Collins Phillips, leader of the Student Equality Commission and last semester’s flag protests, said that despite alleged violations of the University Code of Student Conduct, he will not be silenced.
Phillips has been charged by the Office of the Dean of Students for five separate counts of violating the University Code of Student Conduct. University officials would not comment on what disciplinary action would be taken but said consequences may range from expulsion to a warning.
“I can’t help but think they’re trying to silence a student,” Phillips said.
Phillips said despite the charges, the SEC will still have its meeting Wednesday in the Quad at 12:30 p.m.
Collins said he suspects the charges are related to the meeting the SEC held in the Quad Jan. 25.
Leonard Moore, history associate professor and director of African American Affairs, said he thinks the charges will get dismissed immediately, but he was disappointed in some University administrators.
“The fact that you even have an administration trying to obstruct and getting in the way of a college degree is very problematic and unfortunate,” Moore said.
Collins was first notified of his violation the evening of the protest in an e-mail from Katrice Albert, vice provost of equity and diversity. In the e-mail she requested an immediate meeting with Phillips, citing some comments Phillips made concerning her diversity agenda and staff.
In her e-mail, Albert alleged that Phillips called the diversity agenda “a bunch of B.S.” and called members of the University Equity, Diversity and Community Outreach staff “lazy.”
At the Jan. 25 meeting in the Quad, Phillips questioned the priorities of University administration. He said that it was wrong for the University to allow money to be spent on building renovations and clickers for Student Government when the University should focus its attention on disabled students and students’ needs after hurricanes Katrina and Rita.
He also encouraged students to e-mail Chaunda Allen, director of the Office of Multicultural Affairs, and Albert to express concerns with changes in the schedule for Black History Month and the need for a new coordinator at the African American Cultural Center.
Phillips said Albert’s accusation was based on hearsay because neither Albert or Allen were present at the meeting.
Albert sent a second request to meet with Phillips on Thursday, reiterating the urgency of the situation.
Collins sent an e-mail back asking to meet at a later date because he was busy with class, work and “other responsibilities and commitments.”
Albert responded with an e-mail that said she could not accommodate his schedule and, “as a student leader who has been groomed by the finest college student development professionals regarding academic excellence and time management AND a current Leadership LSU participant,” that he had to find time to make a meeting by Tuesday “at the very latest.”
Phillips did not seek a meeting by the specified day. He received a letter informing him that the Office of the Dean of Students had received a report from Albert claiming he had agreed to work with University officials on diversity issues but failed to honor that agreement, and his recent behavior may be considered in violation of the Code of Student Conduct.
The letter said that Phillips has until Feb. 9 to make an appointment to discuss the violations and, until he does, a registration hold has been placed on his academic record, limiting his access to REGGIE and PAWS.
Allen said she could not comment on the situation.
Albert would not respond to repeated phone calls on the matter.
K.C. White, dean of students, said she could not comment directly and that the official report filed against Phillips was confidential because it was protected by the Buckley Amendment, a law that guards students’ educational records.
According to the Code of Student Conduct, students who receive a letter of violation must schedule an appointment to discuss the allegations against them. If they accept responsibility for their actions, they will meet one-on-one with a University administrator, but if they deny the allegations they will be brought before a University hearing panel.
She said that while no university “wants to have a chilling effect on freedom of speech,” the University also cannot allow the “obstruction of the education process of students.”
Phillips said he is shocked by the allegations and is seeking an attorney.
He said that before the protests last semester, he had always had a great relationship with the Office of Multicultural Affairs.
Joe Cook, lawyer for the American Civil Liberties Union, said that “on a college campus, free speech should be held in high esteem, and the highest form of one’s exercise of the First Amendment right is to question authority.”
He said since the accusations have been made, the University has a burden of proof – the responsibility to deliver convincing proof of the violations.
Cook said students are not “intentionally disrupting” teaching and learning if they are acting outside of class time, unless the disturbance is so large it disturbs other classes and prevents learning.
Cook said criticizing the administration was within Phillips’ rights.
“What does free speech mean if you can’t criticize government officials?” Cook said.
Cook said that if the Code of Student Conduct conflicts with these rights, then it may need to be challenged to determine its legality.
Moore said people outside of the University will “see a predominantly white university that has gone to great lengths to stifle freedom of speech.”
“The fact that the charges are even being brought against him is a pretty sad day for LSU,” Moore said.
Samori Camara, member of the SEC and African American studies graduate student, said he thinks these charges were made because the University did not anticipate any more conflict from the SEC.
“Albert probably told the chancellor that nothing else was going to happen this semester,” Camara said. “Then we had that meeting in the Quad, and that did not sit well with Katrice Albert.”
Camara said he is saddened to see “an African American administrator make an attack on an African American student.”
He said this incident reflects poorly on the University, but he expects this situation will only generate more support for Phillips and the SEC.
“What kind of message are you sending about LSU if a leader of a protest is expelled from school on bogus charges?” Camara asked. “We did nothing illegal. It just shows how backwards Louisiana really is.”
Camara said he is confident that Phillips will get the charges dropped, and that this will not set back their original agenda for equality.
“People will fight harder because of him,” Camara said.
 
 
Contact Rebekah Allen at [email protected]