I signed the petition and posted it up on FaceBook... Good luck and I hope they DO drop the charges and don't expel you!

I’m not a Columbia College student, but I am familiar with Amber and a lot of girls that go there.
I can understand some alarm arising from a loud pop of a firecracker, especially since campus shootings seem to be on the minds of students and parents. I do believe she should be punished according to Columbia College procedure, but having her serve time is just ridiculous. The punishment she’s currently serving does not fit the crime. I know of drunk drivers and even hear of drug dealers who distribute who get better treatment.
Yes, I think that CCPD had every right to search and seizure, but “A room full of fireworks” is exaggerating it. I’m really good friends with her roommate. I think I’d raise an eyebrow at “a room full of fireworks”, but my eyes didn’t see that. BlackCats are sold in packs, or bricks. If she set off one BlackCat, well common sense would tell you that the rest of the pack would be on her person or in her room. As for knives, guys I’m not from the South, but even I know of southern belles who have hunting knives. If I was getting my car worked on, I’d take my knife out and store it. Which she did. Was she carrying those knives?! No. They were in her room and were found during the search.
As for disturbing school, no one really knew about it until a scene was stirred and Richland County Law Enforcement showed up.
Everyone at some point disregards rules. I do believe that setting off a firecracker on campus was juvenile and irresponsible, but who doesn’t get that way when they’re excited about their birthday. She was just celebrating her birthday, no intentions of being malicious. Let the punishment fit the misdemeanor… Jail time was blowing it wayyyy out of proportion. All this media coverage is a bit much too.
I’m not going to deny it, a lot of people never took the Columbia College Police Department seriously. I think CCPD went on a power trip with this one, though.

I have known Amber for MANY YEARS... never have I found her to be intentionally malicious towards any individual. If you check her academic record you will find the same. I do believe in consequences...however let the punishment fit the crime. This should have been handled quietly by the administration and should not have ever involved the media. If Amber gets absolved from charges... her name and reputation is now everywhere for people to pass judgment. Let the administration handle this quietly. If you are in support and have not signed yet on Amber's behalf... please do so... the petition can be signed here http://www.gopetition.com/petitions/drop-charges-against-amber-willbur.html

That's the point though. It wasn't an illegal search. That seems to be the most common defense for her. One individual even said CCPD was "Blatanly disregarding the rules." But in fact, they followed procedure exactly. Students in support of Amber that verbally attack the school for this reason should double check and get their facts straight. There are no grounds to get upset at the school for doing their jobs. All you can do is ask why Amber didn't follow the rules in the first place.

I believe that this situation was blown far out of proportion. Between the article and statements that were made a simple firecracker was given a gravity it didn't deserve. If there was an infraction on Amber's part then yes there should be consequences. However if this said "infraction" is based on coinsidence and illegal searches then there shouldn't be a problem. If everyone was arrested for firecrackers what would happen during New Years and Fourth of July? As for being charged with disturbing school. Believe it or not most of Columbia College's students and staff found out thanks to the media.

"The College respects the students' right to privacy and their desire to control their own living environment. The College, however, has the responsibility to provide quality residential facilities for both present and future occupants. Therefore, the College retains the right to enter students' rooms, but only in the case of emergency or for cause, and in accordance with the following procedures.
1. If an unusual situation arises or if there is suspicion of illegal use of the room (e.g., to store stolen goods, the presence of alcohol or drugs, etc.) or a violation of College policy, the situation will be reported to the student and administrative personnel.
2. Before examination of the premises occupied by students, application must be made to the Dean of Students, the Director of Residence Life, or their designee indicating the reasons for the search and the objects or information sought...
3. Except in cases of imminent danger, or if the occupant cannot be located, the occupant will be invited to be present and will be informed of the reason for the examination."

Read the Student Handbook. The Columbia College Police and Residence Life staff were clearly following protocol regarding the situation. It is not merely the fireworks that have gotten Amber in trouble. It is a combination of weapons, alcohol, and fireworks. Whether or not other students have these items also does make the rule any more or less valid. If you aware of students who have these items, please contact CCPD with the information so that all students are treated equally.

