Radford University investigating videos of student using racial slurs against fellow student

Radford University officials are investigating a series of Facebook videos which appear to show one student using racial slurs against his roommate in a confrontation.

The two students were once friends. But Geoffrey Preudhomme said on Friday his roommate accused him of stealing a bag and threatened him if he found out he had it. Then when Preudhomme returned home Saturday, he says his roommate confronted him.

Videos Preudhomme posted to Facebook show his roommate using numerous curse words, including the N-word.

In the video, the roommate says, “I'm as much of a ****** as you are. Okay? I'm a ******* ******. How does that make you feel about me saying that about myself?”

Preudhomme responds in the video, “That doesn't make any sense, you're still saying it.”

Preudhomme said it's the use of the word and its meaning that upset him.

“That was the first time that it's every happened to me being called the N-word with the -er at the end,” the Radford junior said.

And through this exchange, Preudhomme says his roommate threatened to kill him two more times.

“I've never experienced threats of violence or racism in my life and experiencing it all at once was very crazy especially with someone you live with, it's really hard to escape that.”

But the roommate, in the video, claims the word is not a racial slur

He said in the video, “It's meant to be towards a ******* person of ignorance, not a black culture.... Everybody that is unintelligent as **** is a ******* ******.”

But Preudhomme said on Monday, “If you mean ignorant, say ignorant. To be saying the N-word like that shows you're trying to get a rise out of somebody.”

Director of Media Services for Radford’s Media Relations Sherry Wallace sent a statement to WDBJ7 saying, “Radford University is aware of the video and has been in contact with the student who posted it. The language in the video is not representative of the values of the Radford Family, which celebrates diversity and inclusion.”

Preudhomme said the Dean of Students Office and others had already been in touch with him.

Radford Greek Life also released a statement on Facebook Monday from the Phi Sigma Kappa fraternity.

It said, “It has come to our attention that a member of our organization has been captured on camera using various racial slurs. We are deeply saddened by his actions and as of 10:30 a.m. we have terminated his membership.

“The Mu Hexaton chapter of Phi Sigma Kappa has always prided ourselves in our incredibly diverse body of brothers and all of whom were deeply affected on a personal level by the actions of someone we considered one of our own. We do not, and will not ever stand by the actions of racially charged language being used to disparage another member of our chapter, the Radford Community, and the community as a whole.

“Our chapter will never stand for racism in any way, shape or form.

- The Mu Hexaton Chapter of Phi Sigma Kappa”

Preudhomme said he didn't call the police Saturday because his roommate suggested he planted something in Preudhomme’s room to get him arrested. But someone else did call police after seeing the Facebook videos and the checked the situation.

WDBJ7 reached out to the roommate, who Preudhomme said told him he'd move out. He has yet to return the e-mail.