Spitting on people and throwing rocks at them? What is this – grade school?

It appears some members of the university have reverted back to the days when pulling a girl’s hair or tying someone’s shoelaces together were acceptable manners of waging an argument.

As told at another meeting between Black United Students, the Kent State NAACP chapter, Zeta Phi Beta and Chi Omega Tuesday night, Chi Omegas and members of other sororities have been harassed recently.

Girls have been spat on, another had rocks thrown at her, and allegedly, fliers calling Chi Omega a racist organization have been passed around the Student Center, said Sarah Dick, vice president of Chi Omega.

Candice Poole, Zeta Phi Beta treasurer, said students harassing Chi Omega members do not represent Zeta Phi Beta. While they are still unidentified, she said, they are two black men.

BUS president Sasha Parker noted this concerning aspect of the story.

Just as the actions of a few Chi Omega members stereotyped the sorority, the actions of a few black men could become a problem for the black community.

Parker added that the organizations caught the problem early enough to keep them to isolated events.

We hope so, because it seems this whole situation revolving around the “blackest” Chi Omega award from April 8 is spinning out of control.

These latest developments just make the whole situation that much more embarrassing for the university.

It’s bad enough people nationwide have read that a Kent State sorority gave an award to its “Blackest Chi Omega” at a formal event, but also that some students have reacted by spitting on people.

Granted the award was insensitive, but spitting on people?

“People were taking it upon themselves to take things into their own hands and do inappropriate things,” Parker said.

It’s certainly a shame people seem to be taking matters into their own hands. Some of the things discussed at the meetings sound encouraging, and it seems Chi Omega and Zeta Phi Beta want to move forward past the “blackest” award incident.

Consider what was said at Tuesday’s meeting following the harassment discussion.

At the end of the meeting, Dick said they had worked out some solutions to the problem. They will have educational programs for the current members of the sorority as well as new members, she said.

Parker said the next step is to make sure the situation progresses beyond meetings.

“We’ll meet with them to make sure these steps are taken into action,” she said. “With the black students involved, it can’t be just talk.”

And according to Shanelle Smith, president of the Kent State NAACP, the whole issue could really be a blessing in disguise, because it’s getting the campus to talk about racial issues openly, she said.

Let’s hope these latest incidents don’t derail the discussion.

After all, this is Kent State University, not a day-care center.

The above editorial is the consensus opinion of the Daily Kent Stater editorial board.