In an about-face, the University of Pittsburgh yesterday said students can bring legal representation to meetings with campus police to discuss whether charges against the individuals related to anti-G-20 demonstrations should be dropped.

Pitt announced Tuesday that campus police would be willing to meet with students who were arrested in Oakland on charges of failure to disperse or disorderly conduct. Pitt spokesman Robert Hill initially said the students could not have legal representation at the meeting.

The ACLU of Pennsylvania called the restriction "unconstitutional" and said it undermined the students' right to legal counsel.

Yesterday, Mr. Hill said "an attorney may be brought to the meetings." He said nothing in the meetings will be used against students and they will be informed of that when they arrive.

Pitt officials said the offer of campus police meetings is an offshoot of discussions between Pitt and the office of Allegheny County District Attorney Stephen A. Zappala Jr. Pitt has said that based upon those meetings, its police can recommend to the DA whether charges should be dismissed.

Of the 190 people arrested during the summit, 51 were Pitt students.

Mr. Zappala said some students caught up in mass arrests near Pitt's campus last week were "victims of circumstance" and won't be prosecuted. His office had identified at least four students who were mistakenly arrested.

The university said the meetings with campus police are not open to students who were either arrested more than once, face more serious charges or were arrested outside Oakland.

If charges are dropped against students as a result of the meetings, Pitt said it will not pursue campus judicial sanctions.

Told of Pitt's statement yesterday, Witold Walczak, legal director for the ACLU of Pennsylvania, said, "Better late than wrong."

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