Oklahoma Football Team Stages Silent Protest over Racist Frat Video
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Photo by JP Wilson/Replay Photos via Getty Images)(NORMAN, Okla.) — The University of Oklahoma football team held a silent protest Thursday instead of practicing in response to a video showing members of Sigma Alpha Epsilon reciting a racist chant.
#OUnited pic.twitter.com/xCwzjFGc7w
— Oklahoma Football (@OU_Football) March 12, 2015
Quarterback Trevor Knight was among those players who posted a statement saying the team had not practiced this week and asked that the university continue its investigation into the executive board of the fraternity.
“These types of incidents occur nationwide every single year, and our hope is to shed light on this issue and promote meaningful change at a national level,” read the statement posted on his Twitter account.
Together we stand #OUnited pic.twitter.com/XuZ1RRZ0CU
— Trevor Knight (@trevor_knight9) March 12, 2015
The university closed the SAE house on campus and expelled two students after the video emerged earlier this week, which shows fraternity members chanting, “There will never be a n***** at SAE” and also referred to lynchings and keeping African-Americans out of the fraternity.
“The chant was not invented by the two that led it, but was taught to underclassmen by people of higher authority,” the statement continued. “Being a student at the University of Oklahoma is a privilege, and allowing this culture to thrive is against everything it means to be a Sooner. Ignorance is no excuse.”
The statement added that the players will continue to address the issue when practice resumes next week and will wear black. The players also thanked head coach Bob Stoops and the coaching staff for their support.
The university also issued a statement Thursday, saying President David Boren planned to meet with the captains of the football team following spring break. He also asked the vice president of student affairs to investigate each officer of the fraternity to “determine their responsibility and to make recommendations on appropriate disciplinary action.”
— Oklahoma Sooners (@OU_Athletics) March 12, 2015
Statement from OU Director of Athletics, Joe Castiglione pic.twitter.com/2xk0oTdHJs
— Oklahoma Sooners (@OU_Athletics) March 12, 2015
Former fraternity members have claimed the same language was used at other colleges, but the national headquarters has denied being the source of the chant.
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