Racist videos by students at North Carolina university ‘disgust’ school chancellor
(Warning: The videos linked to in this story contain racist and sexually explicit language.)
Multiple videos surfaced over the weekend showing students at Western Carolina University using racial slurs and other bigoted language, university officials confirmed in statements on social media.
Now Chancellor Kelli R. Brown says the school is taking action.
“We cannot disclose specific actions taken against a specific student(s),” Brown said in a statement on Facebook. “With that in mind, our inability to communicate specific actions should not be construed as inaction. Western Carolina University takes seriously the effect that these videos have had on the campus community and will act accordingly.”
Brown also said it was “difficult to express the level of disappointment and disgust” she felt over the student’s conduct.
The videos, which show university students repeatedly using the n-word, were shared in quick succession on Saturday and Sunday in posts that tagged the university demanding disciplinary action.
“This is the type of school I’ve been attending for three years, folks,” a Black student captioned the first video, which was posted Saturday and has since been shared more than 170 times on Facebook.
The video appears to be a Snapchat story in which two female students discuss the use of the n-word.
“If I’m a cracker, you’re allowed to call them a (n-word) — not with the ‘er,’ just with the ‘a,’ ” the first is heard saying.
The second student reiterates her.
“Just with the ‘a.’ Not with the ‘er.’ Let’s pipe it down,” she says. “If you don’t like my Snapchat stories, gladly take me off — take me off.”
Western Carolina later posted a statement to its Facebook page condemning “in the strongest possible terms the bigoted and racially insensitive sentiments expressed in the videos shared on social media earlier today.”
Officials said they were also “reviewing the posts for violation of university policy and the student code of conduct and will follow up as appropriate.”
A second video surfaced Sunday.
“Another one in 24 hours,” the student who shared it said on Facebook. “And all we have is a worthless diversity and inclusion statement that isn’t going to do anything. Full disclosure here: if I was not a senior, I would leave.”
The video was also shared on Instagram, where it’s been viewed almost 10,000 times.
In the video, two male students defend their use of the “OK” hand gesture — which the Anti-Defamation League has linked to white supremacy.
“Hey (n-word),” one of the students says in the video. “I gotta tell you just because you throw up this like it’s an OK, doesn’t mean that it’s white power, okay? Now we might be f---ing Trump fans, but we ain’t racist man. Come on. Get your f---ing act together.”
A second student then tells people to “ease off the racist sh--, bro” before reiterating “we’re not f---ing being racist, hop off.”
The video ends with the first student saying “aye, but if you do know some (n-word) gals that want to come over and f--k, man, let me know.”
Western Carolina’s chancellor responded to the video in a follow-up statement Sunday night.
“Over the weekend there have been several videos of students — Western Carolina University students — that are displaying behavior that is racist and bigoted,” Brown said in a video accompanying her statement. “This behavior disappoints, angers, frustrates me to no end.”
She said she also met with student leaders on campus who had expressed “their fear, anxiety and pain” over the videos.
“They also expressed — as well as others — the request for action,” Brown said. “This is a justifiable request. University officials are taking active steps even now.”
Western Carolina is in Cullowhee, North Carolina, and returned for in-person classes on Aug. 17, according to its website. The university reported 28 cases of COVID-19 among students during its first week back but has not announced plans to switch to online learning, unlike its counterparts at UNC-Chapel Hill, N.C. State, East Carolina and UNC-Charlotte.
