<p style="font-weight: 400;">At Kent State University in Ohio, an a cappella group that claims to oppose discrimination reportedly enforced a policy that barred white students from even auditioning for certain solos — then moved to discipline a member who dared question it.</p>
<p style="font-weight: 400;" data-start="458" data-end="1056">Emails obtained by <a href="https://www.campusreform.org/article/exclusive-kent-state-cappella-group-bans-white-students-solo-auditions/29047">Campus Reform</a> showed that Vocal Intensity A Cappella limited solos in one song strictly to “people of color,” arguing that allowing white students to audition would amount to “cultural appropriation.” The rule didn’t sit well with Mark Phillips, a three-year member and the group’s beatboxer, who asked the group’s executive board how that policy squared with Kent State’s own ban on racial discrimination. Phillips wrote that while he respected concerns about authenticity, “Art, music, and culture are meant to be shared and celebrated, not gatekept,” and that the strongest performance should win.</p>
<p style="font-weight: 400;" data-start="1058" data-end="1439">For raising that question, the board accused Phillips of violating the university’s anti-discrimination policy — the very policy meant to prevent the kind of race-based exclusion he was objecting to. The board placed him on probation and ordered him to appear before the entire group in a disciplinary hearing where he would “plead his case” and potentially face permanent removal.</p>
<p style="font-weight: 400;" data-start="1441" data-end="1809">The board doubled down in follow-up correspondence, reiterating that the solos would remain restricted to black students unless reversed by a vote. The planned hearing involved closed-door proceedings, time-limited speeches, and even guidelines for immediate expulsion should the group choose removal. If kept, Phillips would have been placed on months-long probation.</p>
<p><b>50% off DailyWire+ annual memberships will not return for another year, so don’t miss this deal! Join now at </b><a href="http://dailywire.com/cyberweek" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><b>DailyWire.com/cyberweek</b></a><b>.</b></p>
<p style="font-weight: 400;" data-start="1811" data-end="2115">That structure stands in stark contrast to Kent State’s written rules, which explicitly forbid racial discrimination and retaliation against students who challenge it. The university’s policy <a href="https://www.kent.edu/policyreg/university-policy-regarding-unlawful-discrimination-and-harassment">states</a>, “This policy prohibits discrimination and harassment based on race, color, religion, gender, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, ancestry, disability, genetic information, age, and protected military or veteran status. Retaliation for reporting or participating in the complaint process is also prohibited.”</p>
<p style="font-weight: 400;">It also clashes with Ohio’s recently enacted Advance Ohio Higher Education Act, which bars race-based advantages in public universities.</p>
<p style="font-weight: 400;" data-start="2117" data-end="2453">Phillips ultimately resigned and called the disciplinary process a “performative ambush” aimed at punishing him for opposing discrimination. In his resignation letter, he wrote, “Denying opportunities based on skin color is discrimination by definition.”</p>
<p style="font-weight: 400;" data-start="2117" data-end="2453">Speaking to Campus Reform, Phillips said, “What I really want is for people to bring common sense back and stop pretending that people of color are oppressed in this country. I want people to realize that we are meant to celebrate what we have in common instead of dividing and fighting over our differences.”</p>
<p data-start="2117" data-end="2453">The Daily Wire reached out to Kent State for comment.</p>

<script async src="https://www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<script async src="https://www.tiktok.com/embed.js"></script><div data-widget-host="revcontent" data-pub-id="165152" data-widget-id="290588"></div><script src="https://delivery.revcontent.com/165152/290588/widget.js"></script>

Kent State Singing Group Bans White Students From Solos, Disciplines Member Who Objected

Popular ‘Healthy’ Fat Found To Fuel Deadly Pancreatic Cancer

How To Lose Your Mind: The World’s Simplest Impossible Math Problem

New Era For America: First New Reactor Goes Critical Under Trump’s Watch

Four Republicans Help Democrats Hide Behind The Filibuster — Then Mike Lee Drops The Hammer

State Department Slams U.K.’s ‘Two-Tiered Policing’ As Outrage Grows Over Henry Nowak Killing

Trump Targets Cuba’s Power Structure In Sweeping Blow To Communist Elites

News

Kent State

Ohio

Racism

Whiteness

A video goes viral showing a baby being refused his mother by two gay "dads". This is just the tip of the iceberg, which is why we will have an important discussion today about surrogacy. 

Hour 1

The Matt Walsh Show

Ep. 1765 - This Video Is One Of The Worst Things I've Seen In A Long Time 

The Strait of Hormuz officially opens for business (kind of), the Pope makes “shocking” comments on immigration, and President Trump promises UFO disclosure at TPUSA. 


The Michael Knowles Show

Ep. 1956 -  Pope Leo's "SHOCKING" Immigration Comments EXPLAINED

A false miscreed has corrupted our leadership class.


The Andrew Klavan Show

Ep. 1275 - Dumb, Dumber and Progressive

President Trump announces a 10-day ceasefire between Lebanon and Israel, a murder-suicide involving former Democratic Lieutenant Governor Justin Fairfax shakes Virginia, and France and Britain hold a conference to secure the Strait of Hormuz – after the Iranian conflict ends. Get the facts first with Morning Wire.

- - -

Ep. 2738

- - -

Wake up with new Morning Wire merch: https://bit.ly/4lIubt3

- - -

Today's Sponsors:

Alliance Defending Freedom - Visit https://JoinADF.com/WIRE or text 'WIRE' to 83848 to learn more.

Pocket Hose - Text MORNING to 64000 to get a FREE pocket pivot and their 10-pattern sprayer with the purchase of ANY size Copper Head hose. Message and data rates may apply.

Morning Wire

U.S. Expands Hormuz Blockade & VA Fairfax Deaths Investigated | 4.17.26

U.S. Expands Hormuz Blockade & VA Fairfax Deaths Investigated | 4.17.26 [Member Exclusive]

A ceasefire goes into effect between Israel and Lebanon, a tragic murder-suicide rocks Virginia, and Dairy Queen deploys AI in the drive-thru. Get the facts first with Evening Wire.
- - -
Ep. 2737
- - -
Wake up with new Morning Wire merch: https://bit.ly/4lIubt3 
- - -
Today’s Sponsor:

Alliance Defending Freedom - Visit https://JoinADF.com/WIRE or text “WIRE” to 83848 to learn more.


Evening Wire: Lebanon Ceasefire Begins & Murder-Suicide Rocks VA | 4.16.26

The Pendragon Cycle

Menu

— News —

Kent State Singing Group Bans White Students From Solos, Disciplines Member Who Objected