Okay, i DID not have a "room full of alcohol and fireworks"

Obviously dont try and judge things you know nothing about

have a nice day

I see a few comments here that say that the ccpd were right in arresting Amber for "dangerous explosions and knives". First of all, knives aren't illegal on campus, and Amber's room was searched illegally to find them. Second, there was no "explosion". Black Cats simply make a loud pop. Thats ALL! No damage was, or could have been caused, and I think everyone is over reacting. FREE AMBER OF THESE CHARGES AGAINST HER! ITS NOT FAIR! Everyone knows that she is one of the sweetest people on campus and no one that really knows her could say differently. I can't believe this has come to this level. I'm seriously disappointed with Columbia College, and my fellow students who agree that the CCPD did the right thing. You are wrong!

I am a residential student at Columbia College and I think that this is absolutely ridiculous. She does not deserve any of this punishment, and I think the CCPD and the rules are twisted. Felony charges for a tiny firecracker that really can cause no harm at all? Really? She is an excellent student and you have just ruined that for her. Great going Columbia College. You really went big this time.

It was just a fire cracker. 13 year olds light them off with little disregard to their surroundings all the time. Yes, it was against the rules. But plenty of people break the rule and she just lit a firework in celebration of her 20th birthday. My room directly faces the smoker's area and my window is always open; so I could hear the whole thing. Sure, it startled me a bit. Just as any loud noise would. But I KNEW it was a firework. We here much more startling things around campus than a celebration firework. This whole thing is being taken completely out of hand.

It was ONE firecracker--firecrackers do not light trees on fire, nor do they blow up buildings. While I feel bad for her room being searched, it IS a school policy that this is NOT our property, and therefore we forfeit the right to hide anything in our rooms. They do have the right to search any room whenever they feel the need to do so. However, I believe the situation has been blown way out of proportion and I do not feel a jail sentence is fair punishment for one firecracker set off in celebration of an upcoming birthday. There are many other people in the city of Columbia--yes, even at Columbia College--that I feel the police should be focusing their attention on. I feel Amber does not deserve misdemeanor or felony charges on her record for one firecracker; it was harmless, just girls having fun.

Every studen twho enters Columbia COllege is made fully aware of the rules governing what is or is not allowed on campus. Fireworks are illegal on campus. I fully agree with CC police that in this day, when campus shootings seem to be common, we don't want explosions on campus, especially with Columbia College's history of fires.
The student acted irresponsibly by blatantly ignoring the rules of the school. If an exception is made for her then what happens next time? Some people just don't seem to think rules apply to them and this girl is one of those people. I am not basing my opinion on just this incident either.
If your child were a student there and someone scared half the population or, worse yet, started a fire on campus, with their juvenile activities, how would you feel? Besides shooting fireworks in a restricted area is pretty serious, even if it is a college campus.

She may have signed a paper at the beginning of the year, but in our student handbook it clearly states the policy regarding search of students' rooms, and the Columbia College Police Department BLATANTLY disregarded said policy. As such, pressing charges because of the firecrackers she didn't light and the knives that aren't expressly forbidden would be very difficult, and the students here intend to make sure that, if that happens, it is made publicly known exactly how illegally those items were obtained.

Fireworks are used and sold all over South Carolina. The kid set off one Black Cat. Get over it. A knife in her room is suppose to be indication of a problem. I bet there are a lot of kids with knives in their rooms and cars. A "room full of fireworks" is a little extreme. I bet the police found a pack of Black Cat firecrackers which is normally how they are sold. Next think we will see kids suspended or sent to some sort of juvenile jail for bring a plastic knife to school. Wait a minute, that has already happened. Blanket rules are ridiculous when it comes to stuff like this.

Have some common sense, people. Who in their right mind has a room full of fire crackers, knives, and alcohol?
I think that the Columbia College Police did their jobs. This girl clearly broke the rules (that every student has a hard copy of) in more ways than one. The police and the residency directors have every right to search her room because she signed over that right when she signed the residency contract. As a Columbia College woman I am embarrased by this girl's actions and blatant disregard of school policy. What educated person in their right mind would starting lighting firecrackers in front of a building? Let's not forget that this particular place that she was doing this has a large low-hanging tree that could have easily caught fire, and an entire row of cars only a couple of feet away that could have easily caused an explosion. She is lucky that no one was hurt.

As a Columbia College student, I can honestly say that I was, in no way, alarmed by the firework. If it were a gun that went off, I could understand the chaos regarding this situation. However, I am sure that everyone on our campus has heard a firework before and know they are for celebratory purposes, rather than to provoke a scene worth being expelled over.