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Clemson University Bans Harambe Memes For Promoting ‘Rape Culture,’ and ‘Racism’

   DailyWire.com
Clemson University isn’t laughing at your Harambe memes.
In fact, Clemson thinks they are so unfunny that the university banned all “Harambe-related” memes from being displayed publicly, claiming they promote “rape culture” and can add to “racism” on campus.
This is not an Onion article.
On Friday, a Clemson administrator sent an email to resident sssistants instructing them to have freshmen remove all Harambe references from areas where they could be publicly viewed. The ban was mainly directed toward students with door or window decorations using the gorilla’s image or referencing the icon’s legacy.
The administrator justified this demand by claiming Harambe’s death has been used to “add to rape culture” and can be a “form of racism.”
The administrator wrote, “we are no longer allowing any reference to Harambe (or any other spelling) to be displayed on doors, halls, billboards, or windows.” The instructions state, “Harambe should not be displayed in a public place or a place that is viewed by the public.”
A student even leaked a screenshot to the Tiger Town Observer of an RA stating that students who disobey this directive will be “in trouble.”
Clemson student Matthew Philips was one of the individuals who received the news regarding the Harambe-ban. In an interview with The Daily Wire, Philips claimed students simply wanted to honor the gorilla’s legacy, not use his name in mean-spirited way. “Harambe already gave his life for our memes, so the ban is sad because the least we can do is honor his name,” said Philips.
Philips went on to say that Harambe suffered enough, and expressed frustration toward the university for banning his image.
“Clemson his killing Harambe again and sacrificing him in the name of social justice,” concluded Philips.
Brooks Artis, a Clemson University Graduate Community Director, further threatened Harambe-loving students with Title IX administrative action if they do not adhere to the anti-Harambe order, stating, “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 language against someone.”
But don’t worry; Artis claims freshmen can still at least say the name “Harambe” without administrative punishment. “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,” Artis wrote.
In her email, Artis decided the ban policy is necessary in light of an undisclosed, especially sinister Harambe meme displayed on campus.
Interestingly, this isn’t the first time university administrators have felt the need to ban Harambe references. A few weeks ago, the University of Massachusettes Amherst banned Harambe jokes, claiming they are a form of sexual harassment and racism.
In terms of the legal validity of this policy change and its implementation, Artis cites Clemson University’s discriminatory language policies. However, these policies do not allow an RA or university administrator permission to make a blanket speech-code due to the actions of one student.
While the university has since claimed there was never a ban, it is clear that the Harambe-ban was in place, and if students had not gone to the press with this information, the meme prohibition would likely have been upheld.
Can the reference of a gorilla, no matter how malicious, be so provocative that it requires administrative punishments against students?

“We are no longer allowing any reference to Harambe (or any other spelling) to be displayed on doors, halls, billboards, or windows.”

Administrator at Clemson University

One freshmen had a “Balls out for Bantu” sign outside of his window; does that require administrative action as well? Should a Title IX lawsuit be used against that student?

What about a Cecil the Lion poster? Let me guess, referencing the African lion’s death is promoting imperialism?
In an age where being offended makes you morally superior, it’s no surprise that the Left will even claim jokes about a gorilla promote rape culture and racism.

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