Sam Houston State University students are in an uproar due to a racially insensitive video that surfaced on Twitter late Monday night that featured a player on the women’s basketball team.
Sophomore guard Jenniffer Oramas was shown in the video posted to a teammate’s Snapchat account in what appeared to be “blackface makeup.” In the video, Oramas is seen sitting on a bathroom countertop wearing “blackface,” bobbing her head around before looking at the camera and saying “Black girl Jenn.”
We doing blackface at #SHSU now? Find her @ for expulsion purposes pic.twitter.com/he26AgDzeo
— Maleek (@CxllMe_Shek) March 6, 2018
The Snapchat video was later shared to Twitter, which sparked backlash from students. Oramas deleted her Twitter account (@JennnyyO_15) after students identified it was her in the video. She has yet to make a public statement regarding the incident.
Jennifer Oramas
— Maleek (@CxllMe_Shek) March 6, 2018
Students expressed their concerns with university administration and the athletic department, demanding for action to be taken:
Is this really her name? My father is the VP for student services at SHSU, I’ll send him this now.
— Nia Long (@Nia_eLan22) March 6, 2018
#SHSU @SHSUDanaGHoyt @HoustonianSHSU @BearkatsWBB this what y’all think is okay… this is not cool in the slightest https://t.co/JhdmWaamUB
— daij✨ (@_xoxodaijah) March 6, 2018
https://twitter.com/C_Rashada/status/971104816293392384
SHSU Athletic Director Bobby Williams and University President Dana Hoyt issued responses to the incident:
#SHSU Athletic Director, Bobby Williams, on social media responsibility: “Our program fosters an inclusive environment encouraging respect of diverse backgrounds & ideas. We uphold these core values despite any insensitivity and poor judgement on social media by an individual.”
— Sam Houston State Athletics (@BearkatSports) March 6, 2018
We expect certain behavior from our #SHSU students and greater community that is consistent with our values. It's disappointing when one of our own falls short but it serves as a learning opportunity for us all. This situation is under disciplinary review by the Athletics Dept. https://t.co/lCBuipI5oZ
— Dana G. Hoyt (@SHSUDanaGHoyt) March 6, 2018
The statements from Williams and Hoyt were not enough to satisfy students. Some Bearkats want more disciplinary action for Oramas. Here is a sample of social media responses from Twitter:
When you foster an inclusive environment but also foster racially incentive students on your collegiate team…..replying to their idiotic antics typically looks something like this ☝🏾☝🏾☝🏾☝🏾☝🏾☝🏾☝🏾☝🏾☝🏾
Soooo where do you guys take it from here @HoustonianSHSU
— DJ Payne (@OHTHATS_DJ) March 6, 2018
@SamHoustonState this statement you retweeted is piss poor. How dare you not take action and have this person expelled immediately? Had black ppl done some racists shit, we'd be expelled immediately #SHSU
— Deondre Moore (@DeondreBMoore) March 6, 2018
This means nothing! As an alumni I need to see action. This is absolutely unacceptable. If nothing is done please remove me from all donation send outs! I will no longer support the athletic department or the school!
— Amber Rose❤️ (@Push_and_Pray) March 6, 2018
https://twitter.com/garciafe_/status/971115174311661570
So by tomorrow I’m hoping to hear back on what’s the results of this because other schools and your school can see that Sam isn’t doing anything about It or taking It serious as the students are.
— ✨ (@HoneyDipDy) March 6, 2018
@SHSUDanaGHoyt if you let this slide, and make an excuse or accept an apology….just know the students of #shsu will not stand for it, and will call for your removal. https://t.co/0BxOOrUZAh
— Deondre Moore (@DeondreBMoore) March 6, 2018
However, many students and alumni quickly leapt to Oramas’ defense on Twitter, including a former teammate, former SHSU football standout PJ Hall and senior running back Remus Bulmer. Hall is the FCS all-time leader in tackles for loss and is a projected third or fourth round pick in the upcoming 2018 NFL Draft. Bulmer graduated last semester, but still has a year of eligibility left on the gridiron. He defended Oramas on Twitter saying she “has a good heart and intentions aren’t bad at all.”
https://twitter.com/chelsc_tweet/status/971071872031952896
https://twitter.com/chelsc_tweet/status/970920202467766272
I don’t understand how y’all can fight for this girl to be expelled for this. Y’all really want this girl to fail. I was raised to pray for people so they fix their problems not help help add fuel so they can have their life ruined. I pray for those who do wrong also.
— PJ Hall (@Pjjwatt) March 6, 2018
I feel like y’all boosting this. Y’all really just try to find some new to be mad about. https://t.co/pJrJFfWrJI
— PJ Hall (@Pjjwatt) March 6, 2018
I know her boyfriend. He’s black . She got a good heart and intentions aren’t bad at all. People make everything about race. Some care others just want retweets. Way more to care about then someone acting out with they friends we all been there done that
— Unforgettable (@RemusBulmer) March 6, 2018
https://twitter.com/TheKingBlair/status/971414715560878080
Approximately 36 hours after the video surfaced, SHSU announced it parted ways with women’s basketball head coach Brenda Nichols after 12 years. The coach led her team to a 7-48 overall record (4-32 vs. SLC) the last two seasons, and held a 119-235 career record during her 12-year stint. Although the Nichols departure comes to no surprise due to her team’s on-court performance, it is still unknown whether or not the decision to cut ties was linked to the “blackface” video.
Oramas joined the Bearkats in 2016 and immediately made her presence known on the court. The sophomore led the team in scoring and assists this season, posting 10 points per game while notching 3.2 assists per game. She played in 26 of 27 contests in 2017-18 as the Kats finished with a 4-23 overall record.