Not even a trigger warning can prepare students for the extreme offensive nature of Harambe. The gorilla that was shot and killed in order to save a young child is now considered too offensive to be displayed at Clemson University. According to Campus Reform a Clemson administrator informed freshman, “We are no longer allowing any reference to Harambe (or any other spelling) to be displayed on doors, halls, billboards, or windows… Harambe should not be displayed in a public place or a place that is viewed by the public.”
According to the administrator, “there was a report from an individual about a meme being offensive and bias [sic] in nature and as a result all Harambe references are no longer allowed within our community.” It was also noted that Harambe’s death can “add to rape culture,” and be “a form of racism.”
If a person violates the new rule, that person may be subject to punishment. In fact, the administrator stated, “my hopes are that you are being inclusive in your words, whichever you choose to say, so that you are not reported to OCES or Title IX for using bias [sic] language against someone.” So basically, if someone uses Harambe in his inherently offensive ways, then that person may be reported to Title IX.
After clarification, it was understood that the word Harambe has not been banned, and private dorm rooms can still display pictures of Harambe, only if, it is “where people would have to be invited into the space to see said decoration.” However, the administrator warned, “While we are not banning the word, I want to encourage you to think about what you are saying and how someone who may be a different gender, race, culture, or sexuality than you may take the comment.”
This is not the first time Clemson has been under fire for violating the First Amendment rights of their students. In August, a Clemson man was forced to stop praying because he was praying outside of a free speech zone. The administrator even called the man’s praying “solicitation.”
This also isn’t the first time Harambe has been deemed offensive. According to the Daily Caller, in the beginning of September, an RA at UMass Amherst warned students about the cruel and offensive nature of Harambe memes and jokes. An email from the RA said, “[Harambe comments] are not only derogatory but also micro-aggressions to some UMass Students.” However, UMass Amherst probably wouldn’t have such a big problem with this if they hadn’t made an African American only housing program, which they named Harambee.
With freedom of speech constantly under attack on college campuses, to the point where public references to a deceased gorilla are banned, there’s no telling what will be banned next.
UPDATE: The Clemson Media Relations Department has released a statement that says the message “was sent by one person and does not reflect university policy.”
