06:27 PM EST on Friday, December 2, 2005

Associated Press & 13News

HAMPTON, Va. (AP) -- Seven Hampton University students accused of breaking school rules when they held a protest are awaiting word on their punishment.

But they won't be expelled, university officials said.

Disciplinary hearings were held Friday for the students, who handed out fliers criticizing the Iraq war and the federal response to Hurricane Katrina, among other issues.

University officials say the students broke rules requiring school approval of leaflets and protest activities when they distributed fliers on November 2nd as part of a nationwide student walkout sponsored by the group World Can't Wait, which wants President Bush out of office.

Students Aaron Ray and Iyabo Alli said after their hearings that they were told they would be notified of their punishment in writing within a couple days.

Ray, a 19-year-old sophomore from Columbia, Maryland, said he and six other students were charged with cajoling and proselytizing students, distributing unauthorized handbills and holding an unauthorized demonstration.

Today's hearings were closed to the public.

The University released a statement late Friday.

A hearing was held at 9 a.m. today at Hampton University. Seven students were charged with a minor procedural violation involving the posting of unauthorized handbills and failure to register a protest with the University police and the Office of Student Activities. This was a minor violation and no students were expelled from the University.

The matter was simply an issue of compliance with University policies and procedures. The University certainly permits peaceful protests; however, all policies and procedures must be adhered to by students as stated in the Hampton University Official Student Handbook (2004 Edition).

The University recognizes "the role of peaceful, nonviolent, unobtrusive demonstrations on campus to support student petitions to redress of grievance."

In addition, the University's Policy on Distribution or Posting of Unauthorized Handbills, Advertisements and other Materials states "The distribution, posting, affixing with adhesives, staples or other means, of unauthorized handbills or advertisements on University Property is strictly prohibited."