Posted on March 30, 2016

Viral Video of Student Confrontation over Dreadlocks Prompts Investigation at SFSU

Emily Kirschenheuter, KRON, March 29, 2016

Campus police at San Francisco State University have launched an investigation into a viral video that shows a female student confronting a male student on campus about his dreadlocks.

Campus officials confirmed to KRON 4 News that the video took place on campus Monday afternoon and that both individuals are students, but neither are employed by the school.

KRON4 News reporter Justine Waldman caught up with Cory Goldstein, the man in dreadlocks. Goldstein says this confrontation started on campus quad when the unidentified woman went to hand him a flyer but pulled it back and said “sorry we don’t want people with your hair here.”

{snip}

The 46-second video shows an African-American student confronting Goldstein inside a campus hallway about his hair.

She tells him in the video that he is appropriating her culture and when he tries to walk away she obstructs his path.

“Yo, stop touching me right now,” Goldstein says he tries to walk up the stairs. She then grabs his arm to keep him from leaving.

“I don’t need your disrespect,” Goldstein says as she releases her grip on him and he walks away.

{snip}

Goldstein understands she and her friend were trying to explain why his hair was a form of “cultural appropriation” but he says her approach was not done in a positive way.

{snip}