Loyola University has charged a senior with conduct violations because they say they promoted an illegal organization on campus.
Loyola senior Juleea Berthelot has been given conduct charges pertaining to promoting a non-chartered student organization, Liberate and Unite New Orleans Students for a Democratic Society, charges they believe are targeted.
On Thursday, Jan. 29, Berthelot was given three charges after students were asked to stop giving out flyers in the Peace Quad. These flyers were promoting a new members meeting for Liberate and Unite New Orleans Students for a Democratic Society. The charges were: promotion of a non-recognized student organization, posting and advertising, and social media use.
“They have, like, no evidence that I did this,” Berthelot said. “You can’t put that all on me.”
Berthelot is a member of LUNOSDS, however they are not the chair of the organization. In May of 2024, Berthelot was arrested at the Tulane pro-Palestine encampment. They were also an organizer of a march to Loyola President Xavier Cole’s house in the fall of 2024.
According to Berthelot, they feel targeted due to past tensions between the university and LUNOSDS, an organization that grew out of Loyola Students for a Democratic Society. Loyola SDS was a chartered organization before its members decided to deregister in the fall of 2024.
“I was so angry, but now I’m just like, do you have nothing better to do?” Berthelot said.
According to Berthelot, Loyola has an “obsession” with the organization, it’s previous leader, and now them.
“They think that there’s just, if they take down one person, then all of SDS will go, but that’s just not how it works,” they said.
Loyola’s Student Organization Handbook states that students are “prohibited from joining and promoting non-registered student organizations. Students are also prohibited from promoting the goals, purposes, identity, programs, or activities of suspended organizations or organizations who are not chartered.”
The Maroon asked Alicia Bourque, Loyola’s vice president of student affairs, about the distinction made between promoting purposes/goals as an organization versus a student promoting those same ideals as an individual, to which Bourque directed back to the Student Organization Handbook.
The Maroon asked Assistant Vice President of the Department of Student Life and Ministry Dale O’Neill the same question, to which she did not respond. Vice President of Marketing and Communications Aariel Charbonnet was also asked the same question, to which she did not respond.
The Maroon asked Director of Student Conduct Dallas Flint for clarification on how non-recognized student organizations function under the Student Organization Handbook and Student Code of Conduct in relation to recognized and chartered organizations.
Flint declined to comment.
“At this time, I’m not able to participate in an interview or provide comments for this article,” she said. “We plan to communicate directly with students regarding policies and expectations related to recognized and non-recognized organizations through our own institutional channels.”
Berthelot will have a hearing with the Student Justice Board in the coming weeks where they could be given sanctions if found responsible. Berthelot can appeal to the Faculty Student Appeals Board if they choose.
