Miami University

Students arrested following protest

11/12/1998

Oxford police arrested seven Miami University students Wednesday (Nov. 11) on charges of disorderly conduct for blocking Spring Street at U.S. 27 during the second protest in two days to call attention to racism.

None of the students resisted arrest, said Oxford Police Chief Steve Schwein.

The disturbance followed a more than hour-long private meeting between Miami President James C. Garland and Nathaniel Snow, president of the Black Student Action Association. Snow told reporters following the session that "we got some things done."

President Garland agreed, calling the meeting "productive." He said he is willing to continue to talk to students, but added he cannot condone protests that disrupt campus or break the law. Efforts will be made to schedule a second meeting soon, the Miami president said.

Snow presented no demands, Garland said, explaining that the two discussed issues of mutual concern. The Miami president said racial tensions do exist on campus, but are no worse than elsewhere in the nation.

Many people are unaware of the progress the university has made in increasing diversity, said Garland, noting that:

• Minority enrollment has almost doubled in 10 years;
• The number of African American students has increased by 30 percent in three years.
• Miami's graduation rate for African-American students is higher than any other public university in Ohio.