March 28, 1995
Jason "Quddus" Archie will not be returning to SF State this spring, instead he will spend the remainder of this semester and most of the summer behind bars.
During a parole revocation hearing Thursday, March 23, Archie, an Associated Students legislator and black studies major, was returned to custody for six months, said Miriam Joscelyn, acting assistant regional administrator for the Department of Corrections. She said the term included the time Archie has spent in prison awaiting the hearing.
Archie is scheduled to be released Aug. 21, said Liz Tanaka, media coordinator for the Board of Prison Terms. Tanaka added that Archie is not eligible for work time reductions and his term cannot be shortened.
"I can't believe it," said AS President Cristina Lopez. "I think [the sentence] was very unjustified. If the administration and faculty were more willing to work with the students, to establish a working relationship with the students, this issue wouldn't have been taken out of proportion.
"The University Police need to be educated to the university's policies in regards to student grievances," she added.
Archie, 26, was arrested on a parole violation Feb. 21 five days after a verbal confrontation with an English lecturer during class. The lecturer took steps to resolve the conflict through university procedures, but also notified the UPD.
Detective Ron Lam of the UPD notified Archie's parole agent, James Quen.
Archie was on parole for a 1987 conviction of voluntary manslaughter in which a man died from a stab wound to the head.
During the hearing in which the legal burden of proof is less than in a court of law, Joscelyn said, "just cause to return Archie to prison was found in three areas: threatening another, disturbing the peace and assault and battery without serious injury."
"I didn't see any of those things in the report," said Tharon Weighill, a former member of Student Kouncil of Inter-Tribal Nations.
Weighill, who said Archie has authorized him to speak on his behalf, likened Archie's arrest and sentencing to that of a political prisoner.
"The U.S. is eager to go into Central America and other nations on behalf of political prisoners, but we have political prisoners here too, and nothing is done. What does that say about our system here?" he said.
According to the Board of Prison Terms, only Quen, Lam and Archie testified during the hearing. No legal representation or family members are allowed in revocation hearings, unless the defendant is determined to be mentally incompetent.
The Golden Gater was not able to gain access to the hearing and transcripts are not yet available.
"If he's not satisfied (with the six-month term) he can request an administrative (internal) appeal," Tanaka said. "After that he can file an appeal with the courts."
It is not yet known where Archie will serve his time, said Joscelyn. Depending on a variety of factors, including his original crime and the circumstances of his recent arrest, he will be classified to determine which institute he will stay in. That process could take 30 days, she said.
UPD Chief Kim Wible's response to all questions concerning Archie's hearing was, "No comment."
SF State director of public affairs, Ligeia Polidora: "No comment."
"It's ironic that the university administration tries to say they're here for the students, but they're not willing to take a position on an issue like this," Lopez said.