Elon University said it is investigating one of its own football players after accusations came to light that he had yelled racial slurs at a North Carolina Central student during an away game on Sept. 7.
According to Elon News Network, NC Central freshman Samihya Love, who is Black, said she was watching from the stands when a white Elon player repeatedly shouted at her from the sidelines.
“We are aware of the allegations about comments made during Elon’s recent football game. We are looking into this incident and any substantiated allegations will be addressed appropriately by the university,” wrote Jason Knavel in an email to Elon News Network. “Elon University is a community based on a strong commitment to inclusivity and belonging, and intolerant behavior and comments have no place here.”
The identity of the player has not been revealed at this time.
“It was just a matter of, why do I not feel safe on my own campus?” Love said in a post on Instagram. “Like at the end of the day, I just graduated high school, I'm an 18 year old. I've never had to deal with firsthand racism.
“A lot of people are saying in my comments and stuff that this had to be provoked by me, or something like that, which I just find outlandish, that it always has to be the angry Black woman narrative,” Love said. “Why can't y'all just believe that I was there enjoying the game, and one of y'all's players got upset to the point where he spout racial slurs at me?”
Love said she hopes that people will be held responsible.
“I know a lot of times athletes are put on this pedestal to where they can do no wrong, because they make so much money for the school, or they do so much, and that overshadows the students who pay tuition, the students who have to live there,” Love said. “I just want to stop that. I want to stop that, ‘There's nothing you can do about this. It happens all the time.’”
