The collection consists of the document "The Case Against James Zarichny." James Zarichny attended Michigan State College (now Michigan State University) and was placed on disciplinary probation for being involved in the American Youth for Democracy (AYD) organization. The AYD had applied to be a recognized student organization but was denied. The members of the organization continued to meet for which they were placed on disciplinary probation when this was discovered by the college. Zarichny was one of the members and as punishment was banned from extra-curricular activities.

Later, he was found to be in contempt of his probation because he continued to be involved in extra-curricular organizations, including the “Ingham County Civil Rights Committee,” which arranged for Communist Party members to speak at the People’s Church in East Lansing. Zarichny contested the decision based on grounds that his civil rights had been violated. MSU responded that Zarichny had violated his probation due to his involvement in extra-curriculars, not his political views. The document in the collection outlines the details of the case.