#46 Yik Yak Returns

The '#46 Yik Yak Returns' episode of 'Reply All' revisits a story originally reported by Alex Goldman about racism and harassment at Colgate University, placing it in the broader context of similar incidents at other universities across the United States. The episode begins by introducing Colgate University, a small private liberal arts college in Hamilton, New York, which prides itself on its picturesque campus and friendly town. However, for Melissa Melendez, a Puerto Rican student from the Bronx, the experience is marred by racism and exclusion. An anonymous social media app called Yik Yak, popular on college campuses, becomes a platform for students to post racist and violent messages targeting minority students like Melissa and her friends. The episode recounts the events of the previous semester at Colgate, where the app was used to project the student body's most bigoted thoughts. Melissa, coming from a diverse background, faces culture shock and stereotypes at Colgate, prompting her and other minority students to form a support group and eventually engage in a sit-in protest at the admissions building. The group, known as the Association of Critical Collegians (ACC), demands changes from the administration to address systemic issues of racism and inequality on campus. While the sit-in initially seems successful, with a quarter of the student body participating, a parallel protest unfolds on Yik Yak, where anonymous users post hateful messages about the ACC and its members.

The situation escalates when Melissa becomes a target of these posts, known as 'Flag Girl,' after an incident involving an upside-down American flag with 'Black Lives Matter' written on it. The threats become so severe that the ACC members feel unsafe, and the university offers them the option to leave campus. Over a dozen students choose to do so, moving to a different town for safety. In response to the negative atmosphere on Yik Yak, Colgate faculty members initiate a 'Yik Yak Take Back' campaign, posting positive and supportive messages under their real names. This effort brings some relief to the affected students, but the problem of racism on campus persists. The episode then shifts to a broader discussion of similar issues at other universities, such as the University of Missouri, Yale, and Georgetown, highlighting the national scale of the problem. The episode concludes with the return of the students who left Colgate, including Melissa, who graduates but decides to return to work at the college, acknowledging that the problem of racism needs continued attention.