The Hebrew University’s Students Union today denounced a group of leftist students and non-students who occupied the University Senate’s hall yesterday to enforce demands that the University officially condemn police action against a Black Panther demonstration Monday night.
A statement issued by the Student Union’s executive committee said that the group which arrogated itself the right to speak on behalf of the students represents less than ten percent of the student body. The vast majority opposed their methods and their views, the statement said.
About 200 Panther supporters, students and non-students, remained in the Senate hall through the night and were still occupying the premises this morning. A police spokesman told the Jewish Telegraphic Agency that the University authorities so far have not asked for police intervention.
The protesters, followers of the Matzpen and SIAH groups, spent the night debating and passing resolutions. University officials rejected their demand to condemn the police action on grounds that the students and faculty represent many political groupings, each of which is entitled to freedom of expression.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
