University of Alabama student and Alpha Phi sorority sister Harley Barber is being investigated by the university after posted videos on social media where she repeatedly used the n-word and other racial profanities.
Barber, who said on the videos that she was a member of Alpha Phi sorority, posted the videos on Instagram. One of the videos in question was published on Monday, January 15, which was Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
In a video of her turning off a faucet, Barber says into the mirror “We do not waste water…because of the poor people in Syria. We don’t waste water. I love how I act like I love black people because I f*cking hate n***gers so that’s really interesting that I I f*cking hate n***gers but I just saved the f*cking n***gers by shutting that water off.”
In a second video, Barber appears to be in a car with her fellow soroity sisters, addressing the growing backlash against her due to her original sink video, saying:
“I’ve wanted to be an Alpha Phi since I was f*cking in high school and nobody f*cking understands how much I love Alpha Phi and now someone wants to snake my finsta because I said n**ga. You know what?”N***ger. N***ger. N***ger. I don’t care if it’s Martin Luther King Day. I’m in the south now f*cking so everybody can f*ck off. I’m from New Jersey so I can say n***ger as much as I want.”
Barber, who is from Marlton, New Jersey, is no longer a member of Alpha Phi, however, the Beta Mu Chapter of the sorority has yet commented on the videos. Linda Kahangi, the executive director of Alpha Phi International Fraternity, addressed Barber’s comments in a statement to AL.com.
via AL.com:
She assured the public that the language and opinions expressed do not represent those of the sorority. Additionally, Kahangi revealed that Barber has been removed from the organization.
“Alpha Phi is a diverse, values-based organization and condemns the language and opinions in these videos. They are offensive and hateful to both our own members and to other members of the Greek and campus community,” the statement read.
“The Beta Mu chapter leadership and supporting alumnae moved quickly to address the offense, and Ms. Barber is no longer a member of Alpha Phi.”
“These remarks are ignorant and disturbing and in no way reflect the values of The University of Alabama. This unfortunate behavior has been reported to the Office of Student Conduct as it does not align with the community expectations of students at the Capstone,” Chris Bryant said.
Damien Harris, a running back for Alabama’s national championship football team tweeted, “This girl goes to the same university as me but they say, ‘racism is dead.’ Unfortunately, this thread says the opposite.”
Barber, who spoke to the New York Post, said is in the process of returning home to New Jersey:
via NY Post:
In a telephone interview with The Post, Barber, originally from Marlton, 20 miles east of Philadelphia, said she was in the process of returning to New Jersey on Wednesday after being expelled from the university.
“I did something really, really bad,” Barber told The Post. “I don’t know what to do and I feel horrible. I’m wrong and there’s just no excuse for what I did.”
Barber has been getting threatening phone calls in response to the videos, which “came out of nowhere,” she said.
Asked if she considered the advice from one of her friends who suggested that Barber not post the videos, Barber replied: “No, I’m an idiot. There’s no excuse. I did something really bad. I feel horrible. I feel so, so bad and I am so sorry.”
A spokesperson for the University of Alabama also called Barber’s videos “ignorant and disturbing” and that the school is investigating. Barber has been expelled from the Univesity of Alabama.
