HAMPDEN-SYDNEY – Four students have been punished in the aftermath of a racially charged election night incident at Hampden-Sydney College, one of them expelled, according to information released by the college at 2 p.m. Thursday, after The Herald went to press.

The students were found guilty by H-SC's student court of violating the college's code of student conduct. Per student court protocols, the college is not releasing the names of the students.

Any person who participates in a student court trial-witness, investigator, the accused-signs a confidentiality agreement, the breach of which is deemed lying, an honor code violation.

The breakdown of the disciplinary action, as provided in an email by college spokesman Thomas H. Shomo, is as follows:

On December 8, a student was tried for violations of the code of student conduct: disruptive behavior, harassment, and lewd behavior. The student was found guilty and was expelled.

On December 9, a student was tried for violations of the code of student conduct: disruptive behavior, law breaking, hazardous acts, and firearms, fireworks, explosives. The student was found guilty and was sanctioned with disciplinary probation through the fall semester of 2013, 100 hours community service, and a $500.00 fine.

On December 8, a student was tried for violations of the code of student conduct: disruptive behavior, harassment, and lewd behavior. The student was found guilty and was sanctioned with disciplinary probation through the fall semester of 2013, alcohol probation through the fall semester 2013, and 100 hours of community service.

On December 9, a student was tried for violations of the code of student conduct: disruptive behavior, law breaking, hazardous acts, and firearms, fireworks, explosives. The student was found guilty and was sanctioned with disciplinary probation through the fall semester of 2013, and 25 hours of community service.

The college's student court is made up of nine members, three each from the sophomore, junior and senior classes, who are elected by their classmates. The court's chairman is elected by the student body.

The college had previously announced that five students had been identified for possible violations of the student code of conduct but Shomo's email on Thursday noted that “there was sufficient evidence to bring four students to trial.”

There had been reports of bottles thrown, racial epithets and threats of physical violence on election night after President Obama's reelection had been declared by networks, according to an email to the campus community from H-SC president Dr. Christopher Howard the day after the election.

That email read:

“At approximately eleven minutes after midnight, the Dean of Students, other members of the College faculty and staff, and I received an email from students at the Minority Student Union (MSU) stating a large group had gathered outside their house (on fraternity circile)…The members of the group set off fireworks and threw bottles evidently in response to the presidential election results. At some point, members of the group shouted racial epithets at the men in MSU threatening them with physical violence. The members of MSU notified campus security. After speaking with Chief Gee on the phone, I walked to Fraternity Circle with Dean Klein (Dean of Student Affairs David Klein) and spent approximately one hour meeting with students…to determine what happened.

“I am terribly disappointed,” wrote Dr. Howard, the first African-American president of H-SC, “with the students who participated in this harmful, senseless episode including those men who stood idly by and watched it happen. There is no place for bigotry or racism of any kind on this campus. Dean Klein and I will be meeting with the leaders of various fraternities and MSU today to learn more about the events of last night. We will also work with leaders of student government, the Interfraternity Council and the Intercultural Affairs Committee to determine the appropriate course of action and to devise ways to ensure our students respect each other despite our racial differences.”

In a follow-up email to the campus community, Dr. Howard noted that beginning with the Town Hall Meeting on November 7, the Hampden-Sydney community has acted to “reaffirm that we will be no less than an inclusive, respectful and civil community,” he notes.

H-SC's president declared, “We are going through a difficult time, but we will be better; I promise you that.”

On November 13, ninety heads of student organizations gathered for the President's Leadership Council, which was opened by Thomas Allen '60, Chairman of the Board of Trustees. These men, Dr. Howard pointed out, represented the full spectrum of student organizations and focused on how the Hampden-Sydney community should move forward.

“We have seen strong signs of student organizations pulling together in mutual support,” H-SC's president said.

Student leaders, he added, are talking together to improve understanding between fraternity and non-fraternity men who reside on “The Circle.”

On November 18, eighteen top student leaders met for three hours under the guidance of Jonathan Zul, CEO of the Virginia Center for Inclusive Communities…both to address student concerns and to plan a community meeting the week following Thanksgiving break.

“I have asked for and received preliminary recommendations from the College's Intercultural Affairs Committee (IAC) for programs and activities that will promote an inclusive, respectful and civil community,” Dr. Howard stated.

H-SC is also revising its Good Men Plan to include specific educational programming for incoming students on civility, respect and inclusiveness.