Chambana Sun

A heated exchange during a Nov. 16 protest shook the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign campus.

Tariq Khan, a teaching assistant and doctoral candidate at the university, was arrested after allegedly assaulting two students during an altercation and destroying a student's cellphone.

The incident took place during an anti-Trump demonstration, which Khan was a part of. During the altercation, Khan mistook heckling by conservative students for threats against his children. The incident was captured on film and was obtained by CampusReform.org.

University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana

Robin Kaler, associate chancellor for public affairs at the university, gave a statement to the Chambana Sun regarding Khan’s action.

"We do not publicly discuss individual disciplinary actions or investigations.” Kaler said. “The Office for Student Conflict Resolution is responsible for investigating possible violations of the student code. They evaluate cases and pursue charges when appropriate. Given federal privacy laws and our own university policies, we do not comment on disciplinary charges or outcomes in such situations.”

While Kaler didn’t specify the official disciplinary action that will take place against Khan, she did mention the protocol the university has in place.

“University police also have clear and consistent procedures in place to investigate and, if necessary, initiate appropriate actions in cases where laws may have broken.” Kaler said. "Certain details of these investigations are not public in nature and decisions related to prosecution fall under the discretion of the office of the state’s ttorney.”

“The university is committed to protecting the rights of expression and speech of all members of our community and our processes apply equally to all." Kaler said at the end of the statement.

Khan has pleaded not guilty to a Class A misdemeanor charge of criminal damage to property and is scheduled to appear in court Feb. 2, the News-Gazette reported on its website.