The University of Mississippi has released a statement days after a viral video showed two students making monkey noises outside of Black students’ apartment. Chancellor Glenn Boyce said the students’ actions do not reflect the university’s values.
Chancellor Says Investigation Is Moving Forward
“Upon learning about the incident on the evening of Friday, Nov. 6, our staff responded quickly, providing care and resources,” Boyce explained. “We met with the students and their families to discuss our processes, and I can confirm that the university investigation is moving forward.” The statement also says the university plans to hold the students accountable, but federal privacy laws will limit how much it can share publicly, TMZ reported.
Boyce also addressed a separate incident involving Jake Lang, a far-right activist. Lang posted a video on social media calling the students “patriots,” and he wore a gorilla mask while making monkey noises in front of the Black students’ apartment.
“I also want to address the incident of an unaffiliated individual on our campus yesterday, who came here with the sole purpose to disrupt our university community with racist and detestable behavior. As a public institution, we are committed to supporting First Amendment rights. At the same time, we vehemently denounce this person’s behavior, which does not align with our campus values.”
Students Identified as Backlash Grows
The students in the video were identified as Alaina Kunes and Lauren Mayfield. Kunes has issued an apology and withdrawn from Ole Miss, while Mayfield has remained silent about the incident. However, supporters created a GiveSendGo page saying she shouldn’t apologize for her actions.
Kunes’ family auto dealership has also faced significant backlash after reports surfaced of separate allegations of racial discrimination.