Impeachment of Black Student Leader Raises Uncomfortable Questions at Clemson U.

Jaren Stewart, vice president of Clemson’s student government, stands with Killian McDonald (left), its president, and Hannah Ohlund, its secretary of engagement. Mr. Stewart, the university’s highest-ranking black student leader, is facing removal from office just weeks after he and other student senators sat for the Pledge of Allegiance in a protest of the racial climate on campus. His critics say Mr. Stewart’s impeachment is unrelated to his protest.

An arm of Clemson University’s student government voted on Monday to impeach the university’s most prominent black student leader — Jaren Stewart, the student-body vice president. Members of the student senate voted weeks after Mr. Stewart led other members of the body to sit during the Pledge of Allegiance in a protest of the racial climate on campus.

Armed with those details alone, the situation doesn’t look good for a university that has seen a number of controversies related to its racial climate. But students supporting the effort say it’s not about the pledge protest or race at all — but rather, several misconduct allegations against Mr. Stewart. And, while insisting that the student government acts autonomously, top administrators agreed that race was not a factor in the vote.

Mark Land, vice president for university relations, said there was no cause and effect in Mr. Stewart’s protest and his impeachment, which triggers a hearing where senators will vote on whether to remove him from office. "The issues that have been brought up related to the impeachment have nothing to do with his decision not to stand for the pledge," Mr. Land said.

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