TeeRoy's 2 Cents:
- Harris’s letter received nearly 1000 reactions on Facebook and was shared close to 300 times -- with many commenting that a public apology was in order.
- NYU has a reputation for diversity and inclusivity, with the school’s website stating African-Americans make up 4.8 percent of the student body and 10.4 percent of all faculty and staff.
- NYU has also vowed to require staff to attend sensitivity training.
- It's ridiculous to think a so-called institute of education could be so ignorant.
- This isn't the first time we've heard a story like this.
- We need to start holding these institutions accountable.
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The college has issued a public apology and its their director of food service after students got watermelon-flavored water and collard greens to mark Black History Month.
College of Arts and Science sophomore Nia Harris noticed the offensive meal when she walked into Weinstein Passport Dining Hall -- and alerted the deans of the school and NYU’s President Andrew Hamilton of the insensitive and “stereotypical” meal.
In her letter, which she also shared on Facebook, Harris wrote, “In 2018, there’s no excuse for intentional and deliberate disrespect." She suggested if the school wants to “learn how to celebrate black history and culture during this month, you can ask the black students at this school instead of patronizing us with Kool Aid, watermelon and ribs.”
NYU is pointing a finger at food service provider Aramark. In response, the school has suspended the director of dining, apologized and plans to investigate how this happened.