College Students Protest Cancellation of Concert

More than 150 Occidental College students staged a daylong sit-in Thursday at the Eagle Rock campus after administrators canceled a free rap concert and graffiti art show organized by student minority groups and fraternities.

Eleven student groups and several community activists had invited high school students throughout Los Angeles to the college’s outdoor amphitheater Friday night to hear four rap groups, watch graffiti artists doing demonstrations and visit information tables set up by ethnic organizations.

Dean of Students Brigida Knauer on Tuesday canceled the concert, saying she was concerned about potential gang fights and lack of security. Knauer said she initially approved the event, but changed her mind after learning that many more high school students had been invited than was expected.