'It reeks of racist ideology and misogyny': Mini-dress wearing student, who was photographed and shamed by University of Mississippi donor in online rant, blasts him as racist, as her classmates call for his name to be removed from campus

  • Edwin Meek is man behind University of Mississippi's Meek School of Journalism
  • He's been accused of racism after posting photos of two black women, alluding that their presence leads to a decline in real estate value and school enrollment
  • One of the women, Ole Miss student  Mahoghany Jordan, has spoken out
  • 'The post reeks of racist ideology as well as misogyny and is not representative of who either of us are,' she said, also rejecting his apology 
  • The Meek School of Journalism and University Chancellor Jeff Vitter released statement condemning his post as 'highly offensive'  
  • Students have a started a petition demanding the university remove his name from journalism school  

One of the students pictured in racist post by the University of Mississippi journalism school namesake has spoken out.

Edwin Meek, 77, the $5.3million donor behind the Meek School of Journalism and New Media at Ole Miss, shared pictures of Mahoghany Jordan and her friend Kiyona Crawford on Wednesday - alluding that their presence has led to a decline in real estate values and a decline in enrollment.

Now Jordan has hit back at Meek, branding his post 'racist' and sexist.

One of the students pictured in 'racist' post by the University of Mississippi journalism school namesake has spoken out.
One of the students pictured in 'racist' post by the University of Mississippi journalism school namesake has spoken out.

Mahoghany Jordan (left, and right), one of the students pictured in 'racist' post by the University of Mississippi journalism school namesake, has spoken out

In an open letter in student newspaper, The Daily Mississippian, she wrote that neither she nor Crawford had any involvement with the 'fights and scenes' Meek discussed in his post.  

'However, somehow for Meek, the blame for the university's enrollment decline and city's decline in property value was easier to associate with two women of color as opposed to the particular demographic that has been at the forefront of the school's most controversial moments by far.'

'The post reeks of racist ideology as well as misogyny and is not representative of who either of us are, 'she said.

She also rejected an apology from Meek.

Edwin Meek, the namesake of the University of Mississippi's journalism school, has come under fire for a racist post on Facebook 

Edwin Meek, the namesake of the University of Mississippi's journalism school, has come under fire for a racist post on Facebook 

He shared pictures of two black women dressed in party clothes following Sunday's Ole Miss football game,  alluding that their presence  has led to a decline in real estate value and university enrollment. He deleted it hours later after commenters responded in outrage

He shared pictures of two black women dressed in party clothes following Sunday's Ole Miss football game,  alluding that their presence has led to a decline in real estate value and university enrollment. He deleted it hours later after commenters responded in outrage

Meek led Ole Miss public relations for 37 years and donated $5.3 million to the university in 2009. Its journalism school is named for him.

Ole Miss Chancellor Jeffrey Vitter said Meek's post had an 'unjustified racial overtone.' Meek removed it and apologized 'to those offended.'

The row began after Meek shared photos on Wednesday night of the two black women, dressed in party clothes in the town square early Sunday morning following a football game.

'I hesitated until now to publish these pictures but think it is important that our community see what the camera is seeing at 2am after a ballgame,' he wrote in the since deleted post. 

'I hear there were 180 police working the weekend but of all the pictures late night, the fights and scenes, I have seen no police presence.

'Enough, Oxford and Ole Miss leaders, get on top of this before it is too late. A three per cent decline in enrollment is nothing compared to what we will see if this continues…and real estate values will plummet as will tax revenue,' he said. 

Following his post the Meek School of Journalism and New Media released a statement condemning Meek's post, saying it suggested 'an unjustified racial undertone' 

Following his post the Meek School of Journalism and New Media released a statement condemning Meek's post, saying it suggested 'an unjustified racial undertone' 

Then he urged the city of Oxford and the university to 'protect the values that we hold dear'. 

His post immediately sparked outrage, racking up hundreds of comments with Facebook users pointing to his racist tone.

Commenters noted that white women often wear similar outfits as the two black women in his post, but they weren't photographed or criticized, according to the Clarion Ledger.  

The school's Black Student Union says the juxtaposition implies real estate values are dropping because of the increased presence of black women. 

Following the online backlash, Meek deleted the post by 7.30pm, five hours after he posted. 

Following the controversial post the Meek School of Journalism shared a statement condemning Meek's statements. 

'Earlier today, the donor whose name is on our school, Ed Meek, made a post on his personal Facebook account that we find highly offensive. This post is in no way associated with or represents our school, our students or our faculty. We are embarrassed by his actions,' the school say. 

University of Mississippi Chancellor Jeff Vitter also released a statement saying: 'We all want to ensure a safe, family-friendly environment at the university and in Oxford, and we condemn the tone and content of this social media post. The photos in his post suggest an unjustified racial overtone that is highly offensive and we urge him to withdraw his comment and apologize to anyone offended.'  

An online petition has also been started, demanding Meek's name to be removed from the Ole Miss School of Journalism. 

Students have a started a petition demanding the university remove his name from school

Students have a started a petition demanding the university remove his name from school

'This petition moves to remove Meek's name from the Department of Journalism program and the Department of Journalism building at the University of Mississippi in hopes of correcting the unjustified racial comments about African American population at the University of Mississippi and in Oxford to ensure a safe and inclusive environment for all students,' the petition states. 

So far 1,090 people have signed the petition, with a goal set at 1,500. 

Following the post Meek issued an apology on Facebook at 8pm. 

'I apologize to those offended by my post. My intent was to point out we have a problem in The Grove and on the Oxford Square,' he wrote according to the Oxford Eagle. 

That apology has since been deleted.  

Jordan rejected the apology, writing: 'I don't need your apology. In fact I don't need anything from the reciprocal guilt you feel after being called out for what you are. 

'The two things that automatically put me at a disadvantage in our society, you'll never completely understand.' 

 

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