Former OU student to break his silence on racist fraternity chant
DALLAS - A former University of Oklahoma student who was videotaped participating in a racist chant aboard a fraternity party bus is scheduled to make his first public comments Wednesday, according to an Oklahoma state legislator.
State Sen. Anastasia Pittman, an OU alumna who chairs the Oklahoma Black Caucus, announced in a statement that 20-year-old Levi Pettit will appear with her Wednesday afternoon at Fairview Missionary Baptist Church in Oklahoma City.
It will be the first time Pettit, who is from the Dallas area, has commented publicly since controversy erupted over the Sigma Alpha Epsilon video earlier this month.
Pettit and Parker Rice, another former OU student from Dallas, allegedly played a leading role the chant, which included references to lynching and racial slurs against black people.
When the video surfaced days later, University President David Boren shut down the fraternity and expelled two students.
Pettit's parents issued an apology on their son's behalf. Rice also apologized in a statement.
"Sen. Pittman and select students, civic leaders and local pastors will meet privately with Mr. Pettit prior to the 4pm media briefing," the statement read.
Pittman's office said she and Pettit will meet privately with students, community leaders and local clergy before the event.