A student at St. Louis University faces disciplinary action that could end in suspension or expulsion after posting flyers off campus to advertise a lecture by conservative commentator Matt Walsh.

James Dowling, a junior at St. Louis University, was notified last week he would be subjected to a disciplinary hearing for refusing to stop posting flyers at an off-campus location advertising Walsh’s lecture and for allegedly being “confrontational” and “disrespectful” to school administrators.

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In a pre-hearing Zoom meeting, a recording of which was reviewed by the Washington Examiner, William Bowey, the assistant director for the Office of Student Responsibility and Community Standards, informed Dowling his actions would be reviewed as a possible violation of the university's code of student conduct. If he is found in violation, he could be suspended or expelled.

The SLU College Republicans, in cooperation with Young America’s Foundation, has faced numerous hurdles in its bid to host Walsh on campus for a Dec. 1 lecture. The event has been moved twice and was ultimately held off campus after university officials refused to provide a venue.

On the day of the event, Dowling posted flyers advertising the event at a location he says was off school grounds. He says a pair of school administrators approached him and demanded he take down the flyers, prompting an animated discussion that lasted almost half an hour.

In the Zoom meeting and in a letter sent to Dowling, the university accused him of being “allegedly confrontational, disrespectful” and that he “failed to comply with reasonable requests made by the staff in accordance with their duties.”

During the Zoom pre-hearing, Dowling repeatedly tried to tell Bowey the incident took place off campus property and therefore outside the purview of school discipline. The administrator replied, "That would be a matter for the hearing.”

Bowey and SLU did not respond to requests for comment.

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The university assigned an employee of the campus ministry office, Becca Muder, to serve as Dowling’s adviser during the disciplinary process. When the hearing takes place, Bowey will be the sole adjudicator of whether Dowling violated the Student Code of Conduct. He will also decide what disciplinary action, if any, will be taken.