Ex-University of Okla. students apologize for racist video
NORMAN, Okla. (AP) — University of Oklahoma students demanded more from their campus administrators Tuesday, hours after the school released public apologies from two former students who were involved in a video in which one of the women wore blackface and used a racial slur.
About 1,000 students and faculty members gathered at a campus rally Tuesday during which administrators condemned the video in which a white woman is seen with black paint on her face as another white woman laughs. But as students took their turn at the microphone, many said they need to see more from campus leadership.
Student Courtney Patterson echoed calls from the campus Black Student Association to add a zero-tolerance policy on hate speech to the student code of conduct and for the hiring of more African-American faculty and staff.
“The university is trying to make the right decisions, but I think they need to include more students in the conversation moving forward,” Patterson said, “because an apology is simply not going to be enough.”
The university said the written apologies, in which both women said they never intended to hurt anyone, were sent to the Office of University Community on Saturday, a day after the video surfaced . University President James Gallogly announced Monday — noting it was Martin Luther King Jr. Day, which honors the slain black civil rights leader — that both women had voluntarily withdrawn from campus.
Frances Ford said in her statement that the video was “insensitive and irresponsible,” adding: “I am truly heartbroken over this mistake and deeply regret any adverse reactions.” Olivia Urban called the video “the most regrettable decision of my life.”
“My heart hurts to see the traumatic impact my words and actions have had on those who have been hurt of my behalf,” Urban said. “There is no excuse for this behavior, in private or in public.”
Phone messages left Tuesday by The Associated Press at numbers listed for Urban and Ford were not immediately returned.
The University of Oklahoma Tri Delta sorority chapter also said in a statement that it has removed one of the women from membership.
The university severed ties with a fraternity in 2015 after several members took part in a chant caught on video that referenced lynching.
Gallogly said Monday that having a second incident just a few years later shows that “there must be something systemic” and that the campus has work to do.
___
Associated Press investigative researcher Randy Herschaft in New York contributed to this report.
___
Follow Sean Murphy at www.twitter.com/apseanmurphy
The Western Journal has not reviewed this Associated Press story prior to publication. Therefore, it may contain editorial bias or may in some other way not meet our normal editorial standards. It is provided to our readers as a service from The Western Journal.
Truth and Accuracy
We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism. Read our editorial standards.
