WATERVILLE -- Hundreds of Colby College students staged a sit-in Tuesday to protest what they said was excessive force used by law enforcement officers in arresting three students on Easter morning.

The crowd gathered in front of Miller Library at noon, with many wearing red clothing to signify blood shed by at least one of those arrested. Students carried signs that said "Would this Happen to a White Student?" and "Define Student Rights," among others.

"We're all outraged by the events of this weekend," said Spencer Crim, 21, a senior.

Crim was one of about a dozen students who spoke about the arrests Sunday of students Jacob Roundtree, 21, of St. Albans, N.Y., and Ozzy Ramirez, 22, of Bronx, N.Y., who both were charged with assault and criminal trespass.

Police say the students were charged after they tried to interfere with the medical assessment of a student who reportedly was ill in the Pugh Center on campus after a dance.

Later Sunday, Michael Talarico, 21, of Arlington, Mass., was arrested and charged with disorderly conduct in a separate campus incident.

Tuesday was the first time students spoke publicly about what they witnessed Sunday. They criticized the college administration, the Morning Sentinel and police for what they called one-sided reports of the arrests that favored campus security and police.

They also called for a number of actions, including scrutiny of campus security protocol, suspension of the campus security officers involved, expunging the arrested students' records and an apology to the student body from Colby President William "Bro" Adams, the dean's office, and security officials.

Crim said students are committed to resolving the issue by May 8, the end of classes.

"Our move for action and change will not end on that date," he said.

One by one, students stood before a microphone to describe what they saw and experienced Sunday as students were leaving a dance held in Page Commons in Cotter Union.

Colby and police had reported that when the security officer could not rouse the student who was ill, the officer called for the Colby Emergency Response team. That team is made up of volunteer students trained as basic-level emergency medical technicians. Police say Ramirez and Roundtree tried to interfere with the team and security officials.

But, according to students, security officers used excessive force to restrain Ramirez and then Roundtree, who came on the scene and wanted to know why security officials were questioning a student who was not ill, but merely sleeping. The student ultimately was taken to the campus infirmary, where he spent the night, according to police.

"He was conscious," said junior Yanica Faustin, 20, of the student whom police said was incapacitated. "He was talking to his friends. He spelled out his name. He was very coherent."

Faustin said after Tuesday's speeches that she had just left the dance Sunday when she saw security officers on the floor, restraining Ramirez. From that point on, she said, everything seemed to escalate and she was confused as to what was going on and tried to get answers but could not.

"I felt scared, not safe, and helpless," she said.

Officers then restrained Roundtree and an officer sprayed him with Mace, even though Roundtree said he was not resisting police, according to Faustin.

She said she hopes for accountability on the part of those who she believes acted wrongly in the incident.

"I hope that the administration can work together with the student body to create a greater and safer sense of community here at Colby between administration and students," she said. "We need support from not only the Colby community, but communities outside of our community, for the injustices that we have found on this campus."

Some students said they felt threatened when officers told them to leave the Pugh Center or be arrested following the incident.

Ramirez and Roundtree did not respond to requests for comments; Faustin said they have been advised by legal counsel not to talk.

But junior Elizabeth Beltran, 21, said she was acting as a spokeswoman for Ramirez, whom she said is 5 feet, 8 inches tall, weighs 150 pounds and poses a threat to no one. She said after the sit-in Tuesday that she did not witness Sunday's arrests but Ramirez told her that he approached security officials in the Pugh Center because he wanted to know what was happening with his friend, whom they were questioning.

Beltran said she and Ramirez started drinking alcohol at 11 p.m. Saturday and the arrests occurred around 1:30 a.m.

"He was tired; he was definitely not as drunk as he was in the beginning of the night, and he was concerned for his friend," Beltran said.

She said Ramirez' nose bled onto the floor while he was being restrained and his face was swollen afterward, but no medical attention was offered either to him or to Roundtree. She said Ramirez has not been to a doctor.

"He had bruises all over his arms," she said.

She said Ramirez has been painted in news reports as a belligerent drunk, but that is not the case. He is a senior who has worked hard with college administrators to bring prospective students to campus, and he plans to graduate next month and pursue a teaching career but could have a hard time getting a job with an arrest record.

"He's just not that person people are making him out to be," she said.

Beltran's roommate, junior Amanda Wolin, 20, said she asked the student who security officers thought was ill whether he was all right, and he said he was.

"He said, 'I'm OK; I'm tired.' He had had a little bit to drink but he was fine."

Students Tuesday were asking for donations to help with legal fees for those arrested. Wolin said she wants security officers involved to be suspended until the investigation is complete.

"There has been some blame put on the law enforcement, but myself, I blame security because by the time law enforcement got there, they were already on the floor."

Amy Calder -- 861-9247

acalder@centralmaine.com