The Brown University student who threw a pie at New York Times columnist Thomas Friedman during his Earth Day speech last month at the campus was suspended for one semester by the university after an administrative hearing last Wednesday.

The student, Margaree Little, 22, who grew up in South Kingstown, said she was notified Wednesday of the suspension — a result of breaking Brown’s protest policy by interrupting Friedman’s speech.

Just as Friedman took his place behind the podium, Little, and an unidentified male accomplice, ran onto the stage and threw two green Cool Whip pies at him.

After, they both immediately fled the auditorium through a side door. A professor apprehended Little outside the building and turned her over to the campus police.

Little does not face any criminal charges, but her university suspension will delay the graduation of the English major.

The stunt involving the famous author and columnist garnered copious media attention –– a YouTube video of the incident has received more than 75,000 hits and several national newspapers and popular blogs ran the story –– including vicious attacks against Little.

As Little and her accomplice fled, they threw several fliers that outlined some of their disagreements with the speaker.

“Thomas Friedman deserves a pie in the face because of his sickeningly cheery applaud for free market capitalism’s conquest of the planet, for telling the world that the free market and techno fixes can save us from climate change…” the flier said.

Even after the university handed down the suspension, which she said “is clearly disproportionate” to the action, Little said she doesn’t regret what she did.

“Fortunately it did succeed in opening up a lot of debate,” Little said. “I don’t have any regrets.”

Little said she has not decided exactly what she will do until she can return to Brown, but she wants to travel and continue to work on social-justice issues.

The university had no comment about the suspension, saying only that it does not comment on student disciplinary action.

ngarcia@projo.com