An editorial cartoon in the University of Kentucky student newspaper The Kentucky Kernel has according to the Herald Leader has made people think.
It stirred up the emotions of hundreds of University of Kentucky students. It caused a chorus of regrets, a round of apologies, one resignation and a stern statement yesterday from UK President Lee T. Todd Jr.
Below is the statement from Lee Todd regarding the Kernel cartoon.
The offensive cartoon published in the independent student newspaper on Friday, Oct. 5, 2007 does not represent the values we embrace and share at UK.
Against that backdrop, I am gratified by the response of so many in the university community, who showed their strong disagreement with the cartoon while peacefully encouraging more dialogue and reconciliation. It was appropriate and demonstrated increased awareness to diverse perspectives.
I contacted the editor of the Kernel this afternoon. I expressed my strong disagreement with the cartoon. I also encouraged the editor and his staff to consider taking part in some of the diversity and cultural sensitivity training offered on our campus. I was pleased to hear that Kernel editors and reporters already have been considering such actions. Moreover, in the immediate aftermath of the cartoon's publication, the appropriate action was taken by the Kernel and its staff. The apology was immediate and sincere and I believe demonstrated sensitivity to the power of words and actions. The media are a powerful tool and with that power there are both rights and responsibilities. As much as I regret the cartoon, and the pain it engendered, I am gratified by the heightened sensitivity that I think will result and the push for more inclusive dialogue about these and other important issues related to diversity.
The fact is that an institutional culture that celebrates diversity and inclusiveness prepares us all for the global community in which we now live.
It is an ongoing effort to create the culture we all want for UK. I am proud of the progress we have made in recent months and years. Clearly, though, we have much work to do, work that will never end. Please be assured that I - and I believe this entire institution - are steadfastly committed to this endeavor. Every member of our campus community deserves to live, work and study in a safe and comfortable environment. We want a campus which is open and inclusive, one which embraces and celebrates diversity. To that end, I challenge everyone on our campus to take responsibility for creating that kind of environment at UK.
We must start immediately. Several student leaders representing various organizations on campus will be meeting in the coming days to discuss how we can move forward and continue this dialogue.
Diversity Training, give me a break, maybe the President of the University should be sent to review the Constitution.
The one thing I’ve not seen in this reporting of political correctness is a discussion of First Amendment rights.
While the cartoon may have been racial slur, and it certainly was juvenile, the Editors had the right to publish it. I may disagree with what they print, but they do have a right to print what they want.
Keith Smiley, the editor of the Kernel, is a pretty weak kneed excuse for an editor. I hope he goes on to a career in real estate; he certainly doesn’t need to be in Journalism.
The one person in this whole mess with any common sense, intestinal fortitude and honor was Chad Reese.
The Kernel's opinion page editor, Chad Reese, also resigned. Reese quit on Sunday after Smiley declined to run a column defending the cartoon.
Reese, a 21-year-old philosophy junior, said he knew the cartoon was controversial and didn't agree with it, but he doesn't agree with every column or cartoon printed.
"Anytime you talk about a racial issue, with the history of Lexington and the University of Kentucky specifically, there's a lot of deep-seated racism in our community," he said. "It would be irresponsible not to look at that context whenever you deal with racism here."
Oh, and while we are talking about newspapers and what they publish. Maybe the editors and reporters of the Herald-Leader should brush up on their grammar.
It stirred up the emotions of hundreds of University of Kentucky students. It caused a chorus of regrets, a round of apologies, one resignation and a stern statement yesterday from UK President Lee T. Todd Jr.
The antecedent can’t be in the sub-head.
I’m sorry Mr. Mac; the students seem to be a bit dense these days, but they still get to publish what they want.
