University to Investigate After Video Shows Female Student Confronting Male Student for His Dreadlocks
The incident was caught on camera.
— -- A video showing a black female student recently confronting a white male student at San Francisco State University about his dreadlocks has prompted an investigation by the school.
In the video, which has garnered attention on social media since it was posted on Monday, the male student, later identified as Cory Goldstein, asks the female student: “You’re saying that I can’t have a hairstyle because of your culture? Why?”
“Because it’s my culture,” the female student, identified as Bonita Tindle, responded. Another student, who was not identified, is standing near the two of them during the conversation.
The university confirmed the names of the two students to ABC News.
Goldstein then argues that dreadlocks are also in Egyptian culture, asking Tindle, “Are you Egyptian? Nah, man, you’re not.”
Tindle then asks Goldstein if he’s Egyptian and he tells her that he’s not. As Goldstein grabs her arm to move her out of his way, Tindle asks if he knows where Egypt is and starts to push him and block him from going up the staircase.
When Goldstein asks her to stop touching him, Tindle mimics his voice and grabs his arm when he walks up a couple of steps. She tugs him down the stairs saying, “come back, come back.”
When he comes down the stairs she tells him, “You put your hands on me, you’re going to learn,” to which he starts to walk away and says, "I don't need your disrespect."
Tindle then turns her attention to the person filming the incident and asks, “Why are you filming this?”
The person responds, “For everyone’s safety,” and Tindle puts her hand in front of the camera.
Goldstein told ABC's San Francisco station KGO-TV that he had no intention of changing his hairstyle, but would have a respectful conversation with anyone about his choice.
"It's something I've had since I was 17 years old and something that's part of who I am. I believe they are powerful and helped amplify myself and helped me connect to this world," he said.
Goldstein filed a formal campus police report but did not file criminal charges, according to a San Francisco State University statement on Tuesday. The statement also clarified that the two students were not employees, even though the description of the video on YouTube stated that Tindle was a campus employee.
Tindle did not immediately respond to requests by ABC News for comment.
“San Francisco State University promotes the rights of the campus community to engage in free speech, but does not condone behavior that impedes the safety or well-being of others. We are taking the matter seriously and will promptly and thoroughly investigate this incident through applicable University channels, including our campus student conduct procedures," the university said.