Participants in M. I. T. Occupation Stand Before District Court Today

The trial of 29 people who participated in the Jan. 15 occupation of the president's office at M. I. T. will begin in Third District Court today at 9:30 a.m.

Each defendant has been charged with two counts of criminal trespass resulting from participation in a two-day occupation protesting the expulsion of the student body president and the continuance of war research on campus. If convicted, each faces a penalty of up to 30 days in jail and a $100 fine.

In addition, two are charged with disrupting classes and one with assault and battery. The 16 defendants who are M. I. T. students also face disciplinary action from their college.

Lewis Kampf. a professor of Humanities at M. I. T. charged with trespass, said yesterday that the trial would be "educational for those under the illusion that M. I. T. has room for everybody." He denied that he was guilty since "there were hundreds" of other faculty members in the building at one time or another. "They just decided for obvious reasons to pick on me," added Kampf, who has been active in other student protests. Others charged include Michael Ansara '68. Miles Rapoport '70 and Robin Hahnel '68.

Students and faculty members had broken into the office of M. I. T. president Howard Johnson to demand amnesty for four students disciplined in December for their role in the November Action Committee demonstrations.

A defendant who wished to remain annonymous said yesterday that he regretted the occupation of the office, but felt it was a case of "justifiable trespass" since "we have tried all other recourse at M. I. T. and they didn't work."

"We may be found guilty." he added, "But we think the movement will continue to grow at M. I. T."