Eric Striker, Oklahoma Athletes and Coaches React to Racist Fraternity Chant | News, Scores, Highlights, Stats, and Rumors
Daniel Santos Over the weekend, video surfaced of the Oklahoma chapter of fraternity Sigma Alpha Epsilon singing a chant with disparaging language directed at African-Americans. Oklahoma linebacker Eric Striker responded to the ongoing controversy with an expletive-laden tirade decrying white fraternities:
"I'm not apologizing about how I feel," Striker said. "I'm hurt. My heart is hurting. But I do apologize for the curse words."
Since the fraternity video leaked, students on campus have been protesting in response. Roughly 100 student-athletes and head football coach Bob Stoops joined one gathering Monday morning, standing in silent protest, per the Tulsa World.
Eric Bailey of Tulsa World provided an image of the team joining arms:
Eric Bailey @EricBaileyTWOklahoma's football team standing in silence. Entered practice facility linked arm-in-arm. #Sooners
"It’s sad the ignorance that can still be there with some people. It’s just appalling," Stoops said, per the paper. "I was here to be with my guys. We all work with beautiful young men and women of all races. It’s just, you know, very little gets me choked up. But that hurt."
University of Oklahoma President David Boren also released an extended statement, banning Sigma Alpha Epsilon from the university and ordering the students out of their house:
David Boren @President_BorenUpdated statement attached - DBo
"As they pack their bags I hope they think long and hard about what they've done," Boren said at a news conference, per the Tulsa World. "As far as I'm concerned, [the chapter] won't be back, at least while I am president of the university."
The students in the video have not been identified at this time. Protests on the university campus are ongoing.