Florida State University‘s NAACP chapter is calling on the university to investigate a student’s hate speech made in a social media post Wednesday.
But the university cannot confirm whether the student will be investigated or punished, saying its hands are tied by a federal student privacy law.
FSU junior and honors student Owen Howard made a public post on Snapchat with the phrase “Chimps Go Chimp” along with a photo of a fraternity and sorority life table displayed at Market Wednesday, a weekly event where sellers sell products and registered students. Organizations, including Black Greek Letter Organizations, show their pride.
“This type of rhetoric, disguised as informal language, is deeply detrimental to the well-being of Black students at FSU,” the NAACP FSU chapter said Wednesday in an official statement, signed by the organization’s student president, Kaela Jackson. “It contributes to a hostile environment where students feel unsafe, unwelcome, and devalued.”
Jackson and other representatives of the student organization were not available for comment Thursday.
The protest comes amid acts of anti-Semitic hate speech against Jewish people that spread across college campuses in Florida and across the country this year, along with intensified pro-Palestinian student protests, which led to state and university officials to take action.
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Official statement from the NAACP FSU Chapter regarding hate speech during Market Wednesday on October 23, 2024.
NAACP explains why use of “chimpanzee” is offensive
In the statement, the NAACP FSU chapter explained how the term “chimpanzee” is offensive due to its “long history of use to equate black people with apes or other primates” and says the stereotype was used in the past to justify slavery and segregation. and other forms of racial oppression.
As news of the incident spread via text messages and social media, FSU issued its own statement on the social media post to “unequivocally condemn all forms of racism and hate.”
“It is especially disturbing when students express beliefs that are reprehensible and contrary to the values of our university,” the university said in a statement Thursday.
“Together, as members of our university community, we must recognize that one person’s opinions do not reflect our collective values or the values of Florida State University. “It is essential that we continue to strive for an environment where people of all backgrounds are accepted, valued and respected.”
“I meant the post as a joke,” says one student
The NAACP FSU chapter posted its statement on its social media platforms on Wednesday, where it was shared more than 4,300 times, including by several cultural organizations on the university’s campus, such as the Black Student Union and the Caribbean Student Association.
FSU students on social media also took screenshots of Howard’s previous posts on the X platform, where he shared and reposted offensive comments related to race and politics.. His X account was deleted as of Thursday.
Genna Dulcio, a senior art history and economics major, reposted the FSU chapter’s statement on her Instagram account and expressed how “unacceptable” the racist speech was.
“Personally, I think the statements were cruel and ugly — a combination of willful and regrettable ignorance,” Dulcio, 21, told the Tallahassee Democrat. “Many white students on our campus do not understand the importance that multicultural Black and Greek organizations have in the personal lives of minority students.”
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Genna Dulcio, FSU senior.
After the incident, Howard, a computational biology honors student, apologized for his action and said he had said it “as a joke,” which he noted in a follow-up Snapchat post on Wednesday and added, “I’m sorry.” . “You guys didn’t understand it.”
He also explained that he shared the post in an unofficial story feature of the “FSU Class of 2026” Snapchat account, where students post about things related to the university.
“I meant the post was a joke to raise awareness about the decay of society with sleazy music and behavior,” Howard, a North Carolina native, told the Democrat in an email Thursday.
“I published something there in terrible taste that does not in any way reflect what I believe. “I am deeply sorry to all those I have hurt and wish to learn from this mistake.”
Students demand “quick” action from FSU
In addition to a “formal and transparent” investigation into the hate speech incident, students in FSU’s NAACP chapter are calling on the university administration to take additional steps to address the issue:
∎ Appropriate disciplinary action against those involved, consistent with the FSU Code of Conduct.
∎ Mandatory campus-wide education on racial bias and discrimination to prevent further incidents.
∎ A reaffirmation of the university’s commitment to protecting marginalized communities and fostering an inclusive and safe environment for all students.
Additionally, representatives from the FSU chapter spoke at a Student Senate meeting Wednesday night after the incident to express their concerns.
Students are expected to conduct themselves in accordance with the university’s Code of Student Conduct, and FSU investigates all reports of student misconduct, according to the university.
At the same time, individual education records, including conduct and discipline records, are protected by the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA).
Due to FERPA protections, a university spokesperson said he could not confirm whether the school is investigating the incident. That person was also unable to address specific questions about possible next steps.
“FSU has an obligation to protect its Black students and uphold the values of equity and justice,” the FSU NAACP chapter said in its statement. “Now is the time for the administration to demonstrate its commitment by taking swift and impactful action.”
Contact Tarah Jean at tjean@tallahassee.com or follow her on X: @tarahjean_.
This article originally appeared in the Tallahassee Democrat: Florida State NAACP Chapter Demands Investigation After Hate Speech.
