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Oklahoma Diversity Chief Says He Faced Discrimination There

Tulsa Democrat Jabar Shumate
State of Oklahoma-File photo
Tulsa Democrat Jabar Shumate

TULSA, Okla. (AP) — The University of Oklahoma's new chief of diversity programs says he's right for the job after a racist video roiled the school last month.

Jabar Shumate  says he was discriminated against while attending there in the 1990s.

The black former state senator remembers the fliers with his picture on them tacked up during his campaign for student body vice president: "Do you want this person living in your house? Vote the other ticket."

OU President David Boren tapped the Tulsa Democrat for the newly created vice president in charge of overseeing diversity programs.

It comes after a video turned up showing members of OU's Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity chapter using a chant that referenced lynching and included a racial slur.

Shumate resigned from the Senate in January.