The president of the University of Florida apologized Sunday after he said an usher was “inappropriately aggressive” in rushing black students across the graduation stage.
In a pair of tweets, W. Kent Fuchs said he had reached out to students involved and changed the removal practice for future ceremonies.
During one of this weekend’s commencement ceremonies, we were inappropriately aggressive in rushing students across the stage. I personally apologize, and am reaching out to the students involved. (1/2)
— W. Kent Fuchs (@PresidentFuchs) May 6, 2018
The practice has been halted for all future ceremonies, and we will work to make sure all graduating students know we are proud of their achievements and celebrate with them their graduation. (2/2)
— W. Kent Fuchs (@PresidentFuchs) May 6, 2018
“Strolling” is a graduation tradition among some black fraternities and sororities in which members dance across the stage.
Videos posted to social media showed the usher pushing and grabbing students who stopped to dance or pose.
To the people who feel UF is justified in pushing people off the stage because they were “dancing”. 1. He had no right to touch any student like that 2. He also pushed a girl who was just trying to take a selfie and 3. LET PEOPLE CELEBRATE THIER GRADUATION. #IsItGreatUF? pic.twitter.com/iVmrgeqTXz
— hailey 🌺 (@yeliah_) May 6, 2018
UF Twitter 🗣🗣
— Chris (@ChicoFreedom) May 5, 2018
Somebody please find out this employee’s name!! Every time a Black student took more than TWO seconds, he aggressively pushed them. Watch it for yourself. #ItsGreatUF pic.twitter.com/zMee1nMbUZ
Another one…. pic.twitter.com/imB8mwbICI
— Jordy (@_jordanaenae) May 5, 2018
— Stephanie Brohee (@stephbrohee) May 7, 2018
The incidents took place in the basketball arena Saturday at one of the university’s three weekend commencement ceremonies.
Mr. Fuchs also addressed the incident at Sunday’s graduation.
“Yesterday, I also want you all to know, that we inappropriately, physically rushed a number of students across the stage at one of our commencements, and I want to personally apologize for us doing that on behalf of myself and also the University of Florida,” he said.
Nearly 10,000 students are graduating from the University of Florida this spring, he said.
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