Pubdate: Sun, 22 Dec 2013
Source: Standard-Speaker (Hazleton, PA)
Copyright: 2013 Associated Press
Contact:  http://www.standardspeaker.com
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1085

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.
- ---
MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom