The students charged in the Jan. 22 racially motivated assault at the West 22 apartment complex have been released on bond, according to the Cobb County Sheriff’s Office.
20-year-olds Kole Reasoner and Gauge Stanley, both Kennesaw State students, were charged with felony aggravated battery and misdemeanor battery on Jan. 27 after attacking sophomore Jalique Rosemond in the parking lot of West 22.
This comes as students across campus express their frustration with KSU’s handling of the incident.
On Jan. 30 protests broke out across campus from students frustrated with the lack of response from the KSU administration. Several groups were walking around with signs, chants in support of Jalique and demands they would like to see met by both Kennesaw Police and KSU.
“It’s been a week, almost two weeks before they have even acknowledged that a student was attacked. There’s nothing from KSU,” member of the KSU NAACP Kamissha Miles said. “That’s letting us know where you stand, and this school is full of minorities, it’s full of people of color. It’s important that you protect us because if you don’t feel protected here, why are we here?”
Kennesaw State posted a statement to their Division of Diverse and Inclusive Excellence on Friday, Jan. 27. The statement claims “We do not condone any acts of violence or racism. The university encourages any member of the campus community who may have information relating to this incident to contact Student Affairs, KSU Police or the City of Kennesaw Police Department. We want to be clear – we care deeply about all of our students, and want students to feel safe at all times.”
As of Jan. 31, the statement has not been shared elsewhere. It was signed by the Vice President for Student Affairs Eric Arneson, the Associate Vice President and Dean of Students Ronald Briggs and the Interim Vice President and Chief Diversity Officer Sonia Toson. President Schwaig’s office has yet to issue a statement.
Many other students and campus organizations have been voicing their support and frustration on social media. The Kennesaw Activities Board posted a statement on their Instagram, as did the Kennesaw State chapter of the Young Democratic Socialists of America.
There is also a petition circling among students for a Town Hall, stating, “The purpose of the town hall is to discuss matters that Kennesaw State has previously ignored. Situations like that of the West 22 assault have happened before and it is time for accountability.”
While students wait for a statement from President Schwaig’s office or any more information about the enrollment status of Reasoner and Stanley, they say they will remain vocal about the cause.
“I want KSU to apologize for their incredibly late acknowledgment of what’s going on with Jalique, I want them to expel the students who actually attacked him and let us know where they stand,” Miles said. “Do you accept racism or do you not? Because you have a school full of minorities.”
Henry Higuita, Mariam Janad and Jackson Dembrosky contributed to this article.
