We don’t understand this university anymore.

We used to think the primary concern of Iowa State, and any other university for that matter, was to provide its students with the best possible education. An education not only about books and lectures, but also about life’s experiences with opportunities to learn first-hand how to change and better the world.

But we guess we were wrong.

How can a university, an institution based on academic freedom and freedom of expression, put students on trial for expressing their opinions about a decision the university made?

The students held a protest in November. It was an orderly, non-violent and safe protest, a protest unauthorized by the university. Now they are being punished.

Yesterday, eight of our fellow students were tried by the infamous Office of Judicial Affairs, the university court system that acts in secrecy. This court system refuses to follow the strict set of rules and regulations it so rigidly demands students to obey.

Phrases such as “kangaroo court” and “star-chamber hearings” come to mind.

The university could open the hearings without legal consequences. But according to the Buckley Amendment, which deals with students’ privacy rights, the hearings must be closed in order for the university to receive federal funds.

The students have requested open meetings. However, the university did not deem the charges serious enough to go before the All-University Judiciary, where the hearings would be open.

The OJA claims it is keeping the hearings closed because it is concerned about the students’ privacy. The September 29th Movement, however, claims rampant misuse of the Buckley Amendment.

Apparently money is more important to the university than the interest of the students.

What’s more, we don’t understand how the university reaches verdicts for these students. One of the students who planned and led the march wasn’t convicted of anything, while others who only participated received conduct probations.

It seems the university is trying to keep only the students it deems undesirable quiet. That’s the perception, anyway.

Two of the eight students were tried and found guilty of misconduct charges. The fate of the others will be determined within the next five days. The decision, however, is expected sometime Monday.

Why did the OJA choose to hand down punishment on only two of the eight students?

This all seems like perfect nonsense to us. The university, quite simply, has really botched this one.

Trying to remove these minority leaders from their student leadership positions is, among other things, bad public relations.

This is a gimmie on a PR 101 test: Do you or do you not try to remove the heads of some of the largest minority student groups on campus without a really, really, really good reason?

We say you do not.

The university would be wise to drop the whole issue and forgive the students who participated in the Election Day town meeting.

Editor’s note: The September 29th Movement is paying legal fees for its defense in these hearings. People who wish to contribute to the legal defense fund are asked to contact: Parrish, Kruidenier, Moss, Dunn & Montgomery at 2910 Grand Ave., Des Moines, Iowa 50312; or call (800) 532-1405.