One of nine Chicago-area freshmen temporarily banned from SIUC after his alleged involvement in an Oct. 6 attack is now allowed on campus again.

Meanwhile, six of the students remain barred and two are gathering material to appeal their suspensions.

On Friday, Student Judicial Affairs overturned the interim separation of Charles Gill, a freshman from Chicago studying computer engineering. The interim separations of Timothy Hart and Reshaun Scott were upheld.

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Interim separation occurs when university officials deem a student a threat to the safety of the campus community. Separated students are not allowed on campus grounds. If they live in the residence halls, they are removed from their rooms until a hearing clears them or finds them in violation of the Student Conduct Code.

The nine students were forced off campus shortly after the Oct. 6 attack in a campus parking lot that left a sophomore with facial and head injuries. The attacked student also lost between $90 and $100, according to the police report.

Police questioned the students after the victim said he was assaulted by a “group of black males.”

Since being separated from the university, several of the students have found shelter at the Rock Hill Missionary Baptist Church on Marion Street in Carbondale.

Gill, Scott, Hart, Brandon Gaines, DeShaun McGee, Vincent Mack and Christian Jennings are scheduled to appear before Student Judicial Affairs separately this week. They all have been charged with several violations, such as disorderly conduct and physical abuse. Each faces the possibility of suspension.

Johnnie Jones of the Chicago-based Make a Difference Youth Foundation said he was surprised Gill was linked to the attack. Jones said Gill was a standout in the foundation, which prepares students for college life.

“He’s a good kid who got caught up in a bad situation,” Jones said.

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All the students, except for Gill, are still banned from campus. On Thursday, university officials suspended Derrick Reese for three years and Aric Anthony for two years. Reese and two non-students were also slapped with criminal charges of mob action, robbery and aggravated battery.

Reese’s father, Derrick B. Reese, said his 18-year-old is scheduled to take a polygraph test Oct. 26 in regard to his criminal charges. Both Reese and Anthony plan to appeal their university suspensions.

Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs Larry Dietz, spokesman for the students’ hearings, said he was not certain on specifics of Friday’s decisions. He said any student whose separation is lifted can return to regular student life, but the charges remain until a formal hearing in which a final decision is made. Dietz said he did not know why Hart’s separation was lifted.

“It doesn’t mean that they didn’t do something wrong. That’s still an allegation that will have to be dealt with,” Dietz said.

Separated students, even if cleared of wrongdoing, might not be able to make up for missed coursework when they return to SIUC, Dietz said. The students’ professors can decide whether the students can make up their grades, and Dietz said many professors have made accommodations in the past.

Several discrepancies have arisen in relation to the attack, including a wrong date on the incident’s police report and incorrect media reports.

Documents from Student Judicial Affairs contained names of students who were cleared of being involved in the attack and who were no longer associated with the hearings. Also, one document indicated around 16 students were involved, while another said up to 30 were involved.

Brandon Weisenberger can be reached at 536-3311 ext. 254 or [email protected].