Three Black students at the University of Mississippi are speaking out after a doorbell camera recorded two White students making monkey gestures and sounds outside their apartment. One of the students identified in the video, Aliana Kunes, issued an apology and voluntarily withdrew from the university following the incident.
The event occurred on Friday, November 6, at an apartment occupied by Jakirya Metcalf, Victoria Johnson, and Kaiyden Caldwell. The students reported that they were familiar with historical accounts of racism at the institution, which did not admit its first Black student, James Meredith, until 1962, but stated they were not prepared for the targeted nature of this encounter.
According to Metcalf and Johnson, when they confronted the individuals outside their door, Kunes apologized, but a second person off-camera continued to make the sounds. In a statement issued on Tuesday, November 10, Kunes said she was unaware of the residents' race at the time but recognized her actions as "insensitive, inappropriate, and deeply harmful." The residents expressed mixed feelings regarding the apology, noting that the actions remained hurtful regardless of whether their race was known beforehand.
University of Mississippi officials stated they are investigating the incident and have contacted the targeted students. Metcalf, Caldwell, and Johnson indicated they intend to remain enrolled at the university. CBS News reported reaching out to two other women identified in the video but received no response.
For students and their families, the concrete change involves an increased reliance on digital surveillance like doorbell cameras to document interactions and the potential for immediate academic consequences, such as withdrawal, for those involved in such incidents. The targeted students described the event as "devastating" and "disrespectful," noting that a person's daily sense of security in their own home is altered when targeted by such behavior.
The knock-on effects include an ongoing investigation by university officials, which may influence future student conduct policies or campus climate initiatives. The next steps in this matter involve the conclusion of the university's formal investigation. No specific court dates or additional disciplinary deadlines were reported, though the targeted students have called for others in similar situations to speak out to ensure such incidents are not ignored.