Discrimination on campus and in the community is something that everyone has either witnessed or been involved in. Donnell Brown, freshman from Thibodaux, says that he was discriminated against at Nicholls and within the leading body of student organizations.Brown applied for approval as a senator at large in the Student Government Association Senate and was denied for reasons, he says, that had nothing to do with his ability to serve as a senator.
Jaret Hubbell, SGA president, said that he could not comment on the reasoning behind Brown’s denial because the matter was discussed in executive session.
“They said the reason I wasn’t appointed was because I couldn’t read or write,” Brown said. “I passed my criminal justice classes. I was able to read laws and understand what the law was to be. If I can understand the views of laws according to the Louisiana code of criminal law, then why can’t I understand Nicholls’ law?”
In a Jan. 28 meeting of the SGA, Hubbell moved to accept Brown as a senator at large. An executive session was called to discuss the matter before voting. After nearly an hour of executive talks, the decision was announced that Brown would not be appointed as a senator.
“They were throwing stones that I can’t read and that I can’t write,” Brown said. “They made me seem like I was nothing, like I was not even worthy to be in college.”
Brown, who serves as a parking ticket writer on campus, was given commendations at the Nov. 16 SGA meeting for his work done as a ticket writer. The SGA commended Brown for his interest in the well-being and safety of fellow students while serving as a Department of Parking Enforcement student officer. He was also commended for alerting the SGA president to take action on two malfunctioning emergency call boxes.
Although he was denied approval to the Student Senate, Brown plans to continue fighting for a position.
“I’m going to research what rights I have that were violated,” Brown said. “Then I’m going to Dr. Hulbert’s (university president) office and talk with him and see how he feels about taking action so that no other student is put down like I got put down.”
Hubbell said that after the Judiciary Committee met with Brown, the committee made a referral during executive session to deny approval of Brown’s position as senator.
“From their (Judiciary Committee) concerns,” Hubbell said, “they made a recommendation to the senate, and the senate voted one for approval, four against and six abstentions.”
The Judiciary Committee is comprised of Student Senate members as well as students who review all issues that will be brought to the Student Senate floor and makes recommendations on how the Student Senate should vote.
Hubbell said that Brown’s quest to become a senator is far from over. Brown has the option of filing another position with the Student Senate and has the right to submit it every week until he is approved. He also has the choice to fill out a position to run for an executive office, skipping the appointment procedure. Brown would just need to meet the GPA and disciplinary requirements to be placed on the ballot for election by the general student body.
If he is elected to the Student Senate, Brown would be installed as an officer on May 16, and he would have full rights as a senator as of the first summer meeting.
“I hope he picks up a petition to run for office,” Hubbell said.
