Penn State students call for expulsion for those allegedly involved in racist, anti-Semitic acts
EDITOR’S NOTE: Penn State announced Tuesday night that it “does not have the power to expel students over speech, no matter how morally reprehensible it may be.” (Updated: 10:30 a.m., June 3, 2020)
Penn State and dozens of students, including at least two student activist groups, responded Monday to allegations of racism and anti-Semitism purportedly carried out by students.
One video included racist language as a vehicle passed by a protest organized in response to George Floyd’s death in Minneapolis. The protest was not in Centre County.
It was not clear who made the derogatory statement, but many online accused a reported Penn State student.
Floyd, an African American, died last week after a white Minneapolis police officer knelt on his neck for nearly nine minutes. His death reignited the Black Lives Matter movement and sparked protests throughout the United States.
Penn State issued its first statement Sunday, saying the university was “aware of a disturbing video from a peaceful rally.”
The university did not specify on Twitter which video the statement was in response to, and a university spokesman also declined to identify the video.
“The university shares the outrage expressed on social media. We are disgusted by the behavior portrayed, which does not reflect our values,” the university said in a second statement issued Monday. “It is deeply troubling that as a society, we today are still facing racism. The university condemns these messages, and staff are verifying individuals and reaching out to those in question.”
Marcus Whitehurst, Penn State’s vice provost for education equity, also responded Monday, saying he was “disheartened and outraged at the racist comments and abhorrent social media posts.”
“These comments are vile and meant to incite anger, sow hatred and cut deeply into our community,” Whitehurst said. “... Penn State leaders take seriously the concerns of our community, and we will continue to speak out against hatred and violence, as we also continue our commitment to creating an inclusive and welcoming environment for everyone.”
His statement, like those issued by the university, was criticized on Twitter.
Some called the statements “hollow,” “empty” and “disappointing.” Others called for the alleged student to be expelled from the university, including the Penn State Student Black Caucus and the Penn State Chapter of the NAACP.
“Penn State made a commitment to foster and maintain a safe environment of respect and inclusion. We call on them to honor this commitment and hold (the alleged student) accountable,” the organizations wrote in a statement. “... Penn State has a duty to protect its black community. We stand with our black community and demand justice and respect.”
More than 13,000 people as of noon Tuesday signed an online petition calling for the alleged student to be expelled.
The university also responded directly Monday night to a tweet that included a photo of a second alleged student with swastika drawn on her shoulder.
The photo is “deeply disturbing and sickening,” and officials planned to contact the alleged student, the university wrote.
Thon was “incredibly disappointed” to see the symbol on a former volunteer, the philanthropic organization said Tuesday in a statement.
“We have not, nor will we ever, condone this behavior in any set or setting. As a student-run organization, we cannot take disciplinary action against any individual,” Thon said. “We can, however, ensure that there is no tolerance for anything like this within our organization. We will continue to better educate our volunteers and empower our community to spread messages of hope, love and positivity to combat hate.”
A third purported incoming freshman was criticized in a tweet posted Tuesday morning for using racially divisive language. The university did not respond to the video as of 12:30 p.m. Tuesday.
Even if all three were sanctioned, the public may not know about it. Student discipline and educational records are considered confidential under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act.
This story was originally published June 2, 2020 at 1:42 PM.