Students file petition against SU history professor

Two Southern University freshmen students filed a petition for a temporary restraining order and injunctive relief against their history professor.
The suit was filed by Derek Scott and James Buckley claiming that Veronica Freeman, a SU history professor, forced them to work at least 15 hours without pay for Wilson Fields’ judicial campaign.
According to the petition, Freeman forced the students to work for Fields’ campaign as a requirement for the successful completion of History of Civilization 114. They were only permitted to work for the Fields campaign and not the other four candidates running for the 19th Judicial District Court Judge race in East Baton Rouge Parish.
Freeman is charged with violation of constitutional and/or statutory provisions inclusive of the laws of contracts and obligations, unlawful procedure and unwarranted exercise of discretion.
The petition states that at the beginning of the semester, the students were informed by Freeman that as a prerequisite to successfully complete her history course, they would must provide 15 hours of voluntary work to the Wilson Fields campaign in connection with the October 20 election in order to earn a third of their final grade. Scott and Buckley felt that the requirement has absolutely no relevance to the class.
Also stated on the petition is that Freeman forced the students to work for a particular candidate to the exclusion of all other candidates against their will and in violation of the Voting Rights Act of 1965. Based upon information this illegal practice has been conducted contrary to the University policy and outside of the knowledge of University officials.
The Fabre’ Porter Law Firm filed the petition on behalf of Scott and Buckley.
Joel G. Porter, partner in the law firm, is also a candidate running against Wilson Fields. Other candidates running for 19th District Court Judge are Dele Adebamiji, Sonceree Clark-Smith, and Elisha Batiste.
According to the petition, Scott spoke with Freeman and expressed his reluctance with the requirement due to his desire to spend his time in the pursuit of his other academic obligations. Freeman warned him that if he did not complete her required 15 hours of work in the Wilson Fields campaign that his final grade in her class would be reduced by one-third.
Both students Scott and Buckley were advised by their lawyers not to comment on the case until it is over.
A hearing was scheduled for Tuesday, September 11,but was postponed due to the closing of all governmental building because of the attack on the World Trade Center and Pentagon.