Hardy – Campus Update: Response to Recent Social Media Post
East Carolina University is committed to providing an inclusive and welcoming community for all students, faculty, staff, and guests.
On Saturday, Aug. 28 the university became aware of a racist post on the anonymous social media platform Yik Yak. Yik Yak launched in 2013 as a fully anonymous smartphone application and came under significant controversy, eventually shutting down in 2017. Earlier this month, the application relaunched. On Aug. 28 a post was published allegedly from Theta Chi fraternity at ECU. The post identified a rush party, inviting Potential New Members (PNM) and girls, and stating that black students were not allowed. The post also included the name of a Theta Chi member and his personal cell phone number.
The post was immediately sent to the Office of Student Rights & Responsibilities (OSRR) and senior university leadership members were made aware of the incident as well as the Theta Chi chapter and their national office. University leadership continues to investigate this incident and is working with law enforcement regarding related, subsequent threats. The national and collegiate chapters of Theta Chi have issued statements condemning the post and has maintained their organization nor its members wrote the post which is inconsistent with their organizational values. The post has since been removed by Yik Yak.
In the days following, ECU administrators have met with student leaders in the fraternity and sorority community as well as many student organization leaders. In the coming days and weeks, additional meetings with student leaders and campus stakeholders will continue to occur as we attempt to help our campus understand that rhetoric like this has no place at our university.
If you would like to make a direct report regarding this incident, please contact our Office of Student Rights and Responsibilities online: https://osrr.ecu.edu/report-an-incident-or-concern/.
If you would like to be a part of the conversation moving forward, please contact Department of Intercultural Affairs online at https://interculturalaffairs.ecu.edu/contact-us/.