Graduation should be a happy time of year for those who have spent a joyous but grueling four years in institutions of higher education. However, Rashad Johnson isn’t happy at all.
Johnson received word that his shooter will received his diploma from Morehouse College as part of a plea deal to spare him 20 years in prison.
Johnson was shot three times by fellow student Joshua Brandon Norris at a 2007 Halloween Party at an Atlanta club where Morehouse College students usually gather. Norris and Johnson exchanged words outside the club that Norris had been thrown out of for allegedly causing trouble. Johnson began to walk to his car when Norris pulled up in his Hummer and shot him. Johnson still has a bullet in his leg.
According to CNN, “Norris faced one count of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and a second count for possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony. But in a court hearing in January, he was presented with what the judge described as ‘the break of your life’.”
Norris received six years of probation, a $1,0000 fine and 240 hours of community service. He was also required to stay in college and complete his degree by the judge.
For more information about this, visit http://www.cnn.com/2009/CRIME/05/14/morehouse.justice/index.html
The story present in the article is really sad. After reading it, you are forced to sit and think how could Morehouse officials allow him to obtain his degree or how could they not worry about the safety of its students? However, what can the university really do about it? The shooting took place at a off-campus club. I’m sure there are Morehouse rules about students’ disorderly conduct on and off campus. Maybe the rules should be changed.
Here at IU, Part II Article b of the Student Code of Conduct book states, that a student must “obey all applicable university policies and procedures and all local, state and federal laws.” Time and time again, students have also had to go through IU’s judicial system for incidents taken place at off-campus local bars. Whether these students were expelled from IU, I am unaware.
THE BOTTOM LINE: Johnson and his family should challenge the bylaws of Morehouse’s Student Code of Conduct book.
I read this story as well and felt torn about the outcome. On the one hand I felt he should not have received a free pass. As an adult he should have taken accountability and accepted the consequences. Yet in the back of my mind I can see Morehouse’s reasoning: they obviously recognize Norris’ potential and are in the business of second chances. Plus it prevents another brother from becoming a statistic. Hard play to call.
I agree. I also wonder did Morehouse have to comply with the law since it was “mandated” by a judge that he complete college. Do they have to follow mandates?
Who knows. Maybe its different for HBCU’s.
shocking.