Students question WSU’s response to fraternity’s racial slurs

Anger and a collective sense of injustice were palpable Thursday in Room 405 of the Lighty Student Services Building at the Washington State University campus as students, community and administration members gathered to hear President Elson Floyd react to grievances presented at Tuesday’s WakeUpWSU meeting.

WakeUpWSU is a movement started as the result of a Feb. 21 incident when a member of the Phi Delta Theta fraternity allegedly made a racial slur against a group of young black women as they arrived for a social gathering. The incident sparked ongoing racial tension across the campus.

Thursday’s meeting, which attracted approximately 100 people, focused on what students hope to see happen next.

Floyd, in addressing the crowd, apologized on behalf of WSU.

“We are profusely apologetic for the unfortunate circumstance you had to endure. We offer as an institution our sincerest apologies for your having to encounter that. It’s unfortunate and we regret that that circumstance occurred,” he said.

Floyd said he applauded those involved for the way they handled the incident’s fallout, in acting reflectively and creating a list of grievances, which included developing awareness at the freshman level and of the injustices faced by undocumented students.

“I haven’t seen anything in the list of grievances that I could not sign on to right now at this very moment,” Floyd said. “I will also respond in writing to you as well because I think it is crucial to document where we’ve been. Your voices have been heard and we will do everything as best we can as a university to be responsive to your needs.”

But that doesn’t include shutting down the fraternity, he said, which is beyond the authority of the university, or immediately removing its university recognition.

“There’s a process we have to follow before we take recognition away from any organization. That investigation is ongoing through the Office of Student Conduct and the Office of Equal Opportunity. Their finding of fact will make it possible for us to take next steps,” Dean of Students Melynda Huskey said.

It is unclear when those steps will be taken.

Huskey said she was reluctant to put a deadline on the investigation, owing to the need to take into account all statements and evidence offered.

“I’ve asked them to move as quickly as possible and to move this to a high priority,” she said, “recognizing that they are also involved in other high-priority cases.”

Huskey said she hopes the investigation moves expeditiously, but “there are a lot of moving pieces.”

“We have spring break next week, then three weeks, dead week and finals week,” she said.

Floyd added the fraternity member involved in the verbal exchange was terminated immediately from Phi Delta Theta by its members.

“And the national organization associated with the fraternity is looking at this issue,” he said.

A barrage of questions, comments and criticism followed the administrators’ statements, especially regarding the lack of timeline, concerns for feelings of personal safety and security, and the possibility of the incident being “swept under the rug.”

“What a lot of students are worried about is the timeline of the implementation of these grievances,” Black Student Union President Cristina Medina said. “With that said, the University of Oklahoma was very swift in responding to that situation. While I understand there is not a video, there are firsthand accounts which the victims have said their story and the fraternity has said it to be true as they have terminated that membership. What I would like to contend is why isn’t WSU moving as fast as the University of Oklahoma?”

Although the rapidity of the administration’s response was not what she had hoped, sophomore Olivia Snow said the meeting gave her hope something positive would come of it.

WakeUpWSU member Sagal Hussein said she agreed, but as a senior she was concerned about the timeline.

“I hope to see something happen while I’m still here,” she said.