The University Court found Student Government President Cody Wells not in violation of the Code of Ethics during Thursday’s UCourt hearing, but requested he issue an “official letter of explanation” regarding May 11’s patriotic assembly and the minority opinions from that day.
Lance Bordelon, a former SG member, filed a complaint against Cody Wells based on his behavior on May 11 and the days following, when Benjamin Haas, communication studies graduate student, planned to burn a flag on the Parade Ground. Bordelon said Wells violated the Code of Ethics.
Wells gained national media attention as he organized a “peaceful assembly” held an hour after Haas was scheduled to burn the flag, and spoke in disdain of Haas’ actions. Bordelon complained Wells breached peace — a violation of the University Student Code of Conduct — by not attempting to control the crowd that threw water balloons and yelled obscenities at Haas.
Well said he never condoned violence and instead encouraged students not to partake in violent activities. He also said the size of the crowd — roughly 1,000 — made it impossible for him or anyone else to control.
Shelby Taylor, who was involved in a heated altercation about Haas’ First Amendment rights on May 11, was a witness for Bordelon and said someone in a position of power — especially Wells — could have controlled the crowd.
As Wells expressed his desire to represent the majority’s voice in a democratic fashion, Taylor said she no longer feels comfortable talking about her opinions that fall in the minority if SG refuses to represent them.
“I no longer feel like my voice is welcome unless I’m speaking with the majority,” Taylor said.
Taylor’s comments incited the need for Wells to issue a letter addressing the minority opinion. Wells said he would be “happy” to write the letter.
Wells said he feels like he represented the student body well and has received hundreds of e-mails from students, administrators and Louisiana residents thanking him for his behavior and statements on May 11.
The hearing also turned into a discussion of whether or not Wells must act as SG president at all times. Bordelon said it was not right for Wells to act as only a student when he organized his peaceful protest, without representing SG as a whole.
Wells responded by saying he can “wear many hats,” meaning if he is on a mission trip for a church group, he speaks as a member of that group, not necessarily as SG president.
Bordelon asked Eric Harper, a witness for Wells, if he recalled a conversation in the SG office the night before the flag burning when Wells allegedly made distasteful comments about Haas. Harper, along with Wells, denied remembering such a conversation or comments, while Bordelon insisted he remembered the conversation.
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