Racial Slur Prompts Debate at U. of Alabama

Robert E. Witt, president of the University of Alabama, sent an e-mail to all students and faculty members denouncing the reported use of a racial slur by a white student against a black student, The Birmingham News reported. "The words that were used are offensive to our community, and are especially upsetting to African Americans," he wrote. "I want to emphasize in the strongest possible terms that the University of Alabama finds this behavior totally unacceptable, and appropriate disciplinary action will be taken," The News also reported that the fraternity from which the white student reportedly shouted the word has suspended him. Some students are saying that the incident was "isolated," but others say it is not. "I have five good friends and all of us have been called the n-word at one time or another here," said Crystalline Jones, a junior at the university.