The Florida State University chapter of the NAACP is calling on the university to investigate a student's hate speech in a social media post Wednesday.
But the university cannot confirm whether the student will be investigated or disciplined because their hands are tied by a federal student privacy law.
FSU junior and honors student Owen Howard posted a public message on Snapchat with the phrase “Chimpanzees going chimps” along with a photo of a Fraternity and Sorority Life table on display at Market Wednesday – a weekly event where vendors sell products and registered student organizations , including organizations with black Greek letters, show their pride.
“This type of rhetoric, disguised as informal language, is deeply detrimental to the well-being of Black students at FSU,” the NAACP FSU chapter said Wednesday in an official statement signed by the organization's student president, Kaela Jackson. contributes to a hostile environment in which students feel unsafe, unwelcome and devalued.”
Jackson and other representatives of the student body could not be reached for comment Thursday.
The outrage comes amid acts of anti-Semitic 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, prompting both state and university officials to take action.
NAACP explains how using “chimpanzee” is offensive
In the statement, the NAACP FSU chapter explained how the term “chimpanzee” is offensive because of its “long history of use to equate Black people with apes or other primates” and says the stereotype has been used in the past to describe slavery and justify segregation. and other forms of racial oppression.
As news of the incident spread via text messages and social media, FSU released its own statement regarding the social media post to “unequivocally condemn all forms of racism and hatred.”
“It is especially troubling when students express beliefs that are objectionable 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 one person's views do not reflect our collective values, nor the values of Florida State University. It is essential that we continue to strive to create 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 to its social media platforms on Wednesday, where it was reshared more than 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 shared and reposted offensive comments about race and politics.. His X account has been deleted since Thursday.
Senior Genna Dulcio, an art history and economics major, reposted the FSU department's statement on her Instagram account, saying how “unacceptable” the racist speech was.
“Personally, I think the statements were cruel and ugly — a combination of willful and woeful ignorance,” Dulcio, 21, told the Tallahassee Democrat. “Many white students on our campus do not understand the significance that Black and multicultural Greek organizations have on the personal lives of minority students.”
After the incident, Howard — an honors student majoring in computational biology — apologized for his action, saying he meant it “as a joke,” which he pointed out in a follow-up post on Snapchat on Wednesday, adding, “I'm sorry. you all misunderstood.”
He also explained that he shared the post on an unofficial “FSU Class of 2026” story feature of Snapchat's account, where students post about university-related matters.
“I intended the post as a joke to raise awareness of the decay of society with trashy music and behavior,” Howard – a North Carolina native – told the Democrat in an email on Thursday.
“I posted something there in horrible taste that in no way reflects what I believe. I am deeply sorry to everyone I have hurt, and I want to learn from this mistake.”
Students demand 'swift' action from FSU
In addition to a “formal, transparent” investigation into the hate speech incident, students from the FSU NAACP chapter are calling on the university's administration to take additional steps to address the problem:
∎ Appropriate disciplinary action against the individual(s) involved, in accordance with the FSU Code of Conduct.
∎ Mandatory campus-wide education about racial bias and discrimination to prevent further incidents.
∎ A reaffirmation of the University's commitment to protect marginalized communities and promote an inclusive, safe environment for all students.
Additionally, FSU chapter representatives spoke at a student senate meeting Wednesday evening after the incident to express their concerns.
Students are expected to conduct themselves in accordance with the university's Student Code of Conduct, and according to the university, FSU investigates all reports of student misconduct.
At the same time, individual educational records – including behavior and discipline – are protected by the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA).
Due to FERPA protections, a university spokesperson said she could not confirm whether the school is investigating the incident. That person also couldn't answer specific questions about possible next steps.
“FSU has a duty to protect its Black students and uphold the values of equality and justice,” the NAACP FSU chapter said in its statement. “Now is the time for the government to demonstrate its commitment by taking swift, impactful action.”
Contact Tarah Jean at [email protected] or follow her on @tarahjean_.
This article originally appeared in the Tallahassee Democrat: Florida State NAACP chapter demands investigation after hate speech
