Ole Miss probes viral Ring video of students making monkey noises at Black students' door

Ring doorbell footage shared on TikTok Friday by Ole Miss student Jakiyra Metcalf shows three white women walking past her apartment door. As they pass, two of them make monkey- or ape-like noises and gestures, looking directly into the camera. Metcalf is a freshman at the University of Mississippi and lives with two Black roommates; according to her mother, the women in the video live in the apartment above them.

Metcalf's mother, Tasha Bolton, posted the clip on Facebook and demanded the university act. In her post, she said the video had been shared with university administration and asked what steps would be taken to address the behavior and ensure accountability. Bolton called the actions disgusting and unacceptable, adding that college is supposed to be a place where young adults can learn, grow and feel safe.

Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs Shawnboda Mead condemned the incident in a statement Sunday, calling the behavior deeply troubling, hurtful and unacceptable, and saying it does not reflect the university's values. Mead said the Office of Conflict Resolution and Student Conduct and the Office of Equal Opportunity and Regulatory Compliance are investigating, and that the school will follow its established processes while prioritizing campus safety.

Mead also cautioned that at least one student accused of involvement was misidentified, and that no members of the sorority community were involved. She warned that spreading unverified information can harm people who had nothing to do with it. Any disciplinary outcome will stay private under student privacy laws, though Mead said the matter is being taken seriously and that racism has no place on campus.