Frat Members Apologize For Racist Video, But Is It Enough?

Frat members apologize for the racist video that depicts University of Oklahoma’s (OU) Sigma Alpha Epsilon (SAE) frat members singing an extremely biased chant, but is an apology enough? While two frat members involved in the incident were already expelled, many think that more action needs to be taken to help stop future incidents such as these.

The Los Angeles Times reports that it was only hours after theirs expulsions that one of students came forward with apologies. Identified as a Parker Rice, the forlon 19-year-old made a plea for forgiveness in a lengthy statement addressed to the school and public.

“I am deeply sorry for what I did Saturday night. It was wrong and reckless. I know everyone wants to know why or how this happened. Alcohol was a factor, but that’s not an excuse.”

The other SAE fraternity member seen chanting on the racist video has been identified as Levi Pettit. The former student’s parents made a statement on their personal website, offering apologies to the “the entire African American community [and the] University of Oklahoma,” but for many, an apology is just not enough to undo the hate-filled video.

The video, which surfaced earlier this week, shows Parker Rice standing up in a school bus, dressed in a tuxedo, shouting a racist chant against black people, as numerous fellow SAE members cheer him on. His boastful demeanor and his pumped fist in the air indicates that he had no problems with the chant, despite later issuing an apology.

Several black SAE members, including former member William Bruce James II, rightfully took offense to the video. In fact, James no longer wants any part of the fraternity.

“They are not my brothers. They all got to go.”

Meanwhile, both Rice and Pettit have been expelled from OU, and on Monday, Oklahoma University President David Boren closed down the fraternity and cut all ties with it.

USA Today reports that SAE’s national organization also apologized and said the nationwide fraternity, which includes over 15,000 members, were not any part of the racist chant and do not have any racist views towards any members.

Yet, numerous people across the nation who watched the video feel that an apology and expulsion is not enough. While a string of students at OU made protest signs and began a march against racism rally, Hip-Hop artist Wacka Flacka canceled his upcoming Oklahoma concert.

Additionally, athlete Jean Delance, who was slated to play football for the OU, denounced himself from the program. Other people reportedly made death threats against the students who led the chant.

While it’s true that the frat members apologized for the racist video, there clearly isn’t just two people chanting. The entire bus partakes in the racist chant, including clapping and encouragement, without even one person standing up to the ring leader.

Is it acceptable behavior for OU’s SAE chapter members to follow along with the crowd, or should everyone on the bus be held responsible?

(Photo Courtesy of Sue Ogrocki/AP)