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12/22/2024 12:12:41 pm

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Oklahoma University Student Kicked Out For Racist Video Apologizes

Oklahoma University

(Photo : Wikipedia) Oklahoma University kicked out the Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity because of a racist video.

In a belated mea culpa, one member of the Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity, who had just been expelled from Oklahoma University for leading the singing of a racist chant, said sorry for their action.

The New York Daily News identifies the two who were penalized with expulsion as 19-year-old Parker Rice and 20-year-old Levi Pettit. Rice is a freshman who came from a Texas Catholic high school, while Pettit is a sophomore.

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Beyond the two, University of Oklahoma President David Boren warned more members of the fraternity who were in the video singing the N-word and chanting lyrics about lynching would be expelled as soon as their identities are established.

He warns, "I have emphasized that there is zero tolerance for this kind of threatening racist behavior at the University of Oklahoma."

In a statement, Rice said, "I am sorry for what I did Saturday night. It was wrong and reckless ... I made a horrible mistake by joining into the singing and encouraging others to do the same." He attributed his behavior to alcohol, but still admitted it was not an excuse for singing racist songs taught to them.

The parents of Pettit apologized too, admitting their son made a horrible mistake and would have to live with its consequences. Beyond their shock over the incident, Brody and Susan Pettit said, "More importantly, we apologize to the community he has hurt. We also like to apologize to the entire African-American community, University of Oklahoma student body and administrations.

Boren actually did not identify the two expelled students, but Mike Earsing, the president of the Jesuit College Preparatory School of Dallas where Rice graduated, came out and said he was appalled by Rice's action in the video. He added it has caused pain to their community.

Even older members of the fraternity such as William James, who studied in Oklahoma University from 2001 to 2005, disowned the erring members, saying, "The buys in the video are not my brothers."

Rice has left the university but could not return home since his family even has to leave because of threatening calls and "frightening talk on social media."

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