A university president in Tennessee has publicly apologized after he was accused of hosting a racist dinner for African-American students that featured cotton stalk table centerpieces and soul food.
Lipscomb University president Randy Lowry invited the group of students to his home for dinner last week to talk about their experiences at the predominately white university.
Some of the students criticized Lowry for his ‘poorly chosen cotton centerpieces’ and ‘black meals’ after it emerged he had also hosted a group of Latino students the night before and served them tacos.
Lipscomb University president Randy Lowry was criticized for his ‘racially insensitive’ cotton centerpieces (above) at a dinner for African American students at his home last week
Lowry posted his apology on the university’s Facebook page, saying a number of the students had flagged their concerns with him.
Lowry posted a public apology on the university’s Facebook page acknowledging the centerpieces were ‘offensive’
‘The content of the centerpieces was offensive, and I could have handled the situation with more sensitivity. I sincerely apologize for the discomfort, anger or disappointment we caused and solicit your forgiveness,’ Lowry said.
One student shared photos of the cotton centerpieces on Instagram saying she was ‘very offended’ and that the food they were served – including mac n cheese, collard greens and corn bread – ‘resembled many black meals’.
‘The night before Latinos also had dinner at his house and they had tacos. They also didn’t have the center piece that we had tonight,’ she added.
The student said Lowry came around to each of the students when they first arrived to introduce themselves. She said when they told him the centerpieces were inappropriate, he responded it ‘wasn’t inherently bad it we’re all wearing it’.
One student shared photos of the cotton centerpieces on social media saying she was ‘very offended’ and that the food they were served ‘resembled many black meals’
Another student said the ‘racially insensitive’ cotton centerpieces was just one of the issues they had raised with Lowry about the dinner.
‘There were other problems that occurred at the dinner that are not mentioned in this ‘apology’. We came to his house after being told that we would get to share our experiences as a black student and to have a question and answer session with President Lowry,’ the student wrote on Facebook.
‘We did not get a chance to voice any of our questions like we were promised. Therefore, we are upset about other things aside from these poorly chosen cotton centerpieces.’
Lowry has since agreed to meet with a number of students in small groups or individually, according to his Facebook post.
One student said they told Lowry the centerpieces were inappropriate at the dinner (above) and he responded it ‘wasn’t inherently bad it we’re all wearing it’