Columbia College in New York is under scrutiny after a white student was caught on camera shouting at a group of mostly Black undergraduates, claiming white people are the “best thing that ever happened to the world.”
Right. I don’t think this one learned any world history, but that’s beside the point.
The video went viral on social media and now students rallying in response to the attack and also demanding action.
“We saved billions of people from starvation,” the student could be heard, even as the outraged Black students demanded, “Who!?”
“White people are the best thing that ever happened to the world. We are so amazing. I love myself and I love people,” the white student continued. “We did everything! I don’t hate other people I just love white men.’
According to NBC News, Columbia’s Black Students’ Organization responded to the incident on Facebook, noting that they would be holding space in the lounge to discuss a plan of action and asking students who were involved and wanted to have their voices be heard and wanted to see action to stop by.
Meanwhile, the Student Organization of Latinxs is demanding that the school hold the student accountable for his actions.
“We also want to stress that this type of incidents do not happen in isolation and we demand that Columbia University sees this as an institutional problem that is perpetuated by its administrative, academic, and business practices,” the group said in a statement on
Facebook. “SOL stands in solidarity with all marginalized and minoritized communities on campus. We acknowledge this type of incidents are triggering and make students of color feel unsafe.”
So far, the school has responded with resounding criticism, with the undergraduate deans at the college issuing a statement denouncing the “deeply disturbing racially charged incident.”
According to the deans, the incident is already under investigation by the Office of Student Conduct and Community Standards.
“We are alarmed at the rise of incidents of racism and hate speech in our world today. It is more important than ever that we continually demonstrate our core values and restate our commitment to a diverse, inclusive community on campus,”
the statement continued. “At Columbia, we stand firmly against white supremacist language and violence. As we said last week, our community will not waver in its support for those of any faith, race, gender, sexual orientation, background or identity.”
