OXFORD, Miss. — University of Mississippi administrators launched dual disciplinary investigations after a viral doorbell video caught white female students making monkey gestures outside an apartment occupied by three Black freshmen.
Official inquiries gathered momentum this week after 18-year-old student Alaina Kunes voluntarily withdrew from the university amid nationwide fury. Her companion, identified in student accounts as Lauren Mayfield, faced mounting condemnation for allegedly continuing the taunts during an immediate confrontation. The university's Office of Conflict Resolution and Student Conduct joined the Office of Equal Opportunity and Regulatory Compliance to determine code-of-conduct violations.
Tension on campus ignited fast.
A Ring doorbell camera outside an off-campus apartment in Oxford captured the confrontation on November 6. Three white women walked past the entrance. Two halted, stared directly into the lens, beat their chests, and mimicked monkey calls. Jakiyra Metcalf, a Black freshman who shares the apartment with roommates Victoria Johnson and Kaiyden Caldwell, posted the 13-second clip to TikTok. It racked up over 13 million views within days.
The roommates did not stay inside. They stepped out immediately to challenge the group.
Kunes apologized on the spot, telling the residents that the group had made similar noises outside other units in the building. Yet Mayfield refused to back down, according to the residents.
She continued to make the gestures after the girl was apologizing. It was like a slap in the face.
Victoria Johnson, University of Mississippi Student
Kunes formally apologized on November 10 through a written statement from her representative, insisting she had never met the residents before November 6 and did not know their race. She called her conduct insensitive and deeply harmful, pledging full cooperation with administrative investigators before relinquishing her enrollment.
To the women I offended and to the Ole Miss community, I sincerely apologize. I would have never intentionally made those noises or gestures toward a person of color.
Alaina Kunes, Former Ole Miss Student
University officials moved swiftly to manage the fallout. Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs Shawnboda Mead condemned the incident, branding the behavior hurtful and unacceptable. Administrators contacted Metcalf, Johnson, and Caldwell to provide campus support resources while confirming that no university sororities played a role in the incident. Officials also cautioned the public against digital vigilantism after online groups misidentified at least one bystander.
Demetrick Stringer Jr., president of the Ole Miss Black Student Union, demanded sweeping institutional accountability, sustained support for the targeted students, and aggressive educational measures for incoming freshmen.
| Incident Parameter | Official Status | Details |:--- | :--- |:--- |Accused Individuals | Under Disciplinary Review | Alaina Kunes (withdrawn), Lauren Mayfield |Complainants | Active Students | Jakiyra Metcalf, Victoria Johnson, Kaiyden Caldwell |Investigating Bodies | Active Dual Inquiry | Conduct Office & Regulatory Compliance |Incident Date & Venue | Confirmed | November 6, Off-Campus Apartment, Oxford |Video Reach | Public Metric | Exceeded 13 million views on TikTok |
The episode also unleashed fierce ideological polarization online. Supporters launched a crowdfunding campaign for Mayfield on GiveSendGo, depicting the taunts as a juvenile stunt blown out of proportion by an online mob. The campaign insisted Mayfield broke no laws and argued that administrative sanctions amounted to institutional overreach.
Despite the harassment, Metcalf, Johnson, and Caldwell confirmed they will remain enrolled at the university. Both university compliance bodies are scheduled to conclude their witness interviews in the coming days before rendering final administrative sanctions.