Austin Ruark, NC State Class of 2023, used the N-word, a derogatory racial slur against Black people, in an iMessage group chat. A screenshot was uploaded to Instagram and has angered many members of the NC State community online.

The comments can be inferred to relate to the recent protests surrounding the Black Lives Matter movement and police brutality. Obscene and patently offensive speech goes blatantly against NC State's values of freedom and respect and is a perversion of NC State Policy 04.25.01. Sections 2 and 3 of that same policy allow us to divulge this information and express our anger without fear of retaliation or legal action.

We are asking for immediate disciplinary action, preferably expulsion, and will not settle for futile consequences comparable to a slap on the wrist.

This isn't just about Austin; now, more than ever, we are responsible for disallowing racists to feel enabled and safe in a system that actively works against Black people. This is how we change our nation's standards.

This is where we start.