On the evening of Friday, April 24th, the Association of African American Students (AAAS) gathered for a virtual cookout to celebrate the end of the spring semester. That event was disrupted by hackers who attacked them with racist slurs and images, turning what should have been a celebratory event into a dreadful nightmare.

The Office of Diversity and Inclusion along with the Council of Academic Diversity Officers (CADO) strongly condemn this vicious attack and extend our deepest sympathies to the students who were victimized. We are saddened. We are angry. We are disgusted. 

While there is never a time or place for this kind of hateful rhetoric, the timing of this attack – in the midst of a pandemic that has hit the African American community disproportionately hard – seems unconscionably vile. We stand in solidarity with AAAS, the African American community, and any other groups impacted by these heinous and cowardly events. 

We are deeply appreciative of President Caslen’s swift response in condemning this senseless attack. We will work with the university to take immediate action to protect student events and classes from “Zoombombing.”  

As Gamecocks, we must unite against all forms of racism and discrimination. We must stand together in solidarity with those who have been victimized. And we must hold fast to the tenets of the Carolinian Creed. We are in this together!