OU President David Boren expels two students for involvement in racist video

[Omaha Steve]

Source: KOCO

NORMAN, Okla. —University of Oklahoma President David Boren has expelled two students identified as leaders in a racist chant video recorded at an SAE fraternity event.

Boren said the students who played a leadership role had created a hostile learning environment for others.

“I have emphasized that there is zero tolerance for this kind of threatening racist behavior at the University of Oklahoma. I hope that the entire nation will join us in having zero tolerance of such racism when it raises its ugly head in other situations across our country. I am extremely proud of the reaction and response expressed by our entire university family - students,faculty, staff, and alumni about this incident. They are “Real Sooners” who believe in mutual respect for all. I hope that students involved in this incident will learn from this experience and realize that it is wrong to use words to hurt, threaten, and exclude other people. We will continue our investigation of all the students engaged in the singing of this chant. Once their identities have been confirmed, they will be subject to appropriate disciplinary action,” Boren said in a news release.



Oklahoma University has ended its affiliation with the Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity after a video showing party-bound members singing a racist chant surfaced. Here's a look at what happened.

Read more: http://www.koco.com/news/boren-expels-two-students-for-involvement-in-racist-video/31714126

[Archae]

1. Good.

[erpowers]

2. The Times They Are a Changin

This country may not be where it needs to be, but the reaction to this story proves that things have truly changed. Years ago the kids in that video would not have been expelled; they would have been heroes. I know for some these kids are actually heroes, but at least the school, the national fraternity, and the students stood up against them.

[bullwinkle428]

3. They'll probably win next year's "Breitbart Free Speech" award at CPAC,

following in the shoes of that fine American (ass-clown) Duck Dynasty patriarch.

[cui bono]

5. And people will hear all about it via social media.

And anyone who claims it isn't fair will shouted down.

Now those two have "hate" on their permanent record. And at least one of them was visible in the video. I didn't really watch it but saw a snippet of it on the local news.

The thought of these assholes scrambling to get all their stuff, find a place to live, now deal with expulsion and those who haven't been expelled shivering in fear of the hammer coming down on them does make me grin a tiny bit. But in reality it is sad that people are still being raised to hate other people for no good reason. And how much you wanna bet they came from "good, church-going, xian families".

[JimDandy]

4. Good for them. When I lived there years ago,

OK was a racist stink hole...and Indians, not just blacks, got the brunt of it, too. Was thinking not much has changed, but this is a good sign if a major institution is speaking out against racist actions. Of course, their bottom line ($$$) might have been affected had they not.

[City Lights]

6. This is great news!

Thanks, Omaha Steve!

[1StrongBlackMan]

7. And the two expelled students ...

will promptly whine to fox that it was an alcohol infused joke that was taken out of context and spun to deny them their first amendment right to express their position on the future membership of their beloved philanthropic organization.

[Android3.14]

8. Wanna bet there are other videos from the other white frats?

That chant was open, loud and an obvious sign that racism is a common and accepted practice with the fraternities (wealthy white boys) on that campus.

[radicalliberal]

9. Good riddance! n/t

[Cha]

10. Compelling statement from OU President David Boren.. Mahalo Steve

[msongs]

11. tip of the iceberg in oklahoma nt

[Tarheel_Dem]

12. I hope that racist assholes EVERYWHERE are finding it as uncomfortable as they've made the rest of..

us for decades. I love Sunlight on these assholes. Kudos to the brave soul who recorded & ultimately posted the video.

[Orrex]

13. Wow! Awesome!

Yesterday I had the impression that he wasn't able to expel them for this, but I'm glad to hear that he can!

[geek tragedy]

17. legally, maybe he can maybe he can't

in real practice, are they really going to want to publicly contest this and publicize their names as the guilty parties?

[AngryAmish]

14. Well, they can't sue because of this.

Too unpopular.

[geek tragedy]

16. yeah, that woud involve putting their names out there as the perps nt

[Enthusiast]

15. I'm glad to hear it.

[mahatmakanejeeves]

18. Protected speech.

Read the comments:

Boren expels students connected to Sigma Alpha Epsilon's racist video

[kwassa]

19. Unfortunately, their racist free speech might be constitutionally protected.

according to this free speech law expert:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/volokh-conspiracy/wp/2015/03/10/no-a-public-university-may-not-expel-students-for-racist-speech/

[Omaha Steve]

20. OR a hate crime?

"Hanging N words from a tree" implies violence on blacks for sure.

[Ilsa]

21. But the fraternity may not like it.

Was the trip they were on related to a university activity? Then they might be expected to comport themselves like mature, decent citizens. They may have violated a student code.

[kwassa]

22. The national office for this fraternity has already closed this OU chapter.

They did it quickly. Boren kicked them out of the fraternity house, as of midnight tonight.

[Doctor_J]

24. protected from prosecution

The constitution says nothing about what universities can or can't do.

[appalachiablue]

23. Good for the univ. Pres. taking strong action against vile hatred.

[tabasco]

25. Boren is demonstrating excellent leadership

This is the kind of decisive action Penn State could have used.