University of Oregon Apologizes to BYU for Anti-Mormon Chant at Football Game
Credit: Tom Hauck / Stringer / Getty Images Sport / Getty Images- The University of Oregon faced off against Brigham Young University in Eugene, Ore., on Saturday.
- BYU fans sitting next to the Oregon student section filmed the anti-Mormon chants and posted the video on social media.
- Oregon officials apologized, calling the chant “offensive and disgraceful.”
The University of Oregon has apologized to Brigham Young University after some of its students shouted obscene, anti-Mormon chants during Saturday’s football game in Eugene, Ore.
Oregon officials on Sunday posted an apology on Twitter after videos showing students shouting obscenities surfaced on social media.
“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,” Oregon officials said in a statement on Twitter. “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.”
— University of Oregon (@uoregon) September 18, 2022The University of Oregon sincerely apologizes for an offensive and disgraceful chant coming from the student section during yesterday’s game against Brigham Young University. 1/2
On Monday, Oregon Interim President Patrick Phillips issued a full statement condemning the chant and apologizing to BYU.
“While some might see these chants as being directed against an opponent from another school, they are also an attack on all members of our community,” Phillips said. “There are members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on our own football team, and we know there were members of that faith wearing green and yellow sitting right next to those chanting on Saturday.
BYU officials on Monday accepted Oregon’s apologies.
“We recognize that this isolated behavior does not reflect the values of the University of Oregon,” BYU officials said in a statement on Twitter. “As we all work together to address incidents that seek to divide us, we are grateful for those who are willing to come together to build bridges of understanding.”
— BYU (@BYU) September 19, 2022We appreciate the sincere apology from the University of Oregon regarding the behavior of some fans at Autzen Stadium on Saturday. 1/2
BYU is a private, Utah university operated by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Nearly all its students are Mormon.
This isn’t the first time the BYU’s football team has faced anti-Mormon chants during away games. Following a Nov. 27, 2021 matchup with the University of Southern California (USC), BYU fans who were at the game told Deseret News that some USC fans shouted an obscene chant.
USC issued an apology on Twitter the next day.