mick silver
31st October 2015, 11:52 AM
UofL students protest controversial photo Chie Davis, WHAS11 4:33 p.m. EDT October 30, 2015
http://cdn.tegna-tv.com/-mm-/cee05fa7bdbfea25d5748c180dbcfb759b75b5fb/c=1-0-679-510&r=x404&c=534x401/local/-/media/2015/10/29/WHAS/WHAS/635817394950049471-11029984-931929500213661-2391013943243326526-n.jpg
University President James Ramsey, lower right, and his wife Jane, upper left, host a luncheon for members of his staff on Wednesday afternoon.(Photo: Scott Utterback/The C-J)
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LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WHAS11) -- University of Louisville President James Ramsey issued an apology statement, after facing criticism for a photo that shows he and other staffers posed in costumes that depict stereotypical Mexican garb. They wore ponchos, sombreros and fake mustaches.
The picture was published by The Courier Journal on Wednesday.
It features the university president and staff posed outside of a Highlands mansion, which is often used for school events. Ramsey and his staff used the location for a Halloween party on Wednesday. The "Mexican costumes" were part of the attire.
REALTED: UofL staff addresses Halloween Luncheon photo (http://www.whas11.com/story/news/local/2015/10/29/uofl-staff-addresses-uofl-halloween-luncheon-photo/74830998/)
In a personal statement President Ramsey wrote, “I want to personally apologize for the recent incident and any pain that it may have caused our students, faculty, staff and the community. We did not intend to cause harm or to be insensitive. I hope this doesn’t detract from the hard work we – the entire UofL community -- have done and continue to do in building an inclusive, supportive, welcoming campus for all our university family. I pledge to work to ensure that we move forward as one university.”
Ramsey's Chief of Staff, Kathleen Smith, initially issued a statement on Thursday night, after outrage from the public. She expressed “a sincere apology for the choice of Halloween costumes...We made a mistake and are very sorry." She also added, "We commit to a series of campus conversations with students, faculty, staff, alumni and community members to further focus on diversity and racial equality issues underpinning the pluralistic society we all support. This event shows we have much more to learn about our community," Smith said.
RELATED: UofL faces backlash after photo surfaces on social media (http://www.whas11.com/story/news/local/2015/10/29/uofl-faces-backlash-after-photo-surfaces-social-media/74852006/)
On Friday afternoon, UofL students gathered on campus to hold a protest in response to the incident. They chanted “Racist Ramsey’s got to go!” while issuing the following list of demands:
They've also started a petition calling for Ramsey's resignation (http://on.whas11.com/1WoJHHn). WHAS11 reporter Ana Rivera will have more on this developing story in our 4 p.m. newscast on Friday. We will continue to update the story as it unfolds.
http://cdn.tegna-tv.com/-mm-/cee05fa7bdbfea25d5748c180dbcfb759b75b5fb/c=1-0-679-510&r=x404&c=534x401/local/-/media/2015/10/29/WHAS/WHAS/635817394950049471-11029984-931929500213661-2391013943243326526-n.jpg
University President James Ramsey, lower right, and his wife Jane, upper left, host a luncheon for members of his staff on Wednesday afternoon.(Photo: Scott Utterback/The C-J)
CONNECT 4 TWEET (https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?url=http%3A//on.whas11.com/1NdYkwx&text=UofL%20President%20Ramsey%20issues%20apology% 20after%20photo%20scandal&via=WHAS11)LINKEDIN (http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?url=http%3A//on.whas11.com/1NdYkwx&mini=true)COMMENTEMAILMORE
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WHAS11) -- University of Louisville President James Ramsey issued an apology statement, after facing criticism for a photo that shows he and other staffers posed in costumes that depict stereotypical Mexican garb. They wore ponchos, sombreros and fake mustaches.
The picture was published by The Courier Journal on Wednesday.
It features the university president and staff posed outside of a Highlands mansion, which is often used for school events. Ramsey and his staff used the location for a Halloween party on Wednesday. The "Mexican costumes" were part of the attire.
REALTED: UofL staff addresses Halloween Luncheon photo (http://www.whas11.com/story/news/local/2015/10/29/uofl-staff-addresses-uofl-halloween-luncheon-photo/74830998/)
In a personal statement President Ramsey wrote, “I want to personally apologize for the recent incident and any pain that it may have caused our students, faculty, staff and the community. We did not intend to cause harm or to be insensitive. I hope this doesn’t detract from the hard work we – the entire UofL community -- have done and continue to do in building an inclusive, supportive, welcoming campus for all our university family. I pledge to work to ensure that we move forward as one university.”
Ramsey's Chief of Staff, Kathleen Smith, initially issued a statement on Thursday night, after outrage from the public. She expressed “a sincere apology for the choice of Halloween costumes...We made a mistake and are very sorry." She also added, "We commit to a series of campus conversations with students, faculty, staff, alumni and community members to further focus on diversity and racial equality issues underpinning the pluralistic society we all support. This event shows we have much more to learn about our community," Smith said.
RELATED: UofL faces backlash after photo surfaces on social media (http://www.whas11.com/story/news/local/2015/10/29/uofl-faces-backlash-after-photo-surfaces-social-media/74852006/)
On Friday afternoon, UofL students gathered on campus to hold a protest in response to the incident. They chanted “Racist Ramsey’s got to go!” while issuing the following list of demands:
They've also started a petition calling for Ramsey's resignation (http://on.whas11.com/1WoJHHn). WHAS11 reporter Ana Rivera will have more on this developing story in our 4 p.m. newscast on Friday. We will continue to update the story as it unfolds.