Hearings Start Today On Sit-In Punishment

The Committee on Rights and Responsibilities begins hearings today to investigate cases of students charged with violations of the Resolution of Rights and Responsibilities during the sit-in at Dean May's office on Nov. 19.

So far the Committee has informed 19 students of charges against them, all arising from complaints originating with May. The first two of these students are scheduled to appear today. Complaints against six more students have been signed by May, but the Committee has not yet mailed letters to these students asking them to appear.

Under the rules of the Committee-set up in September to handle discipline- each case will be heard by a three-member hearing panel made up of two Faculty members and one student. The hearings are closed, but each student may bring a Faculty or student advisor, and call his own witnesses. The hearing panel then reports its findings to the full Committee, which decides what disciplinary measures to impose.

May will probably attend the hearings as a witness, James Q. Wilson, professor of Government and spokesman for the Committee, said yesterday.

Two Violations

Most of the students are charged with two violations: "deliberate interference with academic freedom and freedom of speech" and "obstruction of the normal processes and activities essential to thefunctions of the University community." But a few are charged with "violence against a member or guest of the University community."

The demonstrators were demanding that Harvard promote all painters' helpers to painters and that 20 per cent of laborers on Harvard construction sites be blacks or third-world" workers.

When some of the demonstrators at the sit-in linked arms to prevent May from leaving his office. he warned them that their actions were in violation of the Resolution.