OU Football Team Holds Silent Protest Thursday

The University of Oklahoma football team held a silent demonstration Thursday afternoon to raise awareness of racism and discrimination on campus, after a video surfaced online showing members of OU's SAE fraternity chanting racial slurs.

According to a statement from student athletes of the OU football team, the team has not practiced this week. The athletes demonstrated silently on Owen Field during their normal practice hour on Thursday. 

In the statement, the athletes said they appreciate President Boren's swift and decisive actions following the controversy. The team said its goal first and foremost is to raise awareness of racism and discrimination on college campuses nationwide.

“As student athletes of all races, classes, and creeds, we hope to show the University and the community that we are defined by more than numbers on our jerseys, and that we are human beings that desire to get to know our classmates as we all attempt to end the culture of exclusivity on this campus,” the release stated.

Read the complete statement here.

In addition to raising awareness of the issue, the athletes also seek disciplinary actions to those responsible. They urge the University to continue investigating the Executive Board of SAE.

“The two students that have already been expelled are only a symptom of a larger disease, a disease perpetuated by the leadership of the Sigma Alpha Epsilon,” the release stated.

3/10/2015 Related Story: OU President David Boren Expels 2 Students Related To Racist Video

The athletes said when they return from spring break, they will continue to address this issue by wearing black during practices.

The University responded to the team's statement,

“President Boren intends to meet with the captains of the football team with Athletics Director Joe Castiglione immediately following spring break. He also has charged the Vice President of Student affairs, Clarke Stroude to investigate each individual officer of the fraternity to determine their level of responsibility and to make recommendations on appropriate disciplinary action.”