups feel too reluctant to risk incurring yet more wrath from the gods of SFSU to engage in yet more civil disobedience. Because so many groups pulled out of the walkout, it essentially fell apart.”

According to Brett Smith, chair of the Student Organization Hearing Panel, a complaint was filed against the student organizations after their involvement in the March 9 demonstration. SOHP is currently investigating the complaint regarding the group’s alleged violation of university policy. Smith said a hearing had not yet been scheduled for the groups, but said it could take place very soon.

Smith also was unable to say who filed the complaint against the groups.

If the groups are charged with violating university policy by SOHP, sanctions may be imposed on the groups. According to the Office of Student Programs Leadership Development policies and procedures guide, the sanctions could be anywhere from a letter of warning to revocation of the group’s recognition.

The protest that saw an estimated 150 students march from Malcolm X Plaza to Jack Adams Hall to confront the recruiters was organized by SAW and supported by the remaining five organizations.

“PACE didn’t have any organizers at the event,” said SAW member and biology major Paradis Esmaeili, 18. “But we’re all facing the same disciplinary action.”

Esmaeili, as well as students Katrina Yeaw and Mike Hoffman, received letters stating that they each need to have a confidential meeting with Judicial Affairs Officers Donna Cunningham. According to Esmaeili, her letter stated that Cunningham wanted to meet with her regarding a complaint she received from the chief of campus safety.

Esmaeili said that on March 9, she Yeaw and Hoffman removed from Jack Adams Hall by university police as they attempted to pass out anti-military pamphlets.

“I was physically pushed out,” said Esmaeili.

Calls left for Yeaw and Hoffman were not returned by press time. Cunningham could also not be reached for comment.

Esmaeili said she received notice on April 11 to meet with Cunningham on April 15. Esmaeili could not make the meeting and said she had her lawyer send a letter to Cunningham explaining that.

An April 27 rally is scheduled to support the groups under review. 2004 vice presidential candidate Peter Camejo and former president of the San Francisco board of supervisors Matt Gonzalez are scheduled to attend the event. Civil rights lawyer Lynn Stewart is scheduled to speak.