Ole Miss Addresses Racial Epithets Made by Students After Obama Re-Election
OXFORD, Miss. – Two students were arrested Tuesday evening at the University of Mississippi’s Oxford campus (Ole Miss) shortly after President Obama’s re-election.
University police were notified by students shortly before midnight that Twitter chatter was indicating students were gathering near the student union to protest the results of the election, according to a press release issued by the university. The officers found 30-40 students gathered in front of the union, and over the next 20 minutes the gathering had grown to more than 400 students, many of whom were chanting political slogans. The crowd was ordered to disperse by university police, and after about 25 minutes students had returned to their residence halls. About 100 students gathered again at one hall, and university police dispersed the group and made two arrests for disorderly conduct, including one for public intoxication and one for failure to comply with police orders.
Local NBC affiliate WMC-TV reported that photos appeared on social media site showing students lighting Obama-Biden posters on fire. The news outlet also reported that individuals claimed they heard racial slurs during the incident.
“While we are grateful that there were no injuries and there was no property damage, we are very disappointed in those students who took a very immature and uncivil approach to expressing their views about the election,” said University of Mississippi Chancellor Dan Jones in a statement. “The gathering seems to have been fueled by social media, and the conversation should have stayed there.
“Unfortunately, early news reports quoted social media comments that were inaccurate. Too, some photographs published in social media portrayed events that police did not observe on campus. Nevertheless, the reports of uncivil language and shouted racial epithets appear to be accurate and are universally condemned by the university, student leaders and the vast majority of students who are more representative of our university creed.
“Parents are being notified that it’s a normal day on campus and that one of America’s safest campuses is safe again this morning, though all of us are ashamed of the few students who have negatively affected the reputations of each of us and of our university. We are initiating a thorough review of this incident to determine the facts and any follow-up actions that may be necessary.”
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