Editor’s Note 4/7/25: A previous version of this article stated that Dean Joshua and Dr. Johnson “filed complaints” against students. This is incorrect, as students’ official conduct letters state that both Dean Joshua and Dr. Johnson have “made allegations” of discriminatory behavior against Reagan Bain, and Dean Joshua “made allegations” against Sophie Schonder. Additionally, the article has been updated to reflect Sarah Bolton and Dr. Johnson’s responses to the Wire’s request for comment as well as a small correction regarding Dr. Johnson’s official title at the college.
Two students in SJP are the subject of Code of Conduct violation procedures and will be facing conduct hearings this week. Dean of Students Kazi Joshua and Vice President for Inclusive Excellence John Johnson made allegations of discrimination against the two students.
Seniors Reagan Bain and Sophie Schonder have been accused of harassment, harm to persons, misuse of college grounds and disruption of college activities. The code of conduct charges stem from a February 19th, 2025 walkout led by Whitman Students for Justice in Palestine. After the walkout, a ‘teach-in’ was held in Maxey Auditorium. Joshua and Johnson attempted to enter the ‘teach-in,’ but were asked by Bain and Schonder to leave, as The Wire first reported.
One of the charges filed against Bain and Schonder cites a college policy against “actions that result in or have the potential to cause physical or emotional harm to create conditions that pose a risk of physical harm or cause reasonable apprehension of physical harm,” said Bain.
Bain is at a loss for the allegations of physical or emotional harm because, she says, she never touched Dr. Johnson. Additionally, two Wire reporters were providing live coverage of the event, and do not recall any physical altercations.
“I didn’t force Dr. Johnson out .. and would’ve never, and I hope I didn’t cause him emotional harm by explaining what I think is a very valid reason for not wanting administration there,” said Bain.
Schonder agreed, and expressed confusion about the charges of harm.
“You need to describe what harm means. We were in no way physical. We had a very friendly conversation” said Schonder, “this is just used because it is a scary accusation … it’s being used in a way to scare students out of asking for things.”
Both Bain and Schonder say they were surprised by the charges recently filed against them.
“I felt it was a really respectful conversation, but I’m now being charged with those four charges in front of the conduct board,” said Bain.
For Schonder, who is Mexican-American, another surprise was in store. In the documents filed against her, Schonder discovered that Joshua had listed her as a white student. For Schonder, this further reinforced fears that the administration was selectively targeting students.
“The conduct process seems to not be in favor of students of color in particular,” said Schonder, “Every single person on the conduct committee got that misinformation on my file … when it is helpful for him to call me white, he is calling me that.”
Whitman Students for Justice in Palestine’s constitution mandates that all events held by WSJP be open to all who wish to participate. However, Bain and Schonder say that amidst increasing fears of retaliation by federal authorities, WSJP decided to take a proactive approach to protect more vulnerable students.
“There has to be some level of protection for students, [the] executive order… came out and said the federal government is gonna compel colleges to report on the activities of ‘alien’ students and staff in regards to pro-Palestinian actions,” said Bain, “so we’ve been operating out of an abundance of caution, and that’s kind of what led to our decision-making process.”
On January 29, 2025, President Trump signed Executive Order 14188 titled “Additional Measures to Combat Antisemitism.” The order attacks higher education institutions which have been a hotbed for pro-Palestinian movements in recent years. In part, the order directs the Secretaries of State, Education, and Homeland Security to provide higher education institutions with tools to “monitor for and report activities by alien students and staff” and to “[ensure] that such reports about aliens lead, as appropriate and consistent with applicable law, to investigations and, if warranted, actions to remove such aliens.”
In recent weeks, multiple visa-holding student activists at universities across the country have been detained and threatened with deportation by immigration officials. The arrests have been highly publicized, intended to, as NPR reports, “scare people.”
While WSJP has been in conversation with the administration regarding protections for student protestors, Bain and Schonder say they have left these conversations feeling less than assured.
“We had a meeting with Dr. Johnson a few weeks ago, before the event, and he said Whitman College is committed to protecting its students, but we’re also committed to following the law,” said Bain, “[but] what happens when the law changes?”
When reached for comment, Assistant Vice President for Student Affairs Juli Dunn responded “Student conduct is a private matter between the student and the college. I will not be commenting on this or any other student conduct matter.”
Vice President Johnson was invited to comment and declined, stating in an email to The Wire “I will not provide any comment regarding a student conduct preceding. I can state unequivocally that I did not file a complaint against any student, nor did I ask anyone to file a complaint on my behalf.”
When reached via email, President Bolton declined to comment on the conduct proceedings but told The Wire “I have been in regular conversation with faculty as well as students and staff in many roles at the college, including some who are connected with SJP. Those conversations have been focussed on what concerns individuals have, and how we can work to protect everyone’s rights under the law. The College is also working with a number of national organizations to uphold these rights both at Whitman and at colleges and universities more broadly.”
Dean Joshua did not respond to The Wire’s request for comment.