Five SF State students delivered over 2,000 signed petitions advocating the rights of student free speech and opposing military recruitment on campus to Provost John Gemello on March 18.

Two different sets of the signed petitions were presented by Students Against War members Katrina Yeaw, Billy Caudy, Jason Smith, Kristin Anderson, and International Socialist Organization member Mike Hoffman to Gemello. One petition demands for all disciplinary actions against three students and two student organizations be dropped for their actions during the March 9 and 10 military recruitment protests. The other opposes military recruitment on campus and the Solomon Amendment, which gives the U.S. secretary of defense the right to deny federal funding to universities for not allowing military recruitment. The petitions were signed by people across the country and various SF State students, faculty members and student organizations.

“We are holding this event to show that we are not going away,” said Hoffman.

Hoffman as well as Yeaw and Paradis Esmaeili were all removed from the Cesar Chavez Student Center on March 10 for protesting military recruiters at a job fair. According to Esmaeili and Hoffman, they may face possible disciplinary action such as expulsion. During the science and engineering career fair’s first day, SAW and ISO organized a protest, where approximately 150 students marched from Malcolm X Plaza into Jack Adams Hall. The groups assembled in front of the Air Force and Army Corps of Engineers’ booths. Jack Brewer, the director of the Career Center, filed a complaint against the groups after the Career Center had to refund over $6,000 in registration fees to employer booths.

Nearly 14 members from Students Against War and the International Socialist Organization, as well as ISO advisor and SF State librarian Chris Mays, assembled in front of the administration building to voice their concerns regarding possible disciplinary action against the organizations and three individual student members. Only five of the 14 people in attendance were allowed inside the building.

Gemello accepted the petitions after announcing that President Robert Corrigan is out of the country on business.

“When the president comes back, I will meet with him and personally hand over the petitions,” Gemello said.

The organizations have been under review by the Student Organizations Hearing Panel, and their decision on disciplinary action is expected this week.

According to International Socialist Organization member Hoffman, campus officials have sent mixed messages for the student groups.

“The intentions of the university have not been made clear to us and that’s pretty much the problem,” said Hoffman. “They’re not being up front with the information they have and what exactly they are seeking to do to in terms of disciplining us.

“Silencing us will not end the discontent on campus.”