Skip to main content
You are the owner of this article.
Edit Article Add New Article
You have permission to edit this article.
Edit

LATEST

ALERT

Weather Alert

...HEAT ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 7 PM CDT SUNDAY...

* WHAT...Heat index values up to 110 expected.

* WHERE...Portions of central, east central, southeast, and southern
Oklahoma.

* WHEN...Until 7 PM CDT Sunday.

* IMPACTS...Hot temperatures and high humidity may cause heat
illnesses.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Drink plenty of fluids, stay in an air-conditioned room, stay out of
the sun, and check up on relatives and neighbors.

&&
Breaking

OU campus leaders speak on racist video, Sigma Alpha Epsilon investigation

SAE

After a video allegedly depicting OU’s Sigma Alpha Epsilon members participating in a racist chant leaked online, various OU administrators and student leaders responded.

While campus officials have not confirmed if the men depicted are OU students from OU’s Sigma Alpha Epsilon chapter, OU officials condemn the actions of those participating.

OU President David Boren:

"I have just been informed of the video, which purports to show students engaging in a racist chant. We are investigating to determine if the video involved OU students. If OU students are involved, this behavior will not be tolerated and will be addressed very quickly. This behavior is contrary to all of our values."

Sigma Alpha Epsilon’s national organization tweeted:

“We are investigating the details and will sanction those who are responsible.”

Interfraternity Council President Payne Parker:

“The OU Interfraternity Council does not tolerate any of the behavior shown in the video. In response, we will be conducting our own investigation.”

Parker has yet to respond to follow-up questions about his statement.

Black Student Association President Isaac Hill:

“Right now, I’m just really disappointed to see, after all the things that have transpired on campus, [to] still see things like this popping up. But I’m also a little bit encouraged to know that someone had the courage to at least share that with people and let us know how some people are thinking right now.”

Student Government Association President Kunal Naik:

“SGA fully supports the statement put out by President Boren, but not speaking on behalf of OU, I was appalled that something like that could happen in 2015 at a public university in the United States of America. It makes me feel awful for all black students at this campus. As a person of color, I understand what it is like to be a minority but never, ever to the extent and what they have to deal with. I just wish I could reach out to every black student on campus and say 'Hey, I know there are some people on campus that believe things like and are willing to say things like that but there are also so many people here who support you and know that OU is a family for everyone. And if there are people who will attack you like that, we will stand up and support you however you need it so you can achieve it.'

I understand right now in a situation like this the initial reaction is to condemn the fraternity in question, but right now I just want to support the students of color at the university and I personally want to make sure that nothing like this happens ever again. It makes me sick.”

Undergraduate Student Congress chair Lauren Aragon:

"I think such words and actions are despicable. The veil of tradition in no way excuses such actions, and hate speech is never acceptable."

Undergraduate Student Congress public relations committee chair Emery Skelton:

"This week was supposed to be about celebrating what our University is capable of and what we did for the kids. We raised over half a million dollars. Now we get to spend the week talking about the one frat that is consistently notorious for making our university look bad instead of celebrating our accomplishments. 

We are a diverse community that accepts people for who they are. If you are at this University and you can't accept people with differences, whether it's religious beliefs, gender, race, sexuality, etc., then you'd be doing us all a favor by leaving. We are ONE University. "
 
Matt Epting, former Student Government Association President:

"The despicable chant shown in this video reflects attitudes that have no place at the University of Oklahoma. The chant was not performed by only one or two members - it was clear that quite a few members knew the offensive words by heart. That kind of toxic chapter culture cannot be tolerated, and the Greek chapter responsible for it should be closed. 
 
As a Greek student, I’m grateful for my experience and I’m proud of the contributions our chapters make to the university and community at large. But if we’re allowing destructive attitudes to fester in our chapters, we’re failing. I urge Greek leaders to take specific actions within their chapters now to ensure racism has no place in the OU community."
 
OU Panhellenic tweeted:
 
"Panhellenic is outraged by this incident. We in no way condone this behavior. All involved should be held responsible."

OU Daily standards

See an error? Earning trust is our duty. We correct errors atop stories. Identify an error, request a takedown or get in touch.

Independent and free since 1916: OU is committed to our editorial independence. You can help ensure our reporting remains strong and accessible to all invested in OU and Norman.

Want to comment? We value dialogue on issues we cover. On our social media accounts, we moderate disparagements, arguments and attacks, including those directed at our staff — and ban those repeatedly failing civility. The editor considers guest column submissions.