The Florida State University chapter of the NAACP is calling on the university to investigate a student’s hate speech made in a social media post Wednesday.
But the university can’t confirm whether the student will be investigated or punished, saying their hands are tied by a federal student privacy law.
FSU junior and honors student Owen Howard made a public post on Snapchat with the phrase “Chimps are going to chimp out” along with a photo of a Fraternity and Sorority Life table displayed at Market Wednesday – a weekly event where vendors sell products and registered student organizations, including Black Greek-letter organizations, showcase their pride.
“This type of rhetoric, disguised as casual language, is profoundly damaging to the well-being of Black students at FSU,” the NAACP FSU chapter said Wednesday in an official statement, which was signed by the organization’s student president Kaela Jackson. “It contributes to a hostile environment where students feel unsafe, unwelcome and devalued.”
Jackson and other representatives of the student organization were unavailable for comment Thursday.
The outcry comes amid acts of antisemitic hate speech against Jewish people that swept through college campuses in Florida and across the country this year, along with intensified pro-Palestinian student protests, which led both state and university officials to take action.
NAACP explains how use of ‘chimp’ is offensive
In the statement, the NAACP FSU chapter explained how the term “chimp” is offensive due to its “long history of being used to equate Black people to apes or other primates” and says the stereotype was used in the past to justify slavery, segregation and other forms of racial oppression.
As news of the incident spread through texts and social media, FSU put out its own statement regarding the social media post to “unequivocally condemn all forms of racism and hate.”
“It is especially disturbing when students express beliefs that are reprehensible and contrary to the values of our university,” the university said in a statement Thursday.
“Together, as members of our campus community, we must recognize that the views of one person do not reflect our collective values, nor do they reflect the values of Florida State University. It is essential that we continue to strive for an environment where individuals from all backgrounds are accepted, valued and respected.”
‘I meant the post as a joke,’ student says
The NAACP FSU chapter posted its statement on its social media platforms Wednesday, where it was reshared over 4,300 times – including by several cultural organizations on the university’s campus such as the Black Student Union and the Caribbean Student Association.
FSU students on social media also took screenshots of Howard’s past posts on the X platform, where he would share and repost offensive comments related to race and politics. His X account has been deleted as of Thursday.
Senior Genna Dulcio, an art history and economics major, reposted the FSU chapter’s statement on her Instagram account and expressed how “unacceptable” the racist speech was.
“Personally, I think that the statements were cruel and ugly – a combination of willful and woeful ignorance,” Dulcio, 21, told the Tallahassee Democrat. “A lot of white students on our campus do not understand the significance Black and multicultural Greek organizations have on minority students’ personal lives.”
Following the incident, Howard – an honors student majoring in computational biology – apologized for his action and said he meant it “as a joke,” which he pointed out in a follow-up post on Snapchat Wednesday and added, “I’m sorry y’all didn’t get it.”
He also explained that he shared the post on an unofficial “FSU Class of 2026” Snapchat account’s story feature, where students post about things related to the university.
“I meant the post as a joke to raise awareness for the decay of society with trashy music and behavior,” Howard – a North Carolina native – told the Democrat in an email Thursday.
“I posted something there in horrible taste that does not in any way reflect what I believe. I am deeply sorry to all those who I have hurt, and I wish to learn from this mistake.”
Students demand ‘swift’ action from FSU
Besides a “formal, transparent” investigation into the hate speech incident, students of the FSU NAACP chapter are calling on the university’s administration to take additional steps of addressing the issue:
∎ Appropriate disciplinary measures against the individual(s) involved, in alignment with FSU’s Code of Conduct.
∎ Mandatory campus-wide education on racial bias and discrimination to prevent further incidents.
∎ A reaffirmation of the university’s commitment to protecting marginalized communities and fostering an inclusive, safe environment for all students.
In addition, representatives of the FSU chapter spoke at a Student Senate meeting Wednesday night following the incident to voice their concerns.
Students are expected to conduct themselves in accordance with the university’s Student Code of Conduct, and FSU investigates all reports of student misconduct, according to the university.
At the same time, individual educational records – including conduct and discipline – are protected by the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA).
Because of the FERPA protections, a university spokesperson said she was unable to confirm whether the school is investigating the incident. That person also could not address specific questions about possible next steps.
“FSU has an obligation to protect its Black students and uphold the values of equity and justice,” the NAACP FSU chapter said in its statement. “Now is the time for the administration to demonstrate its commitment by taking swift, impactful action.”
Contact Tarah Jean at tjean@tallahassee.com or follow her on X: @tarahjean_.
This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Florida State NAACP chapter demands investigation after hate speech
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