OKLAhoma u. Students hope racist video will help spark change

Associated Press

NORMAN, OKLA.

A video of University of Oklahoma fraternity members engaging in a racist chant outraged and angered students across the campus, but its release also has sparked a dialogue that many students hope will lead to positive changes at the school.

Protests and rallies have taken place every day on the campus in Norman since the release earlier this week of the video, which shows students participating in a chant that referenced lynching and indicates black students would never be admitted to OU’s chapter of Sigma Alpha Epsilon.

On Wednesday, a town-hall-style forum on diversity sponsored by the black student group Unheard was planned on campus, and a student spokeswoman for the group said the incident appears to be serving as a catalyst for change.

“Just the students coming together has been a positive for me,” said Alexis Hall, a 20-year-old junior from Houston. “I think this is sparking a universitywide movement of: ‘Hey, we need to start making some changes. We’re going to improve things and make it better for all of our students.”’

Among the group’s grievances are low numbers of black faculty and administrators, poor retention rates among black students and a lack of programs aimed at supporting black students.

OU President David Boren booted the fraternity from campus and expelled two of its members for creating a hostile learning environment. He said that university officials had been working with Unheard, which formed after the police shooting of 18-year-old Michael Brown in Ferguson, Mo., to address concerns, and that those efforts will continue.

On Wednesday, Boren announced the creation of a new position — vice president for the university community. The person in that role, who has not yet been hired, will oversee diversity programs and report directly to the president.

A Dallas-area advocacy group, the Next Generation Action Network, said a peaceful protest was planned at the family home of Parker Rice, who has since apologized for participating in the chant.