Three sorority sisters in full selfie mode, smiling broadly and pressed close to fit in the frame. Beneath their faces, the caption “Chi O got NO n—–!” By now, many of you have seen the image.

You may or may not have heard the denials: some have anonymously defended the Snapchat to Total Sorority Move, claiming that Snapchat autocorrected the word “ninjas” to the most offensive slur in the English language. Others have claimed that the image was Photoshopped.

One way or the other, the response was swift. The student who sent the Snapchat is no longer a member of Chi Omega, and has even been condemned in an official statement from Judy Bonner.

I’m disappointed that more people aren’t talking about this incident, because it has a lot of implications for the University.

The first major lesson from this is that our administrators are finally taking racism seriously – at least, from a PR perspective. For the president of the University to comment on an individual Snapchat is unprecedented, and shows a shift towards a ?zero-tolerance policy on racist language.

President Bonner went on to praise the University and the Panhellenic community for making “great strides” on Bid Day, when 21 black women received bids. This language is constructive because it highlights the importance of positive social change in the University’sGreek system. This is a stark contrast to the administration’s usual policy of denying any problems at all, and if this kind of constructive language continues, it could open the door to more robust discussion on race at The University of Alabama.

It is not all good, though. It seems a little hypocritical for the University, which tacitly condoned ?segregation for decades and under-recruits nonwhite ?students, to publicly crucify a student for using ?racist language.

I am not saying that a statement should not have been made, but administrators may potentially have ruined a girl’s life by emailing her prejudices to the entire student body. Leaders who presume to make that kind of moral judgment had better hold themselves to a high standard, and I am not so sure our administration meets that standard.

I am glad that administration seems to be taking accusations of racism more seriously than in the past. But as we move towards equality, let us remember that the most harmful expressions of racism are not overt and personal; they are silent and institutional. Therefore, as we fight against racism, it is not enough to hold just people accountable. We also have to keep a close eye on the institutions.

Nathan James is a senior majoring in psychology. His column runs weekly on Thursday.