Three students were arrested on Oct. 15 at McHenry Library by campus police for refusal to disperse, unlawful assembly, disturbing the peace and trespassing, said UC Santa Cruz Police Chief Nader Oweis.
The students were protesting a College Republicans meeting. Brandon Lang, president of the College Republicans, said the incident began at approximately 6:45 p.m. when around five people entered the meeting room.
According to Oweis, library staff attempted to mediate the situation. When they felt they could not diffuse the situation, campus safety officers and UCSC police were called. Law enforcement gave the students a warning to vacate, but three of the four students present at that point refused. Sabina Wildman — Crown College representative for the Student Union Assembly (SUA) — Adam Walker and Miriam Stone were taken into custody and arrested, Oweis said.
“They feel the club being on campus is an act of violence,” said Maya Novak-Herzog, a Democrat and fourth-year student who attended the College Republicans meeting to debate with people who have opposing political views. “I think that right now, people are using the word violence liberally, I think it is time to get real about what is violence.”
Lang approached the SUA asking for disciplinary action for Wildman. The SUA voted not to impeach or sanction Wildman. SUA President Max Jimenez said in an interview Lang’s request was not within the scope of the SUA’s responsibility and the incident is a reflection of a larger discussion of national issues like white supremacy, free speech and freedom to assemble.
“I think personally the best route the SUA can take is to look at the situation [as an] issue [that] is beyond what just happened [at the College Republicans meeting],” Jimenez said
