Photo by Chelsea Komer
Update: Sunday, 5:20 p.m.
Another Snapchat video involving racial slurs has surfaced, this time via Instagram user @christianxharris_. In the video two WCU students are shown repeatedly saying the n-word and arguing that the “white power” hand signal is not a show of racism. The student body at large is publicly and actively calling for the expulsion of these students on social media.
WCU’s Administration has not yet made a statement on the matter.
ORIGINAL POSTING
On Saturday, Aug. 22, a Snapchat video of a Western Carolina University student saying the n-word surfaced via Twitter user @deon_bond. The since deleted video came from a secondhand screen recording, in which the student is seen talking to the camera before she says the racial slur. It garnered a quick reaction, with WCU Administration releasing a statement within two hours of the video’s release. Here’s the full statement:
“Western Carolina University leadership condemns in the strongest possible terms the bigoted and racially insensitive sentiments expressed in the videos shared on social media earlier today. WCU is a community that values diversity and inclusion and this behavior is inconsistent with our values and our Student Community Creed. All members of the Catamount community are expected to treat others with dignity and respect and these students failed to live up to that expectation. We also should hold ourselves and one another accountable for the climate of our community. University officials are currently reviewing the posts for violation of university policy and the student code of conduct and will follow up as appropriate.”
BSU President Brittney Windham’s full statement.
Many prominent figures from WCU commented on the matter. Black Student Union president Brittney Windham, said via Instagram stories: “I am disgusted and beyond upset to keep seeing these racist situations pop up.”
This controversy comes less than a week after another racially charged post from a student, albeit one which gained less traction. That post saw the student don a sombrero while posing in front of the US-Mexico border. Many found it to be offensive, including WCU’s LatinX Appreciation Student Organization (LASO) who released a statement on the matter.
LASO’s full statement on insensitive post from student
A source familiar with the situation told The Journalist that WCU Administration is also taking steps to address the situation and to levy punishment, although the details are unclear and no statement has been released on the matter.
DISCLAIMER – Joel Vélez Rodríguez is the publisher for LASO.
