The fallout from the Union stabbing continues.

Eastern junior Robert Nichols has been suspended from the university for the entire 2006-2007 academic year. Nichols, a three-year letterman on the Panthers football team, was charged with violating two counts of the student conduct code including violent behavior and threatening of a student. He will be able to complete final exams next week but is then required to leave the campus.

Daniel Nadler, vice president for student affairs, did not comment about the specific case. However, he did answer other questions.

“Our staff members are dedicated and have worked extremely hard at establishing one of safest campuses in the country,” Nadler said. “Violent behaviors will not be tolerated in this community.”

The university judicial board held a pair of hearings on the stabbing incident that occurred Feb. 26 outside the Martin Luther King University Union. The episode left junior Ben Brown hospitalized and Eric McGee eventually charged with aggravated battery. Nichols was called to testify what had occurred before, during and after the stabbing.

“I told them that Eric McGee’s story about being attacked and then defending himself wasn’t how it happened,” Nichols said.

In the first hearing, Nichols admitted to going with a friend to McGee’s residence at Weller Hall and, according to the testimony and official suspension notice, that is when the notice states that Nichols threatened McGee.

Nichols said that he went to Weller a couple of days before the coaching staff met with the players telling them to stay away from McGee.

Nichols, however, does not believe he violated the conduct code.

“My friend had just been stabbed, and I wanted to talk with Eric McGee about the whole incident,” Nichols said. “Nobody but McGee could have witnessed it.”

It was in the second hearing where Nichols began to feel like he was facing disciplinary actions for being at McGee’s residence hall.

“It was then that I realized (the judicial board) were coming after me,” Nichols said.

Nichols, a Florida native, was restricted from spring football practices until the university ruled on the situation. Under university rules, Nichols is unable to transfer to another institution for a year because of the suspension and will return home to contemplate his options.

“I’ll have to sit out at home for an entire year and figure something out then,” Nichols said. “I guarantee they won’t re-admit me.”

The Panthers coaching staff stated that his scholarship will be open this upcoming season.

His first typed-out appeal to the student affairs department included four letters of recommendation written by Eastern head coach Bob Spoo, Eastern communication studies professor/advisor Mike Bradd and his high school football coach.

Nichols had a face-to-face meeting with Nadler Wednesday afternoon, and that is when he turned down Nichols’ final appeal.

“I’m extremely disappointed by the entire situation,” said Eastern defensive coordinator Roc Bellantoni. “With being so close to graduating, it’s unfortunate that he made this mistake.”