Oxford, Miss. – The University of Mississippi announced Wednesday that it is investigating a video that captured two white students making monkey sounds and gestures outside the apartment of Black students. The brief clip, posted to social media earlier this week, has been viewed millions of times and sparked widespread outrage on campus and beyond.
University response
Shawnboda Mead, the university’s vice chancellor for student affairs, issued a statement condemning the behavior, saying it does not reflect the school’s values or the kind of community the campus strives to be. “We condemn the behavior as it does not reflect our university’s values or the kind of community we strive to be every day,” Mead said. She added that staff have reached out to the Black students who were targeted to offer support and resources.
The university has not yet identified the students involved, but the investigation is already underway. Officials said they will follow the institution’s code of conduct and consider appropriate disciplinary measures.
Apology from one participant
One of the women captured in the video, 18‑year‑old freshman Alaina Kunes, posted an apology on Tuesday. In her statement she described her actions as “deeply harmful” and said she was unaware of the victims’ race at the time. “I have apologized to the women and I pray they will forgive me,” Kunes wrote. “I can never truly understand the pain I have caused them, and it was never my intention. These girls deserve to feel seen and understood, and what I did is not a reflection of who I am trying to become.”
Student leaders call for accountability
Demetrick Stringer Jr., president of the university’s Black Student Union, said the incident left many Black students feeling “unwelcome and unsafe.” He urged his peers to practice “calm and care” while demanding accountability for those responsible.
Lamarcus Lenoir, a junior who identifies as Black, expressed frustration, noting the university’s history of racism and segregation. He referenced past incidents, including 2012 protests that featured racist slurs after President Barack Obama’s reelection and a 2014 incident in which a noose was placed around a statue of James Meredith, the school’s first Black student.
“The only acceptable punishment would be expulsion,” Lenoir wrote in an email to campus officials, calling for “absolute intolerance” toward such behavior.
Context of past incidents
The university has faced similar controversies in recent years. In 2024, the White House condemned counter‑protesters at Ole Miss who were caught on video taunting a Black student, including a white student who made monkey gestures. Those prior incidents underscore ongoing concerns about campus climate and the need for robust enforcement of anti‑racism policies.
Next steps
The investigation will determine whether the students involved violated the university’s conduct code, which could result in sanctions ranging from probation to suspension or expulsion. University officials emphasized that the process will be thorough and transparent, and they encouraged any additional witnesses to come forward.
Community members and alumni have also weighed in, with many calling for stronger preventative measures, such as mandatory diversity training and clearer reporting mechanisms for hate‑based incidents.
The university’s handling of this case will be closely watched as a barometer of how higher‑education institutions in the South address racism and uphold a safe, inclusive environment for all students.
Original reporting: Texarkana Gazette — read the source article.
