Phi Delta Theta removes student in Ole Miss investigation

from Daniel Johnson

May 7, 2024

The university chapter of the NAACP named the student James “JP” Staples in an Instagram post.

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As BLACK COMPANY As previously reported, University of Mississippi Chancellor Glen Boyce opened an investigation into an unnamed student at the university in connection with an on-campus counter-protest during a pro-Palestinian protest on campus. The student, whose name is being withheld by the university during the investigation, was captured on video making racially inflammatory gestures toward a black student.

Phi Delta Theta, the fraternity the student belonged to, announced his departure from its organization in a post on its website on May 6.

The press release states: “The past few weeks have been challenging for many colleges and universities across the United States as they struggle to balance protecting free speech with maintaining appropriate and respectful discourse between protesters and others within the campus community bring to.”

The statement continued: “As part of this community, Phi Delta Theta recognizes that freedom of expression is part of the college experience; However, the Brotherhood is committed to maintaining its principles as a private membership organization.”

The statement concluded: “After reviewing the incident, it was determined that the individual’s behavior was unacceptable. The action in question was offensive, outside the bounds of this discourse and contrary to our values.”

As Time magazine The university chapter of the NAACP reportedly named the student James “JP” Staples in a May 4 Instagram post, although the student’s name is not being provided by the university. The post, which cited an email sent to university students, also listed expulsion calls for Staples and two members of another fraternity, Connor Moore and Rouse Davis Boyce. This call was immediately followed by a press release in which the organization reiterated its support for the Palestinian people and those who fight for the rights of the oppressed. Her post, signed by Meghan Kelly, president of the Ole Miss NAACP chapter, also expressed a desire to continue to publicly identify those who acted out of racial hostility or malice in the public context of the protest.

The Ole Miss Associated Student Body, the university’s student government organization, also came forward with its own statement, saying it was dismayed by what its members saw at the protest. “Yesterday we observed a demonstration on our campus – a place for the expression of diverse viewpoints, protected by our constitutional First Amendment rights. However, in the midst of this statement, unacceptable comments were made that deviated from our cherished values.”

Like the university’s student government organization, Jacob Batte, director of news and media relations at Ole Miss, told ABC News that the university “cannot comment specifically on this video,” but stressed that “at the demonstration on our campus on “Insulting statements were made on Thursday”. and inappropriate.” Batte also emphasized that “any actions that violate university policies will be dealt with appropriate action.” The students protesting the Israeli bombing of the Gaza Strip told the newspaper in a statement that they were victims of “blind reactionism that had little to do with the genocide we were protesting against and our demands.”

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