USF students suspended and expelled after April demonstrations – The Oracle

Two USF students face disciplinary action from the university for their participation in two protests in late April.

According to an Instagram statement from Tampa Bay Students for a Democratic Society (SDS), Joseph Charry was suspended and Victoria Hinckley was expelled from USF following recent code of conduct hearings.

“Joseph and Victoria were both found guilty on false charges and, as camp leaders, were wrongfully targeted by the USF administration,” the post said.

As a result of the suspension and expulsion, SDS planned a protest rally for Tuesday afternoon directly outside USF to demand that the university reverse the rulings and reinstate Hinckley.

Hinckley and Charry face the following violations of the student code of conduct, according to the post:

• Encouraging others to violate university standards
• Disturbing behavior
• Disregard of law enforcement or administrative regulations
• Failure to comply with University policies regarding health and safety
• Failure to comply with local, state or federal laws
• Illegal possession of a firearm, weapon or explosive

Related: Pro-Palestinian camp protest at USF dispersed by tear gas – The Oracle

Neither Hinckley nor Charry were arrested for their involvement in the April 29-30 protests.

Between the two protests, police arrested 13 protesters, including five USF students, three alumni and one WUSF employee. Althea Johnson, a university spokeswoman, said students arrested may face further sanctions from the university.

The charges against the protesters range from misdemeanors such as unlawful assembly and resisting public authority to felonies such as resisting an officer with violence and possession of a weapon on school grounds.

The USF Student Code of Conduct – Rule 6.0021 defines all of the conduct violations that apply to Hinckley and Charry and lists possible consequences, including suspension and expulsion from the university.

A suspension may be enforced by Cynthia DeLuca, vice president for student success, to ensure the safety and well-being of the USF community and to prevent “a continuing threat, disruption or impairment,” the order states.

Expulsion can be enforced if a student is “not in good standing with the university on a permanent basis,” the ordinance states. Hinckley’s expulsion prevented her from graduating and stripped her of her degree, according to the SDS statement.

According to an Instagram statement from the national SDS, Hinckley had previously been suspended and barred from attending graduation before her most recent conduct hearing on June 7 led to her expulsion.

Charry, an international student, is at risk of losing his visa due to his suspension from the university until May 2025, the statement said.

The statement described the allegations as a “blatant attack on freedom of expression.”

Hinckley and Charry did not respond to requests for comment at the time of publication.

Johnson could not confirm the results of the hearings, citing laws protecting student privacy.

Related: Several USF protesters arrested during pro-Palestinian camp protest – The Oracle

According to a Bay News 9 article, Hinckley said the allegations of conduct violate her First Amendment rights.

“They are attacking me because I am a student organizer and I lead protests,” Hinckley said in the article.

Related: USF can impose protest restrictions, First Amendment expert says – The Oracle

While the post noted that SDS was also facing “the same false allegations,” Johnson said SDS was suspended until December 2025 after causing unrest on campus a week before protests in late April.

On April 29, Charry told The Oracle that the university had no right to tell its members that SDS was a “banned group.”

“We are protesters and we have the right to protest,” he said. “We have the right to free assembly. We know our rights.”

SDS and supporters are calling on USF to reverse the decisions against Charry and Hinckley through telephone protests and off-campus demonstrations.

“We condemn the actions of the USF administration and (Dean of Students) Danielle McDonald in their efforts to suppress our right to free speech and our right to protest,” the statement said. “The administration’s attempt to silence our protests and encampment only shows that they are afraid of student power and continue to support the genocide of the Palestinians.”