Nick in the AM: Washington grad off college volleyball team after racial-slur

Good morning, troops. It’s Thursday, June 11.

A Washington woman was dismissed from her college volleyball team after she and a teammate used racial slurs on a Snapchat video, according to reports.

Washington Community High School graduate Brynn Nieukirk was entering her junior season this fall at the University of North Dakota.

The video emerged earlier this year, according to a statement from Jeremiah Tiffin, volleyball coach at the Grand Forks-based university.

At the time, the players were disciplined but allowed to remain on the team. Following additional discussion, Tiffin and the players came to a mutual decision for them not to return, he stated.

Tiffin’s statement did not identify the players. But multiple news sources in North Dakota identified them as Nieukirk, an outside hitter, and Julia Vetter, a junior setter from Fargo, N.D.

Racial issues have been in the forefront of national conversations recently following the police-involved death of George Floyd, an African-American man in Minneapolis.

The decision regarding Nieukirk and Vetter was announced June 5. Specifics regarding the video were not disclosed.

“Today’s decision considers recent events and sincere conversations I have had with these students and we feel that this is the best solution for all involved,” Tiffin wrote.

“I remain committed to further educating our student-athletes on diversity and inclusion and doing better on behalf of our institution.”

According to the Grand Forks Herald, university officials responded after a North Dakota football player objected to Nieukirk being included in a recent advertising campaign for season-ticket renewals.

The football player, Jaxson Turner, used Twitter to vent his frustration.

“This is never acceptable but especially during a time like this,” Turner stated in his tweet. “… This athlete shouldn’t be the face of UND athletics.”

Following Turner’s tweet, the university deleted the promotional poster from its social-medial accounts, the Herald reported.

North Dakota athletics director Bill Chaves supported Nieukirk’s and Vetter’s dismissal from the team, he said in a statement. He also wrote that he took responsibility for the advertisement that included Nieukirk.

“I have listened and will continue to listen to our student-athletes, faculty, staff and community as a whole, and I am dedicated to working together to foster a safe, welcoming space for everyone,” Chaves wrote.

The 6-foot-2 Nieukirk was injured for about half of the 2019 season but appeared in 15 matches, all in Summit League play. Western Illinois also is a member of that conference.

In 2016, as a junior at Washington, Nieukirk helped her team to a 27-8 record and second place in the Mid-Illini Conference. She was a Journal Star all-area first-team selection.

But late in the following season, Nieukirk and two other senior starters left the Washington program. A reason wasn’t specified.

By then, Nieukirk had committed to play at North Dakota.