UCF President Apologizes For Wearing Afro Wig (..was an apology necessary?)

Local6.com ^ | April 2, 2004 | AP

[fight_truth_decay]

Hitt Says Wig Was To Salute Player, Team..

ORLANDO, Fla. -- University of Central Florida President John Hitt apologized for wearing an Afro wig after a picture of him and a university trustee was published on the front page of the campus newspaper.

Hitt said he and Board of Trustees Chairman Dick Nunis, who are both white, were acting like many UCF basketball fans have this season in support of Dexter Lyons, a black student who wears his hair in a combed-out Afro.

"Just as many fans wear Afro wigs to the games, we wore them to salute the player and the team," the president wrote in the e-mail. "I sincerely apologize to any members of the UCF family and community who may have been offended."

Hitt sent the e-mail apology Tuesday night to students, faculty and administrators after the Central Florida Future published the photo showing him and Nunis donning the wigs at a trustees meeting last week.

The president said Wednesday he decided to apologize after he began to hear concerns that it resembled racist imagery used to mock blacks.

Lyons, UCF's leading scorer, said he wasn't offended. He attended the March 22 trustees' meeting where the men donned the wigs, and posed with them for another photo.

"It's a big deal for me to get the president of this university to put on an Afro wig," Lyons said Wednesday. "That's an honor."

Hitt and the trustees recognized Lyons, 22, and the rest of the Golden Knights for winning their third A-Sun championship and for an NCAA Tournament appearance last month in which they lost to high-seeded Pittsburgh, 53-44.

[fight_truth_decay]

During the '70s, people from all walks of life had Afros.

Should Hitt have offered up an apology?

[Redcloak]

I am offended by his apology. I demand an immediate apology for this outrageous apology!!!

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[Catspaw]

He's the Rubberband Man.

[Andy from Beaverton]

Somebody help me find that photo of Clinton wearing a wig.

[Charles Henrickson]

The late Floridian, Bob Ross:

[samadams2000]

You know what...he probably didnt need to apologize..but how about this..they should fire him to make a statement. You know..eat their own...If a republican did this he would be toast. I say fire him. Live by PC...die by PC..

[vox humana]

Typical liberal college president! He is so insecure that he had to apologize even though the student said no apology was necessary. Pathetic!

[mountaineer]

the pic of Blubba wearing the afro wig at a Martha's Vineyard nightclub is hard to find - he was hanging out with a band called the "Boogies," if that helps.

[Numbers Guy]

During the '70s, people from all walks of life had Afros.

I had one back then. It was natural. I am white. Will the President apologize to curly-haired white folks like me for mocking our natural hairdo?

[spycatcher]

Bill Clinton and "The Boogies"

[spycatcher]

Found it

[beebuster2000]

I am offended by your offense at his apology for offense and demand an apology from you !!!

[Dante3]

LOL!

If he has to apologize for wearing an Afro wig, then shouldn't all those non-Whites with their bleached blond hair and cosmetically created Noridc features also apologize? What about Michael Jackson running around in white-face?

[jtminton]

Mmmmmm. Sweaty Clinton.

[fight_truth_decay]

At the time, reporters were said to have been threatened with retaliation if they printed Clinton in his afro. Dan Rather, Peter Jennings and Tom Brokaw could never find the video. ;)

[Ben Chad]

You would be amazed at what is going on at Ga State Univ in a similar vein. Two white students were suspended from the university for a year for putting on black makeup at a fraternity hip-hop theme party held off-campus at a private residence. Black student organizations have made a long list of demands including that the fraternity be disbanded, that new black studies programs be added, that all students be forced to take those studies, and on and on, just short of demanding reparations for slavery.

[Loyal Buckeye]

This apology becomes effective only after it has been approved by Richard Clarke.

[Dante3]

That sounds like something out of "1984" and "Brave New Wordl." In the long run it only solidifies prejudice adn discrimination.

Does the school have a double standard? Or is there policy regarding non-whites trying to look white?

[texson66]

Please share it.....