KENNESAW, Ga. — A student at Kennesaw State University is demanding action after he found himself at the center of a racially-charged social media post that spread like wildfire around campus.
Now, the student accused of posting the disturbing photo - and statement - is no longer a student there.
Elija John was surrounded by KSU students and supporters as he described the moments he learned about the photo taken behind his back and posted to social media by another student. The student accused of taking the photo was Levi Smith.
Smith allegedly drew a red arrow on a photo of John, pointing at his face, with the text, ‘Need to call the klan to solve this issue.'
John said he hasn't met the student who took the photo. At first, John said he was open to meeting with him to try and talk it through, but after he sent Smith a message online and the student didn’t respond, John changed his mind.
“A student made a suggested threat on my life due to the color of my skin. He didn’t at all apologize to me, the members of my race, nor to the members of Judaism and the Islamic religions,” John said. “At this time, I no longer want an apology from him.”
“Up until now, I’ve enjoyed my time and experience here at KSU, however, my recent experience and KSU’s attention to this situation has been very disappointing,” John said. “I believe (the student) poses a threat to me, and other students as well. He threatened my life and I’m not OK with that.”
Since then, a spokesperson for KSU has confirmed that Smith is no longer a student at the school - though it's unclear if he left on his own or expelled.
Even though Smith has left the school, the spokesperson said KSU said officials are still investigating the incident.
Standing with John on Tuesday were members of KSUnited, a community group that wants to see changes on campus to create a more inclusive environment.
“The university has a duty to protect its minority students, faculty and staff,” said Alexa Vaca, KSUnited organizer and political science major.
KSUnited leaders said they’ve met with the school leadership about racism issues on campus in the past. In 2017, after student cheerleaders protested the National Anthem by taking a knee, they met with then-president Sam Olens and pushed for changes student activists began calling for in 2015.
Those demands included a school policy of strict sanctions for anyone behind discriminatory acts and language. They also asked for an anti-racist education center and diversity training and more diverse faculty, to better represent the student body.
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As of Tuesday, those students who stood with John said those demands have not been met. John said he also wants KSU to dig deeper into conversations around race and require everyone who comes to the school to undergo diversity training.
The idea, he said, came from Starbucks, which found itself in the national spotlight after two black men were arrested in Philadelphia for waiting at a table for a business partner, without ordering coffee first. The incident prompted Starbucks to close stores nationwide for diversity training.
“I suggest, upon admission and employment, each person should participate in a diversity management course,” John said.
KSU President Pamela Whitten, who took over in July, wrote a blog post on teh KSU website, Tuesday, about inclusion. While Whitten didn’t mention the recent incident with John, she wrote about the need for a more inclusive university with no tolerance for discrimination.
John said on Tuesday that he didn't expect to hear from the student who took a photo and penned racist remarks.
“I know people who know him and they say he showed zero signs of remorse,” John said. “Unfortunately, I don’t have much confidence in the university … that kid won’t get expelled. He probably won’t even get suspended. But I am going to do whatever it takes to get him expelled … I do not want another student to feel the angst I have experienced.”
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