Morehead State University student talks about harassment, racism from roommate

MOREHEAD, Ky. ( FOX 56 ) — As a 16-year-old, Jai Cameron said she was excited to start her college journey living on the Morehead State University campus.

Jai said she was the victim of harassment and racism by her assigned roommate at Morehead State University’s “Craft Academy,” a special program allowing gifted high school students to finish their junior and senior years on campus while enrolled in college.

Jai said she first spoke with her now-former roommate during the summer, which was when she said the racism first took place. Jai and her family said school administrators are not dealing with issues properly, which has caused her to take to social media to share her story.

“This is supposed to be an amazing experience where you’re supposed to get a head start on your education and better yourself; it shouldn’t have to involve any more stress than that,” said Jai.

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Jai and her parents told FOX 56 about several interactions between her and her roommate. She said it started with getting to know each other then turned to dark humor, with jokes and what she said were rude comments about minorities.

An example is shown in her online video where she said, “Like this [screenshot of their Snapchat conversation] joke right here where she called black people antique farming equipment, and I told her I’m uncomfortable with jokes because I have been bullied before.”

Jai said when they got on campus, jokes got more personal with talk about hairstyles, and then she said the roommate repeatedly touched her and her hair. Despite an academy-organized mediation between the girls, Jai said the behavior got worse.

“Instances start to occur of the spitting in my cup, the shoes,” said Jai.

The family said the roommate was finally assigned another room after another plea to school officials. These shoes she claims seemed to be soaked with urine.

“We have to go through this social media aspect and route of it just to get them to even acknowledge it,” said Marcus Cameron, Jai’s father.

The videos have gained nearly 200,000 views online. The family said since posting, administrators have made some progress, sending the shoe and cup for testing.

FOX 56 asked the school for comment regarding these claims, and in a statement, they said:

The University is aware and responding to the allegations of harassment recently made by a student in one of our Academies. The University has a nondiscrimination policy and takes these allegations very seriously.

These are high school students and the safety and well-being of them is our top priority along with their privacy and confidentiality. As a matter of both federal and state regulation, the University is unable to discuss the details of our internal review or the outcome.

Rick Hesterberg, Vice President of University Advancement

Jai said it is important for her to speak up and to be a voice for herself and others, and she believes it is important for people to be held accountable when they violate the code of conduct.

“She is away from home for the first time doing this and she is excited to be there, but this portion of it has been stressful,” said Cameron.

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