OU President James Gallogly asked students to “contemplate the harm, degradation and fear words can cause” in a statement released Thursday afternoon following the leak of racist messages from the OU College Republicans group message.
Gallogly acknowledged such comments are legally protected, but said the university will be reaching out to the leadership of the organization to “emphasize the impacts such harmful language has on valued members of our community and to reiterate that the sentiments expressed are inconsistent with our University values.”
“I have learned today of online posts that make it clear our community continues to wrestle with the boundaries of civil, respectful and thoughtful dialogue,” Gallogly said. “The posts, made in past months, reflected messages among members of a student organization and were racist, anti-Islamic, misogynistic, and anti-immigrant. ”
Gallogly said he asks students to recognize other members of campus as “worthy of respect and dignity.”
“Each of us has the responsibility to treat others with civility even within the confines of debate,” Gallogly said.
