Holding signs that read "Honk if you support free speech" and shouting mantras by megaphone, a group of about 30 students gathered on N. Charles Street yesterday to protest the University's decision to suspend junior Justin Park until the spring of 2008.
Dorothy Sheppard, the associate dean of students and the administrator who oversaw the Conduct Board, discounted any influence the protest might have on the University's decision.
"Nothing influences the decision of the conduct board or the appeal," she said.
Appeals will be heard by Susan Boswell, dean of student life. Boswell, who declined to comment, can decide whether or not the appeal merits a hearing and would then meet with Park to make further decisions.
The protestors united in disapproval of the University's response to a Facebook.com invitation written by Park, Sigma Chi's former social chair, for the fraternity's Halloween party. After members of the Black Student Union (BSU) took offense to the invitation, the Conduct Board found Park guilty of all the charges brought against him.
"The purpose of the rally is to make the administrators aware that the students of Johns Hopkins do not support the decision to suspend Justin. The University claims they support free expression but if that is the case, Justin should not be thrown out of school over a private invitation posted on a third-party Web site," junior Sigma
Chi member Mike Bisogno.
Park was charged with: failure to respect the rights of others, faiure to comply with the directs of a university administrator, conduct in violation of the University's anti-harassment policy, conduct or a pattern of conduct that harasses a person or group and intimidation of any person which results in limiting a person's access to all aspects of life at the University.
The Board's verdict was to expel Park from Hopkins for one-and-a-half years, during which time he must complete 300 hours of community service, attend a diversity workshop and read 12 books chosen by the dean.
Although Sigma Chi is planning on making its own appeal to Dean Boswell, the fraternity brothers have now united with other students to support the lessening of Park's punishment.
Bisogno said, "We feel the Conduct Board could not be impartial since out of the five members, one was a BSU member and another was the past president of the Black Student and Faculty Association who was seen recruiting for the anti-Sigma Chi protests."
University spokesman Dennis O'Shea said with regard to the ralliers, "They have every right to express their opinion. Everything they said today was in relationship to the case against a student. Because of that, I cannot respond. We are restrained by law from disclosing the results of any case involving a student."
The student rally was organized through the Facebook.com group "We Support Student Rights (JHU doesn't)," which currently boasts a total of 605 members, a number that includes students from other universities. Although the group was created by Sigma Chi Vice President Lars Trautman and many of Park's supporters are Sigma Chi brothers, the rally was a protest by the student body at large.
Some protesters were affiliated with neither Park nor the fraternity, but joined in support of a student's right to free speech. "It's great to see a group of people actually come together for one cause," Joseph Micali commented. "I think we should be able to speak our minds and be heard."
"We think his punishment is outrageous," Kathleen Merit said.
Dave Haldane added, "If they can do this to him for such a small mistake, what are they going to do for the next small mistake?"
The students distributed a flyer quoting statements made by the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education (FIRE).
Director of Legal and Public Advocacy for FIRE, Samantha K. Harris explained why she believed students should be concerned with the administration's actions.
"If I were a student at [Hopkins], I would be tremendously concerned. [Hopkins'] treatment of Justin Park shows a flagrant disrespect for the right to free speech --- the administration is jeopardizing his entire academic career over a joke that some people found offensive. Instead of having the right to free speech, [Hopkins] students are at the mercy of the administration, which has appointed itself the arbiter of good taste on campus and has given itself the right to punish students who engage in speech or expression that does not meet its arbitrary standards."
Sigma Chi Secretary Patrick Connell said, "The goal is to not have him suspended at all from the University, because we feel that doesn't do anyone any good. Withholding education from someone is not a solution to a problem like this."
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