Marquette responds after 2 students used racist language on social media

Marquette University is responding after two students used racist language in a video posted to social media.

MILWAUKEE - Marquette University is responding after two students used racist language in a video posted to social media. The university is saying it is behavior that will not be tolerated.

The video in question shows two Marquette students repeatedly using racial slurs. It was posted to social media and spread quickly around campus.

Marquette University issued the following statement on the matter:

"Late on the evening of Feb. 15, Marquette University was notified that two current students used racist language in a video posted to social media. The Division of Student Affairs immediately initiated a student conduct investigation, the results of which will be confidential due to FERPA privacy law. One of the individuals in the video was a student-athlete who has been removed from the team.

"As a Catholic, Jesuit institution, we are called to build a nurturing, inclusive community where all people feel safe, supported, welcomed and celebrated. Racism and discrimination have no place on our campus. To all of our students, and in particular to our students of color, who share in a vision for Marquette as an antiracist institution, we pledge to continue to work with you to overcome injustice."

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FOX6 News has learned one of the individuals using racist language was on the men's Lacrosse team, but has been kicked off.

"I want accountability, I want justice, I want Marquette University to see us, hear us," said Myles Buchanan, who is on the board of the university's Black Student Council.

Buchanan said he is disappointed but not surprised by what he saw.

"I thought with everything that has happened in 2020 with the movement and everything I thought everyone had gotten past racial slurs. To me, it was hurtful -- not shocking, but hurtful," Buchanan said.

Buchanan wants continued transparency and communication as the university works to make sure this type of behavior does not happen again.

"Talk to us Black students here at Marquette and tell us you are here for us and see what’s going on," Buchanan said.

In a letter to the campus community, Marquette's president and provost condemned the racist behavior. It reads as follows:

Dear Marquette community,

This week, two students engaged in racist behavior on social media — behavior that Marquette University will simply not tolerate. Their words are hurtful to our community and do not represent what we are called to be as a Catholic, Jesuit institution — a nurturing, inclusive community where all people feel safe, supported, welcomed and celebrated.

We want to make clear that Marquette University took immediate action. Yesterday morning, the Division of Student Affairs initiated a student conduct investigation of the actions by these two students. While federal privacy laws prohibit us from sharing the outcome of student conduct hearings, Marquette will ensure that the process will uphold our mission and values. One individual involved, a student-athlete, has been permanently removed from the team.

Racism and discrimination have no place on our campus. We stand with all our university leaders in our pledge to our students — all students, and especially our BIPOC students — to work with you to overcome injustice and ensure that our university remains anti-racist. We also stand with you to heal and in the work that lies ahead.

The two students who used the racist language deleted their social media accounts -- and did not respond to a request for comment.