The University of Oklahoma (OU) sent a clear message that the expulsion of two students has not ended their investigation into a now-dismissed fraternity's racist chant.
According to the Associated Press, OU hired Michael Burrage, an attorney in Oklahoma City and a former U.S. District Judge, to assist the school in "range of legal matters." In the wake of being kicked off campus, the OU Kappa chapter of the Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity appears to be preparing for legal action against the school.
OU appointing Burrage does not appear to be a countermove to OU SAE alumni hiring an attorney for legal advice and potential action. OU President David Boren made a swift and decisive statement after the video appeared online, stating the chapter would never exist at the school as long as he was there.
Burrage indicated OU has retained him to assist in investigating the involvement of students in chanting, "there will never be a n----- at SAE" on a bus during an official fraternity event. The school is seeking to determine if those involved violated the OU student conduct code.
Boren promised swift justice to the "racists and bigots" seen in the video, but has also shown he wants the school to the get its probe right and bringing in outside help on student conduct issues that have gained national attention is nothing new.
"President Boren has made clear that this will be a fair and thorough investigative process," Burrage said in a statement. "The investigation by Student Affairs is focused on possible violations of the OU Student Code and proceeding under the OU Student Code. Students on the bus and those students who may have knowledge of the origins of the chant will be asked for information."
