A student was arrested and charged with resisting a police officer Thursday. 

North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University police responded to a class disruption call in Crosby Hall, regarding a student’s refusal to pull up his pants at the request of a professor, leading to the student’s arrest. 

Jordan Baker, 22, declined to be interviewed for this story. 

Journalism and Mass Communication professor Vanessa Cunningham-Engram asked the student in her Thursday morning class to pull up his pants. After much deliberate the student refused and she called the journalism department main office, which then called security. 

“I literally had tears in my eyes, I care for all my students,” said Engram, who was pained by the fact that the situation was unnecessary. “It is important to respect our educational institution, the professors who care about their students and the right of every student to learn in an environment free of adversity and disrepute,” said Engram. 

According to the warrant, the student was asked twice to step into the hallway. After refusing to do so the officer went to detain him. Baker jerked away and walked to the back of the classroom. He was then placed in handcuffs and advised that he was under arrest.

“He wears his pants like that everyday,” said a classmate of the student who wishes to remain anonymous. According to the classmate, the student was sitting in the second row of the classroom, where only the sides of his boxers were visible. 

According to the classmate, approximately 45 minutes into class the professor asked the student to pull up his pants. The student began to explain that he was not doing anything wrong. Baker refused to do as he was told and continued with his work. The professor then said she would call security. The student continued taking notes and the professor resumed teaching.

 “Usually he is disruptive but this is the one day he wasn’t,” said classmate. 

The professor asked the student to pull up his pants during previous class periods and he cooperated. 

“I want excellence and integrity. There is a time, place and manner. We can disagree but we should respect. We (young black men) are targeted, we don’t need to give them a reason to look at us in another light,” said Engram

University officials want to clarify, that the student was not arrested because he did not pull up his pants. However, his disrupting class as a result of being asked to pull up his pants was against university policy. 

“You cannot dictate how people dress, people have the right to express themselves. No state school in the UNC school system has a prescribed dress code for their student body,” said Dr. Melody Pierce, vice chancellor of student affairs. 

In the N.C. A&T State University 2014-2015 Student Handbook pg. 87 letter L. the Disruptive Conduct Policy reads:

 “N.C. A&T has long honored the right of free discussion and expression, peaceful picketing and demonstrations, and the right to petition and peaceful assembly. Without question, these rights are a part of the fabric of the University, and they must remain secure. However, in a community of learning, willful disruption of the educational process, destruction of property and interference with the rights of other members of the community cannot be tolerated.”

“I feel like he was disruptive to the class but he didn’t start the disruption,” said another classmate who also does not wish to be named. 

“Why are you picking on me? Just go on with your lesson,” said classmate who recounted the student’s response. According to the classmate, the student did not use profanity directly towards the professor; however, profanity was used. 

“I almost thought it was a skit,” said a classmate. According to this particular student, the class was having a discussion about the First Amendment, which made the situation ironic. 

“It’s ironic because we learned that you have the right to free speech. Free speech is not only your speech but your actions, so could he not say that the way he wore his clothes is expression of free speech?” 

According to fellow classmates the student is disruptive but has never received disciplinary action.

“Common sense and decision making. Cover up,” said Dr. Pierce. “If a professor asks them (students) to please pull up your pants, do that. You cannot come to class bareback or without shoes, male or female. Women should also wear skirts/dresses long enough so when you sit down you are not exposing yourself. Hopefully it can be mediated so the student can return to class. Let’s step up and do what Aggies Do.” 

The university will conduct a hearing for the student regarding his disruptive behavior in the classroom as well as the subsequent arrest. However, there will be no investigation regarding a dress code, since the university does not have one. 

Dr. Cunningham-Engram will revise her syllabus that highlights rules from the handbook, with number 21 being: 

“Lewd, indecent or obscene conduct (which shall include students exposing their underwear or what appears to be undergarments because their pants or skirts are not pulled all the way up to their waist);”

The N.C. A&T State University 2014-2015 Student Handbook can be retrieved off the university’s website under current students. 

 “I have much love for my students and I want everyone to get their education,” said Engram. There are standards that we all must uphold ad we need to do so with integrity and Aggie Pride because that’s what Aggies Do!”

• Meagan Jordan Editor in Chief