June 5, 2020
NKU released a statement Thursday about discrimination and freedom of speech after screenshots circulated social media allegedly showing an incoming freshman using the hashtag #WhiteLivesMatterMore as part of #WhiteOutWednesday, a hashtag made in opposition to #BlackOutTuesday to support the protestors.
Students, alumni and community members took to social media to express their disappointment and frustrations at NKU’s statement. Student leader Isabel Sleczkowski created a change.org petition calling for NKU and President Ashish Vaidya to rescind the freshman’s admission offer.
Former Student Body President Jarett Lopez responded to NKU’s statement.
I’ve reached out to the admin about this. If your response to protests about systemic racism and well documented police brutality is to say white lives matter more, then you don’t belong in our community. https://t.co/f4fj8AqjB0
— Jarett Lopez (@Jrttlpz) June 4, 2020
Other students and alumni commented on how they feel NKU should respond.
Kick her out. We don’t want her https://t.co/As3WwH32tx
— Jess (@jessicaarcher__) June 4, 2020
of course we’re not surprised, you love to flex all the DiVeRsItY that your POC students bring but knowingly welcome racist incoming students with open arms. miss me with it @nkuedu https://t.co/qbN3woOsEr
— Isabela (@isabelasxlema) June 4, 2020
If you really cared about diversity and inclusion, you wouldn’t sweep racially charged incidents under the rug like you did with Welcome White Week. Don’t talk about it, be about it. https://t.co/G4lQ9iEjcP
— Tiara Atwater (@TiaraAtwater162) June 4, 2020
As of Friday afternoon, NKU has yet to respond to the backlash.
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