Photo by T. Chick McClure on Unsplash
On January 22, 2019, students, staff and faculty from OU attended the Rally to Stop Racism held in the Molly Shi Boren ballroom. Speakers ranged from professors to students all with the same message.
The rally is in response to a racist video posted last Friday to, a now former, OU student’s social media page. The video showed a girl in black face paint and using a racial slur. The university released a statement Friday afternoon saying, “We were made aware of an inappropriate and derogatory video circulating on social media of two OU students. The University of Oklahoma abhors such conduct and condemns the students’ actions and behavior in the strongest terms possible. While students have the freedom of expression, the negative impact of such conduct cannot be underestimated. The students have offered to apologize in order to reflect their regret.”
Dr. Karlos Hill spoke first at the rally saying, “I am in support of a zero-tolerance policy.” Hill continued to say, ““You are right to demand institutional change.”
Photo by Abby Green
Student holds up sign at the Rally to Stop Racism on Jan. 22 in Molly Shi Boren ballroom to protest racism on campus.
The rally featured many speakers calling for a change from the administration. One student took the stage during the open mic time to say to president James Gallogly, ““When a year goes by and nothing happens, please understand I will be asking for your resignation.”
Dr. Suzette Grillot, the former Dean of the College of International Studies, was fired on Friday after fighting budget cuts in her college. Grillot attend the rally and called for Gallogly’s resignation now.
“Enough is enough,” said Grillot. “No more racism. I’m not going to be as kind as the people that came before me and say in a year from now we are going to ask for your resignation. I am going to ask for it now.”
President Gallogly spoke at the end of the rally saying he loves this university and the students here.
“I love this place and I love these students at this place. And this is not the OU that I know. This is not the OU I love.”