Orionna Brumfield
MC301 Contributor/Staff
The University of Oklahoma suspended two Sigma Alpha Epsilon (SAE) fraternity members, closed their faraternity house and severed ties with the organization after a racist video surfaced in early March.
The video showing the fraternity members chanting “there would never be a ‘nigger’ in SAE” and also referencing hanging ‘them’ from a tree caused widespread outrage over the incident.
Kendall Bunch, a member of the Delta Phi Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. at Jackson State University was not surprised about the SAE video.
“Several incidents have occurred over the past few years where racism has shown itself to be very much alive. This incident just further shows that though we have come far we still have a way to go,” said Bunch, a sophomore accounting major from Olive Branch, Miss.
This was not the first racist video linked to the University of Oklahoma SAE chapter. Another video was posted in 2013 on Vine, a social media video sharing site, showing the fraternity’s 79 year-old house mother laughing as she used racial slurs while singing along to a rap song.
Jordan Darensbourg, a junior meteorology major from Smyrna, Ga. said, “I want to applaud the (University of Oklahoma) President Boren in his decision to expel the students because he is a great man expressing his anger for the lack of diversity. President Boren said in his statement that they will not be back as long as he’s president.”
For many students, the video was another example of how racism is still very much alive.
“I still see racism today as blacks and whites still don’t speak to each other,” said Destiney Lawrence, a sophomore biology/pre-med major from Fair Hope, Ala.
Lawrence believes that there should be no division among the different ethnic backgrounds here at the university.
“I feel like the fight (racisms) is already won, and they don’t even know it. Blacks and whites are equal, and they haven’t established or understood that yet,” said Lawrence.
At Jackson State, there are organizations such as the NAACP who strive to promote causes and programs for not only blacks, but all students at JSU.
“Being at a university that is open to diversity, we try our best to make sure that everyone understands that our world is now becoming a melting pie of different nationalities. It’s time for us to have a common ground,” said Robin Jackson, a junior political science major from Jackson, Miss. and Miss NAACP.
Shadai Hailey, a member of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc. at JSU believes there should some type of forum required Greek organizations because their actions can affect the university in a negative way.
“Greek fraternities and other organizations are based upon sisterhood and brotherhood, bonding, and helping out the community. You can’t help out the community if you don’t respect all the members apart of it,” said Hailey, a senior English education major from Detroit, Mich.
According to SAE’s website, the organization has approximately 15,000 members and 219 chapters nationwide. Founded at the University of Alabama in 1856, SAE is the only social fraternity established in the Antebellum South still in existence.
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