Robert Holub, Chancellor University of Massachusetts, Amherst DEAR CHANCELLOR HOLUB, This appeal from the undersigned members of your faculty involves the situation of Jason Vassell who until last February was a student here. After an incident in his dormitory Mr. Vassell was given an ultimatum of immediate expulsion or voluntary withdrawal from the University. The facts are that Mr. Vassell was in his room when this incident begun and never left his dormitory. Furthermore a university building was damaged when two assailants smashed in Mr. Vassell's window and later attacked our student in the vestibule of his residence. Also, the testimony of eyewitnesses strongly suggest that Mr. Vassell was acting in self-defense in response to an unprovoked, violent, racially-motivated attack. Besides which Mr. Vassell's assailants were not students at the University. Because he is threatened with two felony convictions in a still pending case, we fear that the University’s ultimatum to Mr. Vassell will inevitably be seen as too swift, inflexible and, in a legal sense, prejudicial. For these reasons, we the undersigned strongly urge your administration, acting in accordance with principles of simple fairness and the presumption of innocence, to announce the reinstatement of Mr. Vassell as a student in good standing of this University unless and until found guilty by due process of law. With all appropriate respect, UMASS FACULTY CONCERNED FOR JUSTICE

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