College student, president apologize for offensive cartoon
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A St. Patrick’s Day cartoon in the Leigh University student newspaper has prompted an apology from the cartoonist, the editorial board, and the university’s president after protests from students. The cartoon (see here) is entitled “Map for a Successful St. Patrick’s Day” and uses references to drunkeness, brawling, a “french fry famine” and a leprechaun with a pot of coins with the words, “Wake up Jewish and protect your pot of gold.” Irish and Jewish students were offended.
Alice Gast, Leigh University’s president wrote:
The cartoon captioned Map for a Successful St. Patrickâ??s Day that appeared in the March 18, 2008 Brown and White was offensive and disappointing to me. A cartoon is a form of expression intended for humor or commentary, but it also has the capacity, like other forms of expression, to be deeply offensive when it employs hurtful stereotypes. Stereotypes based on ethnicity, religion, race, gender, sexual preference, or any other personal characteristic are rooted in ignorance and prejudice.
I was encouraged to see that our campus quickly and strongly voiced its collective expectations about the kind of community we want at Lehigh. The Brown and White editorial board rightly responded promptly and apologized to the Lehigh community in its online edition. The student cartoonist has also personally apologized in an open letter in the Brown and White. I believe these apologies are sincere and, while they do not erase the cartoon or the hurt it caused, are steps in the right direction. I applaud the Brown and White for taking responsibility for its actions.
University spokeswoman Y. Sarah Cooke, declined to say whether disciplinary action was taken against the student, citing federal privacy laws.
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