The September 29th Movement has hired one of the most recognized civil rights lawyers in Iowa to help represent some members against charges of student misconduct levied by the university.

Maggi Moss, a member of the Parish, Kruidenier, Moss, Dunn, Montgomery Law Firm, will head a team of advisers for the students. The firm agreed to take the case during Thanksgiving break.

The Movement is seeking donations to help pay Moss’ salary.

On Nov. 5, the Movement sponsored a protest in Beardshear Hall without university permission. The university brought charges against various organizers of the event before the All-University Judiciary.

Allan Nosworthy, a charged member of the Movement, said, “This whole situation has been turned into nothing short of a witch hunt. They’re trying to silence students who they feel are trouble-makers.”

Between 20 and 30 Movement members have been charged as recognized organizers of the unauthorized protest. There were 65 organizers present at the event, but Dean of Students Kathleen MacKay charged only a select few who handed in legible name tags.

“Certain professors turned in their name tags and some turned in business cards after the rally, because they wanted to be identified as organizers,” Nosworthy said.

Members of the Movement said they were originally informed by MacKay that they would only be charged with the unauthorized use of a university facility.

“We have been charged with much more,” Nosworthy said.

Along with charges of organizing a meeting in an unauthorized area, Nosworthy said Movement members are charged with refusing to comply with a request to leave and move the activity away from Beardshear Hall, and for disrupting the normal administrative activities in the hall.

Grace Weigel, program coordinator in the Dean of Students’ Office, helps coordinate university judicial proceedings. She said every student may be represented by an adviser, but the adviser cannot “take over” the hearing.

The September 29th Movement made three requests: to have the hearing held collectively with all members of the Movement who are charged, to have the hearing open to the public in a facility large enough to accommodate an audience and to have the hearing scheduled after the Spring 1997 semester begins so members can study for finals.

“We make every effort to adjudicate the case in guidance with the policy,” Weigel said.

Weigel said the fact that the Movement has legal assistance will not affect the process.

Milton McGriff, member of the Movement who has been charged, said the unauthorized rally charge is “bogus.” “I see nothing in the Student Information Handbook that says we can’t have these things,” he said. “We know there have been other unauthorized rallies held,” McGriff said. “This is something we can prove.”