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The University of Mississippi is investigating after a viral Ring camera video showed two white women making monkey noises and gestures outside an apartment shared by three Black students.
On Saturday (November 7), University of Mississippi freshman Jakiyra Metcalf shared Ring doorbell footage on TikTok showing three white women walking past the apartment she shares with two Black roommates. Two of the women appear to make monkey noises and gestures while looking directly at the camera.
Metcalf said in a TikTok comment that the women were their upstairs neighbors.
In a statement to the campus community, Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs Shawnboda Mead condemned the behavior and said the university's Office of Conflict Resolution and Student Conduct and Office of Equal Opportunity and Regulatory Compliance are investigating.
"The behavior depicted in this video is deeply troubling, hurtful, and unacceptable. 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 wrote.
Mead said university staff had reached out to the students affected to offer support, listen to their concerns and connect them with available resources.
“Every student deserves to feel safe, respected, and valued at the University of Mississippi,” she wrote. “Racism and actions that disparage people because of an aspect of their identity have no place in our campus community.”
Tasha Bolton, the mother of one of the students, also shared the footage on Facebook Saturday (November 7), calling for the university to take action.
"The video has been shared with university administration, and we want answers. Specifically, what steps will be taken to address this behavior and ensure accountability?" Bolton wrote.
Mead also warned that at least one student had been incorrectly identified online and clarified that no members of the university's sorority community were involved.
"Sharing unverified information can cause additional harm to people who had nothing to do with what occurred," Mead wrote.
"While student privacy laws limit what we can share about individual students, including any potential disciplinary action, please know that this matter is being taken seriously," she added.
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