SAN FRANCISCO -- A judge Tuesday reduced the assaulting a police office charge against a San Francisco State professor who claims he was a victim of racial profiling when he was stopped on the campus.

Backed by a courtroom full of orange armbanded supporters, Antwi Akom made his first court appearance Tuesday on the charges. The judge immediately reduced the assaulting an officer charge from a felony to misdemeanor. Akom also faces a misdemeanor resisting arrest charge.

Outside the courtroom, Akom once again charged that he was stopped from entering his on-campus office by a security guard because he was an African-American.

"The real issue here is that I was racially profiled, attacked, accosted, detained, criminalized in front of my own office, my own place of work," Akom told reporters. "My family is shocked, dismayed, traumatized but we're confident that justice will prevail because I haven't done anything wrong."

Akom's attorney -- former San Francisco Supervisor Matt Gonzales -- said his client was considering filing a civil suit.

"They made a terrible mistake, they had an opportunity to deescalate what was happening and instead they made matters worse," Gonzales said.

Prosecutors did not comment on the case.

Meanwhile, the president of San Francisco State University has asked an independent commission to investigate the case.

Akom, 37, an ethnic studies assistant professor, was arrested on October 25 after he allegedly refused to provide identification to a security guard during a late-night visit to his office. Authorities said Akom instigated a scuffle with university police officers.

Akom was charged with two felony counts of resisting arrest and assaulting a police officer. One officer was treated for minor injuries at a hospital.

Akom was released on his own recognizance and returned to teaching Tuesday.

University President Robert Corrigan said a team led by former San Francisco Mayor Willie Brown and former City Attorney Louise Renne will review the incident and allegations that Akom was the victim of racial profiling.

"We are a campus community that identifies itself by a central commitment to social justice and equity," Corrigan said in a statement. "Did we fully live up to those values on October 25? To answer that question, I believe our best course is a thorough external review of this matter."