The active anti-war student organization Stop the War plans to file a court injunction with the American Civil Liberties Union against UW-Madison, following a disciplinary investigation initiated by The Dean of Students Office. The university took action against Stop the War, claiming inappropriate behavior at a Nov. 2 rally.
The anti-war organization is accused of attempting to vandalize property and intimidation of Military Science personnel.
If any member of the campus community feels a student organization violated the student organizational code, that organization can be investigated for possible punishment.
Stop the War member and UW-Madison junior Bill Anderson said the allegations are ridiculous.
'We couldn't have intimidated people in the military science department because they were behind locked doors and we were outside,' he said.
The Dean of Students Office will meet with Stop the War member and UW-Madison sophomore Paul Pryse, who signed the student government paperwork for the group.
Anderson said it is absurd for Pryse to face disciplinary action from the university because he was near the road'not the building'when the alleged inappropriate behavior occurred.
'This is the latest incident in a whole pattern where we've seen the university trying to intimidate anti-war activists,' Anderson said.
UW-Madison spokesperson John Lucas said the university is not persecuting Stop the War.
'They are not being singled out for any of their actions,' he said. 'They've had a number of activities this fall, and this is the first time there has been an instance of disciplinary action. What they are doing is an accepted part of the campus community.'
Anderson said he spoke with the ACLU approximately a month ago and the ACLU was interested in taking the group's case.
'This was the final straw,' Anderson said. 'I've filed the official paperwork and I hope they will be in contact with me by Monday.'
