
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: WEDNESDAY, September 21, 1994                   TAG: 9409230022
SECTION: CURRENT                    PAGE: NRV-2   EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY 
SOURCE: By RICK LINDQUIST STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: RADFORD                                 LENGTH: Medium

STUDENTS CLAIM RIGHTS VIOLATION; SOUND OFF TO COMMITTEE

Two Radford University seniors who claim their civil rights were violated by city police have asked the City-University Joint Commission on Public Affairs to intervene to head off similar problems between police and students. Kevin Ponton and Jason Sell - both of Virginia Beach - told the group of Radford University and city representatives Monday that a police officer had no warrant and threatened everyone with arrest when he entered their property without permission and broke up a daylight party Sept. 10 at a Stockton Street residence.

Sell and Ponton and a third person were charged with violating the city's noise ordinance. Ponton said his friend, who had helped organize the invitation-only event, was handcuffed and jailed for impeding a police officer.

"Why was he coming into my property like that, barging his way through?" Ponton asked the commission. The pair, invited to the meeting by City Councilman Bill Yerrick, a university official and commission member, said the party was barely a half-hour old when officer P.R. Tickle arrived. Ponton said they were told later that a neighbor had complained that the loud music was disturbing her cat.

The students estimated that approximately 250 people attended the party, held in a yard between two houses and screened off from public view. They acknowledged that beer was available, but said they had taken steps to ensure against underage drinking.

Deputy Police Chief Jonny Butler, who is a commission member but did not attend Monday's meeting, declined to comment specifically on the incident because Ponton's and Sell's cases don't go to court until next week.

"We don't make it a habit of intruding on the civil rights of anyone," he said, adding that police don't show up unless they believe someone's violating the law.

Butler said if the students think their civil right have been violated or that they were mistreated by police, they should complain formally.

Janet Reeves, the commission's Off-campus Student Council representative, cautioned her colleagues against ignoring the complaint. "The message students are getting is very confusing," she said.

Leah Payne, who monitors Greek activities for the office of the dean of students, said some residences "are more watched" than others. "You've probably attracted attention in the past, and that's probably what happened this time," she told the students.

Commission Chairman Paul Harris, the university's vice president for student affairs, proposed getting both sides together to clear the air.

Yerrick said the commission should not try to pass judgment. "I think we need to make a note of their concerns," he said.

"I really wish we could work together," Sell said.

by CNB