The Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colo., confirmed Tuesday that a racial slur-filled message found posted outside of one of the campus dorms in September was written by one of the alleged victims.
The student who wrote the slurs is no longer at the academy, Fox News reported, but the institution did not disclose whether the student withdrew or was expelled. It also did not release the name of the student, citing privacy laws.
"We can confirm that one of the cadet candidates who was allegedly targeted by racist remarks written outside of their dorm room was actually responsible for the act," the academy said in a written statement, released on Tuesday. "The individual admitted responsibility and this was validated by the investigation."
The message, "Go home ni**er," was written on a dormitory message board outside of five black cadet candidates' dorm room, spurring a sharp response from the superintendent of the Colorado Spring's academy, Lt. Gen. Jay Silveria.
Silveria's comments attracted nationwide attention and garnered over one million views on YouTube.
"If you're outraged by those words then you're in the right place," Silveria said. "You should be outraged not only as an airman, but as a human being."
Political figures and media outlets alike brought attention to the five-minute speech, with many praising the academy's superintendent, including the New York Times, which called his remarks a "resounding message."
"If you demean someone in any way, you need to get out," Silveria said in his speech. "If you can't treat someone from another race, or different color skin, with dignity and respect, then you need to get out."
Despite the new revelations that have been publicized in the past 24 hours, Silveria said he stands by his speech.
"Regardless of the circumstances under which those words were written, they were written, and that deserved to be addressed," Silveria wrote in an email to the Colorado Springs Gazette. "You can never overemphasize the need for a culture of dignity and respect—and those who don't understand those concepts aren't welcome here."
The Air Force Academy said it was not going to provide any further details on the matter, but did express that there may be "additional information already in the public space," the New York Times reported.
As news of the hoax spread online that a black student had written the slur, the Times noted that many called on Silveria to address the events as a hate crime hoax.