US University expels students over racist chant
The chant refers to lynching in affirming that blacks shall never be members of the fraternity
The Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity is seen at the University of Oklahoma in Norman, Oklahoma, March 9, 2015. PHOTO: REUTERS
The University of Oklahoma expelled Tuesday two students who led a racist chant by members of a major college fraternity, caught in a video which went viral online.
"There is zero tolerance for this kind of threatening racist behavior at the University of Oklahoma," tweeted university president David Boren, a day after announcing the banning of the Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity.
"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 people," he added.
He did not identify the students, whose faces were clearly visible in the video, which came to light over the weekend just as Americans were marking the 50th anniversary of the Selma, Alabama civil rights marches.
The chant -- sung to the tune of a nursery rhyme -- used the racially charged N-word and refers to lynching in affirming that blacks shall never be members of the fraternity.
The video went viral on social media after it was posted on YouTube on Sunday by Unheard Movement, an African American student group at the university.
Nine seconds long, it was apparently shot in a bus, with young men in tuxedos punching the air with their fists and a blonde woman hoisting a glass of wine. It's unknown when the video was taken.
The university head added that others involved in the chanting will also face sanctions.
"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," he said.
"There is zero tolerance for this kind of threatening racist behavior at the University of Oklahoma," tweeted university president David Boren, a day after announcing the banning of the Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity.
"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 people," he added.
He did not identify the students, whose faces were clearly visible in the video, which came to light over the weekend just as Americans were marking the 50th anniversary of the Selma, Alabama civil rights marches.
The chant -- sung to the tune of a nursery rhyme -- used the racially charged N-word and refers to lynching in affirming that blacks shall never be members of the fraternity.
Warning: This video contains strong language.
The video went viral on social media after it was posted on YouTube on Sunday by Unheard Movement, an African American student group at the university.
Nine seconds long, it was apparently shot in a bus, with young men in tuxedos punching the air with their fists and a blonde woman hoisting a glass of wine. It's unknown when the video was taken.
The university head added that others involved in the chanting will also face sanctions.
"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," he said.