Investigations are underway after a video posted online captured hate speech at the University of Connecticut.
Now students are demanding more be done to make sure everyone feels safe.
A video posted online captured a racial slur repeated several times as three young men walk by an apartment building on the UConn Storrs campus.
“I wasn’t surprised because I know stuff like that happens everywhere and not just here. But it was more that they were comfortable to say it out loud,” said Shavoni Douglas, a UConn freshman.
The student who shot the video told NBC Connecticut it happened just after midnight on Friday.
He had heard shouting and started recording the people walking in the parking lot of the Charter Oak Apartments.
“They need to know better to not say it at all. They also need to be cognizant of what the word’s history was, the way that is was used against black people in the past,” said Hannah Ravenell, a UConn freshman.
U.S. & World
On Wednesday, the university organized a community meeting at the apartment complex to talk about the issue.
In a statement, a school spokesperson wrote in part:
“UConn is taking this matter very seriously, and believes strongly that everyone on our campuses deserves to feel safe, valued, and respected at all times.”
UConn says this is being reviewed as part of the school’s Bias Incident Protocol, which brings together various departments to address an issue.
Some students say similar hateful acts have taken place on campus in the past.
They hope whoever is responsible for saying that offensive word is held accountable, and they’re also calling on the school to take action to prevent this from happening again.
“Just more awareness and hopefully it opens people’s eyes and the need for action to take place at this university,” said Mekhi Amos, a UConn junior.
UConn police are looking into this and an administrative investigation is also underway.
