A racially charged video from October 2017 that surfaced on several social media platforms over the weekend involved two people who were Auburn High School students at the time.

The two female individuals in the video appear to say in unison, “We hate," and then used a racial slur. One of the students went on to say “… because they smell, they don’t work, so we should bring back slavery to whip them" and then used the slur again.

That same student also said the Ku Klux Klan, the violent white supremacist organization that organized in the South after the Civil War, should be brought back.

A statement released by the Auburn school district and posted on the high school's website Monday confirmed the date of the video and said that the individual in the 12-second video who made the most strident comments “is no longer a student in our District.”

The other student in the video is a current student at Auburn, said Nathan Essex, the high school principal.

Essex said the date was confirmed by a number of people who were present when the video was filmed.

Several posters on social media misidentified the same student as a current student at Lincoln Land Community College, but LLCC spokeswoman Lynn Whalen said while that student had been enrolled at the college during the spring semester, she isn't currently enrolled at the school.

LLCC President Charlotte Warren issued a statement Sunday evening saying that if the situation had involved a current student, “then it would be investigated and adjudicated per the policies and procedures of the College.

“I would like to assure our community that Lincoln Land Community College is committed to maintaining a learning and working environment that is free from all forms of harassment and discrimination,” Warren said in the statement. “LLCC values diversity.”

“Auburn High School will continue to engage and educate our student body in diversity and inclusion through activities and presentation in the classroom,” the statement from the school district said. “Our goal is for all students to have the opportunity to receive an education in a safe and welcoming environment.

“The District will follow policies and procedures in place in regard to any current students involved in the video. That process will become a part of official student records and could only be discussed with the students and their parents/guardians.”

Essex said that although the high school doesn't offer a course specifically on diversity, social and cultural awareness are addressed in other classes.

The topic, Essex said, will also be taken up as teachers and staff gather for their first institute day on Thursday. The 2019-20 academic year starts Monday at Auburn.

Essex termed the words used in the video "heinous."

"The comment (made in the video) doesn't reflect the students and staff that I know," Essex said. "I was disappointed in seeing the video. To have it put out and so blatantly tied to the community is hard to explain.

"There's a sadness and an idea of trying to do better."

Essex, who is beginning his eighth year as principal, said he was also worried about the safety of students wearing Auburn-related clothing in the community, nothing that they might be viewed as having "the same mindset" as the students speaking in the video.

Auburn Mayor Tom Berola said he was "absolutely shocked and horrified" after seeing the video.

"It's absolutely not reflective of the views and attitudes of the citizens of Auburn," said Berola, who grew up in the town.

The State Journal-Register on Monday morning attempted to contact both people in the video, but neither responded immediately.

In a Snapchat post, the individual who did most of the talking in the clip said in response to a question that she didn't remember the video. Wearing an Auburn Trojans sweatshirt, she later said that the video was "an inside joke with my best friend."

Contact Steven Spearie: 788-1524, sspearie@sj-r.com, twitter.com/stevenspearie.

