Student groups demand Drury take specific steps to respond to racially offensive video

At least nine student groups at Drury University have called for more accountability after two student leaders allegedly made a racially offensive video on campus.

"As we usher in a new incoming class and welcome back panthers who have found their homes at Drury, we find it imperative to address an inappropriate and harmful video taken during orientation leadership training," wrote the Black United Independent Collegiate , a student group at Drury.

"In this video, two members of the Drury Cheer team and Drury's Mo Gamma chapter of Pi Beta Phi Sorority made an insensitive and racially motivated joke at the expense of the African and African American community."

The Aug. 30 statement was also signed by the American Institute of Architecture Students; Brother 2 Brother; Drury Allies; International Student Association; Lambda Chi Alpha Fraternity; National Organization of Minority Architecture Students; Sigma Nu Fraternity; and Sociedad de Orgullo Latino.

The BUIC statement noted: "The post was removed from social media after word spread about the incident. However, this is not enough."

The Snapchat video made on campus in mid-August, before the first day of class, showed two Drury students — who appear to be white — posing while one holds a flat rock up for the camera that shows the outline of a heart and two female monkeys drawn in purple with pink bows.

Seconds later, the video mimics a Facetime call. The inset image is of the students smiling and dancing with the monkey rock. Their image is juxtaposed with a video of a Black girl in a white dress dancing in what appears to be a leafy field.

In the statement, BUIC calls for the students involved in the video to be removed from the university's cheer team and sorority.

"These organizations must act transparently by releasing written statements regarding the immediate and indefinite removals of said students and their intent on participating in an actively anti-racist campus culture," the BUIC wrote, in the statement. "In a time when other universities are backing away from the word 'diversity,' Drury's Black United Independent Collegiate seeks to raise awareness of issues involving Black students on college campuses."

A longstanding group on campus, the BUIC works to promote an atmosphere of mutual respect, unity, high academic achievement, and the awareness of issues involving Black students.

The statement concluded: "We reaffirm our mission of empowering Black students to confidently establish themselves on Drury's campus and beyond. This can only be done when we act as one to shift the cultural consciousness on campus through holding each other accountable."

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In an email to the News-Leader, the BUIC said they asked for a meeting with the Drury Athletics but it was declined and the university has not disclosed what discipline the students will or have received.

Kevin Kropf is the executive vice president of enrollment management, marketing and communication at Drury. He said the university became aware of the video in mid-August, took the matter seriously and responded swiftly.

"Institutionally, we're aware of recent inappropriate actions by a couple of our current students," he said.

Kropf said federal privacy laws, in particular the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act, strictly prohibit how much the university can "comment on any kind of conduct outcomes" in regard to any student.

Asked in general what guidelines the university uses to respond when there is an incident involving a student, Kropf referred the News-Leader to Drury's Community Standard Handbook and noted it was consulted in this situation.

The handbook calls for the university to investigate any suspected violation of the Student Code of Conduct. Here are some common steps:

• Students meet with a Conduct Officer to discuss the incident and explain their version of events;
• If the Conduct Officer determines a violation has occurred, the student or student group can accept responsibility and face any relevant sanctions or outcomes;
• If a student or student group disagrees with the finding of the Conduct Officer, an appeal can be filed with the Dean of Students. However, sanctions and outcomes remain in effect until the appeal is complete;
• In the event of an appeal, the Dean of Students can uphold, reverse or modify the findings and sanctions;
• Types of sanctions vary but can include fines, community service, completion of programs or courses, loss of privileges, and beyond.

Kropf provided the university's official statement on diversity, equity and inclusion, which includes its commitment to "upholding and advancing the creation of a diverse and inclusive environment where every member of our community will treat each other with dignity and respect."

It also states "all identities and perspectives" will be honored, welcomed and respected.

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In a short interview Tuesday, Drury President Jeff Frederick said the university followed its policies and has a system in place to make sure that happens. He noted the university is not allowed to comment on student conduct issues.

"Drury is a welcoming and diverse campus that values that every student, and employee and community member feels welcome and comfortable on our campus and we go to great ends to make sure that happens," Frederick said. "When that standard is not met, for whatever reason, we take it very seriously and follow our policies and procedures."

The BUIC student group provided the News-Leader with three statements from Greek Life organizations including Kappa Delta, Tri-Delta and Zeta Tau Alpha. All emphasized their ongoing support for diversity.

The Alpha Psi Chapter of Kappa Delta wrote, in part: "We extend our support to the Black students at Drury who have been affected by the discrimination, and we are committed to continue to foster a place of belonging because discrimination and racism have no place in our community."

This article originally appeared on Springfield News-Leader: Student groups demand Drury take specific steps to respond to racially offensive video