Collins Phillips, leader of the Student Equality Commission and chief organizer of this past semester’s Confederate flag protests, exited Johnston Hall on Monday afternoon and announced to a crowd of about 100 supporters that the recent charges against him had been dropped.
Students, faculty and administrators, some holding signs saying “Free CP3” for Collins Phillips III, gave speeches to rally support while they waited for the verdict.
When Phillips left his disciplinary hearing, the crowd greeted him with congratulations and cheers for his triumph over the recent allegations that Phillips had violated the University Code of Student Conduct.
Phillips said even though the charges had been dropped, he still believes he is being censored.
Phillips and his lawyer met with Rosemary Blum, Judicial Affairs associate director, and Jerrel Wade, Greek Affairs assistant director, to discuss the basis of the allegations and to hear Phillips’ defense.
Phillips said University officials dropped the charges because “it would be best for both sides.”
He said he was told the charges were officially dropped because “no progress was being made on the current situation with the amount of attention it was receiving.”
Phillips said he was presented with paperwork that explained when and where each violation occurred that dated back to last semester’s Confederate flag protests.
“It disturbed me that every centimeter of a move that the SEC made was being documented,” Phillips said.
Phillips said the documented violations were not completely accurate.
When asked if he thought the Code of Student Conduct was compliant with First Amendment rights, Phillips said he thought he could get in trouble for answering the question truthfully.
Several times throughout Phillips’ interview, Phillips told The Daily Reveille that he was frustrated because he could not say what he wanted without fear of consequence.
Phillips said this ordeal has shattered his faith in First Amendment rights “because no one takes them seriously.”
“When you’re told to watch what you say even though you can say it, when you’re told to watch how you think even though you can think it – when you’re told that, it’s hard to believe in First Amendment rights,” Phillips said.
Phillips said he has been “permanently damaged by this situation” but thinks the attention has gained more support for the causes of the SEC.
Phillips also said he feels like he might not be able to remain as active in the SEC after this ordeal.
“I don’t want to be quiet anymore, but when you feel like this, it’s hard,” Phillips said.
Neither Wade nor Blum were available to answer questions regarding Phillips’ hearing by press time.
Jessica Ketcham, an English doctoral candidate, joined the demonstration and held a poster reading, “When one is oppressed, no one is free,” a quote from Katrice Albert, vice provost of equity and diversity and the administrator who made the allegations against Phillips.
As she marched with the students from the Quad to Johnston Hall, Ketcham said she heard students say they would not join the demonstration for fear of being arrested. She said it was absurd students believe they could be arrested or expelled for their activism.
“Shame on the administration for letting this go on for 10 seconds,” Ketcham said.
KC White, dean of students, said she was afraid students were “mixing issues.”
“It’s not a First Amendment issue,” White said. “If freedom of speech wasn’t encouraged, this kind of demonstration wouldn’t be allowed.”
White said she encourages peaceful assembly to bring attention to the concerns of students, but she said she would advise students to be “more proactive and less reactive.”
She said students should look carefully at the Code of Student Conduct so they know their rights.
Phillips said he will have to meet with Albert sometime this week to discuss the allegations.
 
Contact Rebekah Allen at [email protected]