University of Oklahoma fraternity closed after racist video leaks
Sunday evening, University of Oklahoma student newspaper The Oklahoma Daily posted a video of Sigma Alpha Epsilon members, dressed in formal attire and riding a bus, chanting about how "there will never be a n—er in SAE," and including an apparent reference to lynching.
The video was uploaded to YouTube on Sunday by Unheard, a black group on campus, who said that even "50 years after the events that occurred in Selma, Alabama, we still have a reason to march," adding that the language in the chant was "offensive, disrespectful, and unacceptable." SAE's national chapter agreed. Here's SAE national president Brad Cohen on Sunday night:
Dealing with the UO chapter meant shutting it down and suspending all its members. After an emergency board meeting, Cohen said in a statement, "we determined with no mental reservation whatsoever that this chapter needed to be closed immediately." If they hadn't, University of Oklahoma probably would have. "If UO students are involved, this behavior will not be tolerated and will be addressed very quickly," university President David Boren said in a statement. "If the reports are true the chapter will no longer remain on campus."
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Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.
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