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Black Ole Miss students say they immediately confronted classmates who made monkey noises — and one kept doing it
Two Black University of Mississippi freshmen say they confronted classmates after a door camera recorded women making monkey noises and gestures outside their apartment. They say one woman apologised, while another continued the gestures, making the encounter feel like a further insult.
The incident was recorded on 6 November at about 8.37pm. Alaina Kunes, 18, has publicly apologised and left the university, saying her family received death threats; she said the actions were insensitive and harmful, though not intended to target anyone because of their race. The other two women have not been publicly identified, and the university says it is investigating.
In short
- Two freshmen say classmates made racist gestures outside their flat.
- One woman apologised; another allegedly continued.
- The university is investigating the incident.
Explained simply
The University of Mississippi, often called Ole Miss, is a public university in the southern US state of Mississippi. Its history includes a long struggle over racial segregation: in 1962, Black student James Meredith enrolled after a court order, prompting violent resistance and federal intervention.
The students involved are two Black freshmen who say they challenged classmates after a camera recorded racist gestures and sounds outside their home. One woman, Alaina Kunes, has apologised and left the university; the university is investigating the actions of the other women, who have not been publicly named.
The case matters because it raises questions about racism and how universities respond to conduct that affects students’ safety and sense of belonging. The history of Ole Miss gives the incident wider significance, while the investigation may clarify what happened and what consequences follow.