March 9, 2015
Current Events
The 9-second video was uploaded to YouTube by an anonymous user and provided a disgusting inside look at several fraternity members clapping and singing racist lyrics to the tune of “If You’re Happy And You Know It.” The lyrics as heard in the video are:
“There will never be a nig*er in SAE.
There will never be a nig*er in SAE.
You can hang him from a tree,
But he can never sign with me
There will never be a nig*er in SAE.”
“When we learned about this incident, I called an immediate board meeting, and we determined with no mental reservation whatsoever that this chapter needed to be closed immediately,” Sigma Alpha Epsilon national president Brad Cohen said in a statement. “In addition, all of the members have been suspended, and those members who are responsible for the incident may have their membership privileges revoked permanently.”
“We apologize for the unacceptable and racist behavior of the individuals in the video, and we are disgusted that any member would act in such a way,” he continued. “Furthermore, we are embarrassed by this video and offer our empathy not only to anyone outside the organization who is offended but also to our brothers who come from a wide range of backgrounds, cultures and ethnicities.”
Prior to the actions by the national headquarters, University of Oklahoma President David Boren said he was prepared to permanently remove the fraternity from campus.
“This behavior will not be tolerated… This behavior is reprehensible and contrary to all of our values,” Boren said.
This is ignorant and I'm glad the fraternity and school acted fast to kick these jackasses off campus.
Pres. Obama at Selma this past weekend, 50 years after "Bloody Sunday":
And yet, what could be more American than what happened in this place? …
What greater expression of faith in the American experiment than this, what greater form of patriotism is there than the belief that America is not yet finished, that we are strong enough to be self-critical, that each successive generation can look upon our imperfections and decide that it is in our power to remake this nation to more closely align with our highest ideals?
The American instinct that led these young men and women to pick up the torch and cross this bridge, that’s the same instinct that moved patriots to choose revolution over tyranny….
It’s the idea held by generations of citizens who believed that America is a constant work in progress; who believed that loving this country requires more than singing its praises or avoiding uncomfortable truths. It requires the occasional disruption, the willingness to speak out for what is right, to shake up the status quo. That’s America. That’s what makes us unique. [….]
I commend ALL the students at the University of Oklahoma who gathered together in a pre-dawn rally on campus, just hours after a SAE investigation confirmed the contents of the video and announced the closing of their local chapter.
H/T: TheGrio.com
The University President, however, who also attended the rally gets no such recognition from me. As I see it, those students who took part in that Racist chant did NOT appear to be the least bit worried about engaging in such disgusting behavior. On the contrary, they appeared to be quite comfortable, as if it is quite a common thing in the cultural environment at the University of Oklahoma. The only difference is….this time their actions were video-taped and posted online by someone for ALL the world to see.
University of Oklahoma President David Boren issued this statement today on the racist video from the SAE Fraternity:
"To those who have misused their free speech in such a reprehensible way, I have a message for you. You are disgraceful. You have violated all that we sand for. You should not have the privilege of calling yourselves "Sooners". Real Sooners are not racist. Real Sooners are not bigots. Real Sooners believe in equal opportunity. Real Sooners treat all people with respect. Real Sooners love each other take care of each other like family members.
"Effective immediately, all ties and affiliations between this University and the local SAE chapter are hereby severed. I direct that the house be closed and that members will remove their personal belongings from the house by midnight tomorrow. Those needing to make special arrangements for positions shall contact the Dean of Students.
"All of us will redouble our efforts to create the strongest sense of family and community. We vow that we will be an example to the entire country of how to deal with this issue. There must be a zero tolerance for racism everywhere in our nation.
President Boren"
My recent post Commemorating Selma's 'Bloody Sunday'