Rally Protests Suspensions
Dublin Core
Title
Rally Protests Suspensions
Subject
Protest movements--United States
Description
A newspaper article written by Steve Geigerich that discusses protests held by Mary Washington College students over marijuana-use suspensions.
Creator
Geigerich, Steve
Source
Geigerich, Steve. "Rally Protests Suspensions". The Free-Lance Star (Fredericksburg, VA), March 31, 1979.
Publisher
HIST 298, University of Mary Washington
Date
1979-03-31
Rights
The materials in this online collection are held by Special Collections, Simpson Library, University of Mary Washington and are available for educational use. For this purpose only, you may reproduce materials without prior permission on the condition that you provide attribution of the source.
Format
1 JPG
300 dpi
Language
English
Coverage
Fredericksburg, VA
Text Item Type Metadata
Text
With the sounds of Woodstock playing softly in the background nearly 100 Mary Washington College students returned, if only briefly, to the days of meaningful protest yesterday.
On the nicest day of the year so far the students took time out from sunbathing, frisbee-throwing and studying to protest the suspension of four male MWC students arrested for possession of marijuana last week.
While an undercurrent of resentment about the arrests themselves was evident at the hour-long rally, the organizers emphasized the demonstration was held to protest the students' suspension without a hearing.
By suspending the students before they appear in General District Court to face the misdemeanor marijuana charges, the MWC administration found them "guilty before being proven innocent," said speaker Mike Mello.
Arrested in the raid on the Madison Hall dormitory were: William P. Crawford, 19, of Alexandria; Charles W. Houlgrace, 20, of Richmond; Randolph P. Hart, 19, of Morgantown, W. VA.; and a 17-year-old juvenile. A fifth student, Seth F. Schrager, 18, of Alexandria was also arrested and charged with possession of marijuana and possession of smoking equipment, was not suspended.
MWC President Prince B. Woodard was asked to attend yesterday's rally but according to the organizers, declined.
The students said they would present petitions to Woodard on Monday registering an official protest of the suspensions. None of the suspended students, who are barred from campus, could be present yesterday.
Mello said the raid was "unprecedented" in MWC history. One of the students, he noted, was arrested for the possession of 12 marijuana.
Mello challenged the action of the MWC police in conducting the raid on the students' rooms. "It was the first time they could act like real police, make a real search, appear before real judges, and make real arrests. It was a moment in the sun for our keystone cops," he told cheering protesters.
The students' suspensions, coupled with possible court action "smacks of double jeopardy," Mello said.
The protesting students lounged about in bikinis and listened to the speakers over the din of Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young songs which provided the beat to many anti-war protests in the late 60s and early 70s.
Many of the students wore black armbands with NORML (National Organization for the Repeal of Marijuana Laws) buttons attached.
And while the suspensions were the focal point of protest the call for marijuana reform hung heavy over the event.
Rich Ford, an Alexandria attorney who represented the Virginia NORML organization at the rally, questioned whether marijuana possession was the "serious crime: the MWC administration claimed it was in handing out the suspensions.
Noting that 50 million Americans have smoked marijuana, Ford said, "If the administration suspends everyone here that has smoked marijuana, I would guess they'd have a preciously small student body.
"This is a bit a serious crime, it is not. a serious problem, it is simply a choice of a recreational drug," Ford added.
Eric Wooten, a member of the MWC student government who was among the protest's organizers, questioned some of the school's priorities and rules.
Acknowledge that marijuana possession is illegal, Wooten said the MWC administration " condones these keg parties every Saturday night where everybody just gets smashed," yet suspends other students for finding different outlet.
The four students, all freshmen, are expected to be reinstated two weeks after their suspensions took effect.
On the nicest day of the year so far the students took time out from sunbathing, frisbee-throwing and studying to protest the suspension of four male MWC students arrested for possession of marijuana last week.
While an undercurrent of resentment about the arrests themselves was evident at the hour-long rally, the organizers emphasized the demonstration was held to protest the students' suspension without a hearing.
By suspending the students before they appear in General District Court to face the misdemeanor marijuana charges, the MWC administration found them "guilty before being proven innocent," said speaker Mike Mello.
Arrested in the raid on the Madison Hall dormitory were: William P. Crawford, 19, of Alexandria; Charles W. Houlgrace, 20, of Richmond; Randolph P. Hart, 19, of Morgantown, W. VA.; and a 17-year-old juvenile. A fifth student, Seth F. Schrager, 18, of Alexandria was also arrested and charged with possession of marijuana and possession of smoking equipment, was not suspended.
MWC President Prince B. Woodard was asked to attend yesterday's rally but according to the organizers, declined.
The students said they would present petitions to Woodard on Monday registering an official protest of the suspensions. None of the suspended students, who are barred from campus, could be present yesterday.
Mello said the raid was "unprecedented" in MWC history. One of the students, he noted, was arrested for the possession of 12 marijuana.
Mello challenged the action of the MWC police in conducting the raid on the students' rooms. "It was the first time they could act like real police, make a real search, appear before real judges, and make real arrests. It was a moment in the sun for our keystone cops," he told cheering protesters.
The students' suspensions, coupled with possible court action "smacks of double jeopardy," Mello said.
The protesting students lounged about in bikinis and listened to the speakers over the din of Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young songs which provided the beat to many anti-war protests in the late 60s and early 70s.
Many of the students wore black armbands with NORML (National Organization for the Repeal of Marijuana Laws) buttons attached.
And while the suspensions were the focal point of protest the call for marijuana reform hung heavy over the event.
Rich Ford, an Alexandria attorney who represented the Virginia NORML organization at the rally, questioned whether marijuana possession was the "serious crime: the MWC administration claimed it was in handing out the suspensions.
Noting that 50 million Americans have smoked marijuana, Ford said, "If the administration suspends everyone here that has smoked marijuana, I would guess they'd have a preciously small student body.
"This is a bit a serious crime, it is not. a serious problem, it is simply a choice of a recreational drug," Ford added.
Eric Wooten, a member of the MWC student government who was among the protest's organizers, questioned some of the school's priorities and rules.
Acknowledge that marijuana possession is illegal, Wooten said the MWC administration " condones these keg parties every Saturday night where everybody just gets smashed," yet suspends other students for finding different outlet.
The four students, all freshmen, are expected to be reinstated two weeks after their suspensions took effect.
Original Format
newspaper
Contributor of the Digital Item
Huffman, Suzanne
Student Editor of the Digital Item
Williams, Megan
Files
Citation
Geigerich, Steve, “Rally Protests Suspensions,” HIST299, accessed July 12, 2026, https://hist299.umwhistory.org/items/show/81.