The University of Oregon issued a public apology via Twitter for a “F*** the Mormons” chant being shouting during the football team’s game against Brigham Young University (BYU) on Saturday.
University of Oregon Football Team
Numerous Oregon fans can be seen in multiple videos posted to social media yelling the chant, which Utah Governor Spencer Cox described as “religious bigotry.”
Religious bigotry alive and celebrated in Oregon. https://t.co/l8BdsSJWu2
— Spencer Cox (@SpencerJCox) September 18, 2022
Brigham Young University was founded in 1875 by Brigham Young and “is founded, supported, and guided by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.” Members of the church are commonly called Mormons.
Brigham Young University Football Team
Following Oregon’s drubbing of BYU 41 to 21, the University of Oregon issued an apology on Twitter.
It began, “The University of Oregon sincerely apologizes for an offensive and disgraceful chant coming from the student section during yesterday’s game against Brigham Young University.”
University of Oregon Twitter
In a subsequent tweet the university stated, “These types of actions go against everything the university stands for, and it goes against the spirit of competition.”
“We can and will do better as a campus community that has no place for hate, bias, or bigotry,” they concluded.
University of Oregon Twitter
The University of Oregon’s official student section Twitter account apologized following the game writing on Twitter, “To all BYU Football fans in attendance at todays game we would like to apologize for the actions of the students in attendance”
“We do not condone or support any hateful speech directed towards one’s religion and are ashamed of those who participated,” the account added.
Oregon Pit Crew Twitter
Oregon Governor Kate Brown also issued a statement on Twitter. She wrote, “In Oregon, we strive to be a welcoming, inclusive state to all, regardless of race, religion, gender, or background.”
She then decided to make this singular incident about not just the state of Oregon, but the entire United States, “Our state and nation have an ugly history of discrimination and bigotry. The chant at yesterday’s Oregon-BYU game was unacceptable. We must do better.”
Kate Brown Twitter
What do you make of the University of Oregon’s apology? What do you make of the chant?