Administration at the University of Wisconsin-Madison are facing backlash and pressure from student organizations after the university appeared to take no action toward a white student who posted a racist video to social media.
The video, which features two white female friends, clearly shows the faces of at least one of the females who has been identified as student Audrey Godlewski. Godlewski begins the video by saying she wants to die before launching into an expletive-filled monologue saying she would haunt “every f–ing little N-word who f–ing did me wrong” and force them to pick cotton until their bodies “dry out because of how much cotton they’re picking for me.” Her friend, recording the video, can be heard laughing in response.
University officials said in a statement they are aware of the video and that it does not reflect the campus’s values, adding that content posted on private social media accounts cannot be regulated by the university.
“The university is aware of a video recently posted to social media that contains deeply harmful and offensive racist slurs and references,” the university said in a statement released on Monday. “The Dean of Students Office is gathering additional information, collecting bias reports and offering support to affected students and employees.”
But some students say this is not nearly enough.
In a statement posted to Instagram, the Wisconsin Black Student Union (BSU) said they are “infuriated with the recent actions and words spoken by Audrey Godlewski and her peers” and reminded the UW-Madison community that Black students make up a mere 2 percent of the school’s population.
“It is hurtful and absolutely repulsive, though not uncommon, to hear a white student use such hateful language and racial slurs that are disrespectful and degrading to our community,” the statement said.
“Furthermore, the actions taken by Audrey are in opposition to the principles of inclusivity, diversity, morals and respect in which UW-Madison has failed to uphold time and time again. This is not the first time white students have taken it upon themselves to use such offensive and racist slurs towards the Black community on this campus. There are rules that are in place to ensure that all students are welcomed. These rules should apply to all students regardless of their race. This isn’t over.”
A petition has begun to circulate online calling for Godlewski to be expelled from the university.
“We will not stand for this nor condone this behavior and we need to take a stand,” the petition reads. “We need to set an example for the future students to come and for the students who have done the same, but have not been caught.”
The video has also garnered political attention.
“My heart is with the UW-Madison Black community, especially the students, who have had to witness and experience yet again racial harm on their campus,” Wisconsin State Rep. Francesca Hong tweeted on Monday. “The comments made in the video were vile, threatening and have no place at UW-Madison or anywhere.”
It’s not the first incident in which UW-Madison has been under scrutiny for racist incidents.
In 2019, a sign that said “UW 4 Whites Only” was posted on the University of Wisconsin’s Science Hall. Then, in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic, the university had 81 reports of bias incidents filed, 47 of which involved Asian or international students, according to Mister Truth. And in 2021, the school’s Chamberlin Rock was removed from campus after students – including the BSU – had protested the racist symbolism tied to the monument for years.
The university has encouraged members of the campus community to seek support if they need and added the response to incidents of bias or hate vary depending on circumstances. Repercussions can range from referrals to “restorative conversations.”