After 36 students were fined for their alleged participation in campus vandalism, the ACLU decided to get involved.

The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU)  sent UC Santa Cruz officials a letter regarding fines handed to students who allegedly damaged a campus building.

In 2009, Kerr Hall was illegally occupied for three days by a group of students who were allegedly angry about an increase in student fees.

During this time, the building was vandalized, and the damages totaled more than $35,000. Thirty-six students were fined $944 for their alleged involvement.

ACLU cited possible violations of the students’ due process rights, noting they didn’t receive hearings. In addition, it said the university failed to provide students with evidence that linked them to the damage.

In response to ACLU’s letter, Chancellor George Blumenthal refused to drop the fines, but he has agreed that students will be allowed to:

• request hearings for appeal, and
• obtain “access to evidence that may exist against them.”

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Tags: ACLU, campus vandalism, Kerr Hall, UC Santa Cruz