Residents of floor 6-B in Stevenson Towers South were told to return to their rooms during a sleep-out protest because they posed a fire hazard.

At about 11 p.m. Thursday, floor Resident Assistant Paul Sentopadre, two other RAs and a member of the Stevenson South senior staff told between 30 and 35 students that their belongings would be confiscated and write-ups would be given if the students stayed.

The staff said the residents had to move, said resident John Talaber. About 10 residents moved into the floor’s lounge and stayed there.

“Right now I don’t have anything to say because it may make the situation worse,” Sentopadre said.

The students claim the wrong students are getting blamed for floor damage. Most recently, an elevator was sealed with tape and two residents were removed, the students claim.

Resident Matt Masters said the NIU Judicial Office levied harsh actions for minor violations on him just because he lives on 6-B.

“They (the judicial office) brought up the floor damage which had nothing to do with the case,” Masters said.

He received three hours work service and a deferred floor transfer for a recent write-up and two previous write-ups for violating quiet hours, he said.

“They’re (the judicial office) being unfair about all this,” Masters said. “I think they need more tangible proof before they start giving maximum penalties.

“I jaywalk and I get the death penalty,” he said. “It’s like I’m guilty before I’m innocent because I live on floor 6-B.”

However, NIU Judicial Officer Larry Bolles said his staff is investigating the problem to determine “the good guys from the bad guys.

“I strongly suspect students know what’s going on,” Bolles said. He added students claim they are being held accountable for the actions of others, but aren’t revealing names.

Bolles said the office bases its sanctions on students’ previous histories. He has only removed one student from the floor but not because of floor damage, he said.

“The system is fair and consistent with the way we manage our caseload,” said Assistant Judicial Officer Jeanine Pavlik.

Jim Rooney, area coordinator for the Stevenson Towers complex, said residents were warned of removal if damage continued.

He said the two residents removed were in breach of their initial housing contracts, which state the hall has the right to reassign students if they are disruptive and have judicial histories.

In addition to the elevator incident, there were more reports of floor damage and “signs that intimidate the staff,” Rooney said.

“People targeted to move have a substantial judicial record,” Rooney said. “We would have to turn the place into a prison to catch everything that happens.”

However, “I think there is a silent majority that is glad something is happening,” he added.

Willard Draper, assistant director of Student Housing, said his office is looking into the situation but has no names.

But Draper also said his office lets judicial handle the cases.