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American Morning

Student Standoff Ends At Penn State

Aired May 03, 2001 - 09:01   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
LEON HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: We're going to begin with a happy ending...

DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: OK.

HARRIS: ... as protest turns to party at Penn State. Students and university officials have reached an agreement to end racial tensions triggered by alleged death threats against African-American students on that campus. It's a story that we covered extensively yesterday.

And let's go back down to our national correspondent Martin Savidge, who is live once again on the campus of Penn State University. He's got the latest -- good morning, Marty.

MARTIN SAVIDGE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning to you, Leon.

And the student protest officially came to an end here at the student union on the campus of Penn State University, a little after 6:00 last night, after an agreement was reached between leaders of the protesters and university heads as well.

It was a four-page document that was essentially signed by both sides amidst a wild celebration on the part of the students. There was a lot of cheers. There was hand-holding. There was hugs. And there was even a few tears.

And, essentially, it is a refined version of a plan that had been put forward a week ago by Penn State. It calls for a bolstered African-American studies program, more tenured professors to teach it, a revitalized and strengthened effort to bring greater diversity to the campus. There will also be diversity training for Penn State staffers.

And incoming freshman will also get seminars to acquaint them with the issues related to diversity and racism. That is the long- term plan. But, of course, there is the short-term issue of security and the death threats that were made against a number of African- American students. The president of the university, Graham Spanier, says that safety now is top priority.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GRAHAM SPANIER, PENN STATE UNIVERSITY PRESIDENT: We will have a safe commencement. The level of security that we will have will be whatever is necessary to guarantee that we have a safe and happy commencement for all of the students and their guests. I want to point out that, while people have had some fear, and that they have felt threatened by anonymous mail that they have received, there has been no violence at this university.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SAVIDGE: Now, Spanier congratulated the students for their tenacity, for their devotion to a cause. Many of the students believe that they won a very great victory, not just for themselves, but for the university as a whole.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's sad that it took so long. It took, like, 200 kids sleeping in the hub for a week, death threats and some dead bodies in order for the administration to do something. But, I mean, it's done now, so -- at least it's done.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'm just absolutely elated. I'm glad that the administration met the needs of the students.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SAVIDGE: Now, even amidst the celebration, there is still some concern because of the death threats that were made. Specifically, one of the last letters, one of the last hate mails to be received, scrawled at the bottom said, "Grad day equals bombs, PSU."

Normally, graduation day, for many students, is one of the happiest days of their lives. No doubt, it is going to be marred by those simple and yet very dangerous words -- Leon.

HARRIS: So, Marty, I assume, though, that even though they've got this agreement, and because of this bomb threat they've got still hanging over them, the university and local police there are going to continue to push this investigation. Have they gotten any closer to finding out, maybe, who wrote the letters at this point?

SAVIDGE: No, they have not -- at least not that they have revealed to the media. And not all of the students have felt safe enough to leave the student union. In fact, there were a number of students that spent another night sleeping inside on the floor in sleeping bags. They say it's for their own safety, that they feel safer in numbers together inside of this particular building -- Leon.

HARRIS: Interesting -- not the happiest of times there in Happy Valley.

Thanks much, Martin Savidge, reporting live this morning from the campus of Penn State University.

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