The University of Tennessee said in an official statement that the student at the center of a recent blackface controversy, now identified as Ethan Feick, no longer attends the University of Tennessee.

The announcement came in an email to students which outlined plans to improve "underlying issues" in the culture on campus.

"I know you are tired of getting these emails, and we are all tired of racist events happening on our campus that make them necessary.

I want to update you on the actions we are taking—not just in response to specific incidents but in an effort to address the underlying issues that allow them to happen. It is important to say that my leadership team and I see these actions as a starting point. We will continue to listen, evaluate, gather feedback, and communicate with you in order to move forward together.

First, we will require both immediate and ongoing cultural competency, inclusion, and bias training for all faculty, staff, and administrators, beginning with the executive administration. We are calling on our faculty experts to develop a curriculum for the chancellor's cabinet that can be implemented immediately.

Second, we will expand student cultural competency training—beginning with orientation this summer and through next fall's Welcome Week—and we will work with campus experts to incorporate these important components into First-Year Studies classes.

Additionally, the Faculty Senate passed General Education requirements Monday that include global citizenship courses. These courses will provide more opportunities for students to engage in dialogue about current issues involving campus climate, race, and inclusion. We are also working with faculty members to create instructor workshops and student programming around intergroup dialogue. This initiative is intended to assist with critical conversations aimed at creating better understanding and acceptance of differences.

Third, I am forming a committee of students, faculty, and staff to review our Student Code of Conduct in the context of peer university policies and applicable laws to recommend changes or clarifications related to both content and implementation. I will ask the committee to provide a timeline for its work that we will publicize at a later date.

Fourth, many of you have asked about the status of the students involved in the blackface incident last week. While federal law prohibits us from commenting on specific students beyond their enrollment status, we can tell you that Ethan Feick is no longer a student at the University of Tennessee.

We are creating a website to house these and other action items and status updates, as well as to curate resources, information, events, and programming related to supporting our students and our campus community. The site will be launched by the end of this week at belong.utk.edu.

These actions are merely a beginning. We have received a number of excellent ideas and appreciate everyone who is engaged in this difficult and ongoing dialogue. I am personally committed to listening to you, and I will ensure the leadership of the university takes the steps necessary to heal our community and rebuild your trust.

Sincerely,

Wayne T. Davis

Interim Chancellor"

The caption on the photo that sparked the controversy read, "We for racial equality boys. Bout to get this free college now that I'm black let's gooooo #blacklivesmatter."

The University originally issued a statement calling the photo "repulsive" and "abhorrent."

"Earlier today, the university was made aware of a screengrab of a Snapchat photo that included four individuals we believe to be our students. Two of them were in blackface. The image is repulsive and the caption abhorrent. The racism displayed in this image does not represent the behavior we expect of students or our Volunteer values. The BIAS Education Response Team—in collaboration with the Office of the Dean of Students—has been made aware of the situation and the university is determining how to handle this incident. Federal law prohibits the university from sharing how the university handles matters with individual students."

In the week following the incident, students have staged two protests, including one during Senior Night in Thompson-Boling Arena.

On Wednesday, March 6, 2019, students and faculty gathered on campus to discuss free speech versus hate speech. One student read parts of the email sent to students. "Many of you have asked about the status of the students involved in the blackface incident last week. While federal law prohibits us from commenting on specific students beyond their enrollment status, we can tell you that Ethan Feick is no longer a student at the University of Tennessee."

Symphany Gillard, a Therapy and Recreation Major, said, "That student chose to withdraw from the University of Tennessee so the fact that they put it in the email as if they had something to do with it, it really concerns me. They’re taking credit for it when it was the kid's actions that made him leave."

Trevor Shelby, a Sports Management Major, said, "They are trying to placate us as a student and community. What’s next, what are we gonna do, because this is definitely not enough."