Hate speech hits OU again

Staff Report

On Friday night, University of Oklahoma LGBTQ advocacy group Queer Inclusion on Campus (QuIC) reported that at a university sponsored rap battle in the student union, homophobic and misogynistic slurs were used. QuIC said on their Facebook page “We have been told that these unacceptable actions were also accompanied by sexist and body shaming rhetoric, which is also inappropriate.”

The group said, “We are dismayed at the words OU students chose to utilize at the expense of students who identify as LGBTQ.”

Troy Stevenson, Executive Director of Freedom Oklahoma, the statewide LGBT advocacy group issued a statement condemning the behavior. Stevenson said, “We were disappointed to report another case of outrageous hate-speech at the University of Oklahoma. On Friday evening, there was a heavily reported incident – during a campus-sponsored event at the student union. Extremely misogynistic, sexually violent, and homophobic pejoratives were repeatedly yelled from stage.

“Freedom Oklahoma is working with Queer Inclusion on Campus (QuIC) – a student led LGBTQ advocacy group to highlight the systemic climate and culture of harassment and intimidation of marginalized communities on campus.” Stevenson referred back to a hate speech incident earlier this year in which fraternity members were singing a racially offensive song.

University President David Boren, after being contacted about the incident, said in a statement, "Those involved have apologized. They were right to apologize because the university should be a place where every person is treated with respect. The university is striving to create an inclusive community, this can not be done by administrators alone. I urge our students to speak out against intolerance and disrespect for others. Strong student voices for mutual respect are the most effective way to create a true sense of community. I personally condemn the use of slurs which wound others and urge students to join me. I have asked our Vice President of Student Affairs to look into the situation to try to assure that such matters do not occur in the future."

Stevenson continued, “Bias and intimidation should not be tolerated in any academic setting, especially at our state’s largest university. The campus community - in Norman - has made it clear that these incidents are not simply the isolated actions of a few bad actors. OU has a systemic climate and culture of allowing harassment without a true means of reporting, or equitable intervention from the administration.

“It is our hope that any investigation undertaken by the university is aimed at true climate and culture change, rather than simply punitive measures against a handful of students.

“In the coming months [Freedom Oklahoma] will unveil our newest education campaign to tackle the increasingly reported bullying cases in Oklahoma. Our safe-schools campaign will strive to educate students, faculty, and parents around the state on how to create a climate and culture of inclusion and respect at schools and universities all over Oklahoma.”

The Gayly – September 28, 2015 @ 11:55am.