The ongoing investigation over an alleged racist Yale University fraternity party has come to an end.
The dean of the college, Jonathan Holloway, sent out a statement on Wednesday [December 9] that the university’s investigation had found “no evidence of systematic discrimination against people of color.”
On Halloween night, Yale undergrad Neema Githere wrote that allegedly some of her Black friends were turned away from a frat party because it was for “white girls only.” This was only the beginning, after an administrator’s controversial email defending “offensive” costumes ignited a huge debate over racism on campus.
“I’d just like to take a moment to give a shout-out to the member of Yale’s SAE chapter who turned away a group of girls from their party last night, explaining that admittance was on a “White Girls Only” basis; and a belated shoutout to the [Sigma Alpha Epsilon] member who turned me and my friends away for the same reason last year. God Bless the USA [heart emoticon],” Githere wrote on Facebook. “If you think that I am lying, I urge you to read the comments below and see the ridiculousness that other students have experienced on this campus. If anyone reading this has experienced or witnessed a similar situation, PLEASE reach out/share your story below/ANYTHING.”
Following the combination of incidents, students confronted the administrator, her husband and the college’s first African-American dean. They gathered and packed protests at the university by the hundred, using bullhorns to demand more diversity on campus. They also demanded the school rename the buildings after people of color as opposed to proponents of slavery. Faculty members joined the students and marched in solidarity.
According to the Washington Post, “the investigation itself has not yet been released. Holloway’s statement, however, leaves the incident, that incited Yale’s recent student movement for greater diversity and sensitivity, shrouded in mystery. The inquiry’s only concrete conclusion appears to be that the October 30 event at Sigma Alpha Epsilon (SAE) was not a ‘white girls only’ party – at least, not at first.”
The investigation was done by Burgwell Howard, dean of student engagement and a representative from the school’s Office for Equal Opportunity Programs.
Holloway wrote that although there’s a partial picture of what happened through two credible accounts, “the investigation found no evidence of systematic discrimination against people of color. Students inside the party reported that early in the evening, before the party became crowded, guests were granted admission on a first-come basis; men and women of color were among those admitted.”
Reports were made that student protesters spat on visitors during a November 6 free speech discussion, but through the investigation, less evidence was found regarding this particular incident because no one claims to have seen anyone involved in the incident. However, according to the Yale Daily News, one student insisted he was spat on and expressed his extreme frustration about not being contacted during the investigation.
Regardless of the alleged accusations, Holloway expressed the findings haven’t proved or provided any grounds for the Yale College Dean’s office to pursue formal disciplinary action against any student(s).
