Process That Led to LeQuint Allen's Suspension Appears Flawed, Unfair

Monday night's news regarding LeQuint Allen's suspension and the reported details surrounding the incident that led to the suspension were a big shock. Since then, I have spoken with multiple sources familiar with the incident as well as the council that investigated the incident and levied punishment. Here is what I have learned according to those sources: 

- The council that levied punishment, as well as the appeals council, was comprised of students. 
- There was no video of the incident. 
- During the hearing, at least one witness to the incident spoke to the council and corroborated Allen's account. 
- Self defense was not considered when deciding upon punishment. 
- The other individual involved in the incident who, according to Allen, punched Allen first received no punishment. 
- The other individual changed his story multiple times. Allen did not. 
- The other individual did not appear and give testimony at the hearings. 

Based on the information available in the original report from Syracuse.com along with the information provided by sources, I believe Syracuse University needs to take a hard look at its process for investigating and applying punishment for such incidents between students. Any such process that does not consider self defense and punishes the person who defended himself while not punishing the initial aggressor seems arbitrary and woefully insufficient. That appears to be the case here, given what information we have available. 

Further, the case was brought to the Onondaga County District Attorney's office and only a misdemeanor was levied with an adjournment in contemplation of dismissal (case is sealed and will be removed from his record if he stays out of trouble for six months). DA William Fitzpatrick told Syracuse.com there were issues with prosecuting the case including a "weak identification by the victim." Fitzpatrick told CNY Central, "Unless there's something the judicial board knows that I don't know, then hopefully it'll be challenged successfully." 

Fitzpatrick's conclusion seems to be the more reasonable, logical one based on what we know. The punishment from the student judicial council does not. According to the report from Syracuse.com, Allen was suspended for two semesters for the incident. Two semesters for defending yourself after being punched twice. That is absurd. The punishment does not fit the crime in this case. The process that derived this punishment is equally as bad. Students should not be the ones deciding punishment against other students. There should be adults involved in these decisions, specifically ones with some level of expertise in looking at such incidents. Perhaps some with law enforcement backgrounds or background in educational administration or human resources. 

Moreover, self defense has to be considered when reviewing incidents such as this and deciding punishment for a student. Lastly, a process that does not punish the aggressor but punishes only the individual who defended himself also speaks to a flawed process. Syracuse needs to revamp its entire process to avoid inequitable situations like this where someone is punished excessively when considering the offense. 

I do not know who at Syracuse is responsible for looking at a situation like this with the power to overturn or modify the levied punishment. But based on what I know, the punishment is unfair and should be reevaluated. 

I also had the opportunity to speak with LeQuint Allen's cousin, Walter Hudson, about the situation. He says they are calling on Syracuse University to overturn the punishment and reinstate Allen so he can continue his educational and athletic career. 

"I think they need to evaluate the council," Hudson said. "I think they need to reevaluate the circumstances surrounding LeQuint's case and do right by him. Make a just decision. If they didn't find the other party to be suspended, how did they find for LeQuint to be suspended? The problem I have with it is there's no escalation with it like a first time is a warning, second time something else, or something like that. It was just a straight you're done for the season. So we really urge the President of Syracuse to do right by the team and by LeQuint."