The vice president of the Clemson Undergraduate Student Body was impeached earlier this week, and he’s claiming he is a victim of a “social lynching.”
Jaren Stewart, who is black, was impeached after Senator Miller Hoffman filed articles against him citing issues with Stewart’s role as a Resident Assistant.
Stewart alleges, however, that impeachment action was taken after he, along with other students, refused to stand for the Pledge of Allegiance at a student government meeting.
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“This had come right after I had sat for the pledge,” Stewart told the Anderson Independent Mail. “They’ve already made up their minds because of this trope of the villainous African-American male. Ultimately, this stems from implicit bias.”
Stewart added that his situation was a “social lynching”:
“There’s a deeper systemic issue in which people are choosing what they want to hear, choosing what they want to believe exists and that’s why sitting for the pledge was so important.”
Hoffman denies Stewart’s allegations.
“I cannot stress enough how this situation has nothing to do with the flag protest or contain all racial motivation at all,” he said. “Such a narrative is without evidence and completely untrue.”
As reported by The Tiger, Hoffman noted Stewart had been “suddenly terminated” from his RA position back in April. Three days later it was revealed that Stewart was charged with “Trespassing/Unlawful Entry”:
On October 3rd, an article was released that leaked a copy of said document. The document contained highly charged allegations against the Vice President. The document was an Incident Reporting Form, which has been confirmed as authentic by the University. Among the accusations, theft, trespassing, strong-arming, intimidation, and sexual harassment bring valid concerns to the body and the office held. The report was made to Community Director Talley who later confirmed the complaint with the two female roommates involved.
On October 6, 2017, a No Contact Order was put in place between the Student Body Vice President and a current fellow Senator. The Order came directly from the Office of Community and Ethical Standards.
The order states the parties “are not permitted to make contact … in any way, including but not limited to phone calls, emails, text messages, written notes or letters, or by way of acquaintances or other third-parties,” and that a breach of the order “could likely result in immediate separation from Clemson.”
Hoffman said ”It is a clear concern that a member of our body feels that a No Contact Order is necessary in order to feel comfortable around a leader who is supposed to represent us and the students here.”
Stewart says the RA matter was settled over the summer — that he was suspended from his (RA) position for eight days and then reinstated: “It’s been completely resolved. If any of the comments made were actually founded, I wouldn’t be the vice president. I would be removed from office.”
The vote to impeach Stewart was 40-18. His trial is scheduled for November 6.
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