University of Oklahoma Fraternity Members Apologize for Racist Video
Two members of a fraternity have apologized to the University of Oklahoma community after a video was released showing members of the Greek chapter participating in a racist chant.
The video, released over the weekend, shows members of the former Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity singing a chant that included racial slurs toward African Americans and indicated that African American students would never be allowed into the fraternity.
University officials reacted quickly to the video's release, with University President David Boren shuttering the SAE fraternity from the school and immediately expelling two students identified as "leaders" of the chant in the video.
Now, two of the students have issued apologies for participating in the video. Brody and Susan Pettit, parents of student Levi Pettit, released a statement apologizing on behalf of their son.
"He made a horrible mistake and will live with the consequences forever," the parents said in their statement.
"We were as shocked and saddened by this news as anyone,'' the Pettit family statement continued. "Of course, we are sad for our son, but more importantly, we apologize to the community he has hurt. We would also like to apologize to the entire African American community, University of Oklahoma student body and administration.''
Another student, Parker Rice, issued his own statement saying "our family is not able to be in our home because of threatening calls as well as frightening talk on social media.''
"I am deeply 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 said.
