Middlebury College issued a one-year suspension to Anna Shireman-Grabowski, the student activist who helped tear down a 9/11 memorial flag display as part of a protest against U.S. imperialism.
The judicial board of the private Vermont college ruled that Grabowski had violated standards regarding respect for persons and property, and general conduct. She appealed the suspension, but it was upheld.
Grabowski was one of five people involved in the incident. Another participant was confirmed as Amanda Lickers, a Canadian activist and non-student. The college could not determine who else was involved.
“The identities of the other three are unknown,” wrote the college in a statement. “We have no evidence that any of them are Middlebury students.”
Sarah Ray, a spokesperson for Middlebury, told The Daily Caller that the college considers the matter closed.
The memorial consisted of 3,000 flags planted in a field on campus, symbolizing the death toll of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. Conservative and liberal student groups come together each year to create the display. (RELATED: Student destroys 9/11 memorial flag display, citing US imperialism)
But this year, Grabowski and her co-conspirators tore out all the flags. In a public statement, she explained that they were protesting U.S. imperialism and disrespect for Native American grounds. (RELATED: Native American tribe calls protesters who destroyed 9/11 memorial ‘disgusting’)
The field was hallowed ground for Native Americans, and planting flags there was offensive to their beliefs, she said.
“Please understand that I am grappling with my complicity in the overwhelming legacy of settler colonialism,” she wrote.
Grabowski will have plenty of time for grappling this coming year.
She did not immediately respond to a request for comment.