Just saw Dexter post this on Twitter.
To recap, Dr. Hitt had to apologize for this in April 2004:
UCF President Apologizes For Wearing Afro Wig
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.
To recap, Dr. Hitt had to apologize for this in April 2004:
UCF President Apologizes For Wearing Afro Wig
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.
