Four Sacramento State students who were given misconduct notices last week are being investigated for their involvement in the April 13-16 overnight sit-in at Sacramento Hall.

Leonard Valdez, director of student conduct, is investigating the students and held a meeting Thursday to talk about the students’ alleged violations, inform them of their rights and discuss the disciplinary process.

As of Friday evening, students were still negotiating an agreement with the conduct officer but no decision was made. The investigation is ongoing and the students will meet with Valdez again. If the investigation yields sufficient evidence, a resolution can be accepted, otherwise a formal hearing will be held.

The misconduct notices received by the students stated they acted in violation of the California Administrative Code policies, including the rules regulating the time, place and manner of individual expression and conduct on campus. The notices stated the students specifically violated the policies about complying with administration or police, and unauthorized camping and lodging.

The “Sac State Four,” as they are referred to on a flier, are junior history major Nora Walker, junior social work major Mildred Garcia Gomez, senior sociology major Amanda Mooers and senior communication studies major Yeimi Lopez.

At the conference with Valdez, the students were not allowed to have a lawyer present, only an adviser.

Last October, Sac State president Alexander Gonzalez banned lawyers from student disciplinary investigations and hearings on an executive order by CSU Chancellor Charles Reed.

“This brings to light the limitations on freedom of expression and the unfair treatment of students because they don’t have due process,” Mooers said.

Prior to the conference with Valdez, students and Sac State Coalition members held a forum in the University Union and marched to Lassen Hall.

Two Sac State Coalition members and two students of the “Sac State Four” spoke at the community forum about the response of administration and police to student protesters.

Students, faculty and staff yelled chants of solidarity and marched in support of the “Sac State Four” as they walked hand-in-hand to their conference with Valdez.

Outside the building, students wore tape on their mouths in silent protest of the allegations brought against Mooers, Lopez, Walker and Gomez. They also held signs that read, “Defending public education is not a crime,” and “Academic sanctions will not silence students.”

The disciplinary action facing the “Sac State Four” was prompted by the sit-in on April 16, when 20 or so students slept in the administration building in protest of budget cuts. Threatened by arrest, the demonstrators were asked to leave by police in riot gear.

Aleksander Pavlovich, junior international relations major, told students, faculty and staff that he was studying in the Academic Information Resource Center early Saturday morning when students at the sit-in were asked to leave.

Pavlovich was approached and asked to leave by police who were shutting down the building because they were worried student demonstrators would vandalize the computers in the building.

Pavlovich said he understands the need for protection but there needs to be a calculated level of force used, especially since the students remained peaceful during the sit-in.

“If you’re going in with a flak jacket and helmet, you’re ready for violence,” Pavlovich said. “I think this was very miscalculated use of force.”

Sac State spokeswoman Kim Nava said San Francisco State police were brought in to help Sac State and Sacramento Police to end the sit-in because of a partnership between the two universities.

“Police know the law and they communicated to the students that they were unlawfully trespassing,” Nava said.

In an update last week, Gonzalez said the policies are written with the safety and health of the entire university community in mind.

Junior sociology major Katherine Solger attended the protesters’ vigil and community forum last week. She said the administration didn’t need to use excessive police and shouldn’t blame the students for staying overnight.

Solger said the allegations should be dropped because the demonstrators were only trying to help other students.

Diana Tumminia, sociology professor, said she is proud of the students.

“These students should be given an award, not discipline, for camping on campus for higher education,” Tumminia said.

Stan Oden, government professor, said the students were exercising their rights and were never told the rules and regulations.

“It was a service to students and (they) shouldn’t be disciplined,” Oden said.