Indiana University warns protesters of disruptions

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. — Indiana University is warning that it won’t tolerate protests that disrupt classes or campus events.

The warning follows a protest by members the Occupy Bloomington and Occupy IU groups against a recruitment event by JPMorgan Chase Bank at IU’s business school. Police arrested five protesters who sat blocking the doorway into the bank’s event.

At least one class was called off by Tuesday night’s protest. University spokesman Mark Land says IU supports free speech but that students also have the right to attend class and campus events without being disrupted.

Monroe County Prosecutor Chris Gaal tells The Herald-Times that IU was within its rights to remove the protesters. But he says charges against those arrested have been dropped because the situation didn’t pose a threat to public safety.