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STUDENTS SUE OVER SEARCHES

HARRISBURG ( AP ) - Six current and former Bucknell University students claim in a federal lawsuit that searches of a fraternity and another campus residential building early last year violated constitutional protections against unreasonable search and seizure.

Mechanicsburg attorney Devon Jacob said Friday a housing agreement the students signed did not permit searches of that kind.

Bucknell, he said, is "saying that that signature waives their constitutional rights, and it doesn't.  The case law's clear on that."

The lawsuit says the February 2012 searches by university police and personnel from two local sheriff 's offices turned up a small amount of marijuana and smoking paraphernalia, although the university said LSD and synthetic marijuana also were recovered.  Some students were disciplined.

The lawsuit says someone involved with the search pulled fire alarms at Kappa Sigma Alphi Pi and the other building.  After the students exited the buildings, their personal effects were searched for about three hours with the help of two dogs.