KKK CARTOON DRAWS CRICITISM AT MICHIGAN UNIVERSITY
DETROIT--Eastern Michigan University on Sunday responded to backlash over a controversial cartoon depicting Ku Klux Klan members and a noose that ran in its student newspaper last week, saying the paper is an independent publication, but the university doesn't condone racially insensitive actions.
"Students are responsible for planning, writing and editing the entire newspaper," said spokesman Walter Kraft in a statement. "The university does not exercise any editorial control over the content of the newspaper. The university does not condone or support any actions that are racially offensive or insensitive."
On Tuesday, the Eastern Echo ran a cartoon that depicted a couple, both wearing Ku Klux Klan robes and hoods, talking to one another near a tree with a noose hanging from it.
Its caption read: "Honey, this is the tree where we met."
The newspaper posted a statement on its website Saturday, apologizing for any "lack of sensitivity" it may have showed in publishing the cartoon and said the cartoon "points out the hypocrisy of hate-filled people."
"Its intent was to ask how can someone show affection for one person while at the same time hating someone else enough to commit such a heinous act as hanging," the statement said.
The cartoon has sparked controversy on some websites and from Eastern students.
On the Echo's website Sunday, at least one African-American student wrote that she found the cartoon offensive and wrong, and it could've "been done in a different way."
Another African-American student wrote that he found it funny.
"Students are responsible for planning, writing and editing the entire newspaper," said spokesman Walter Kraft in a statement. "The university does not exercise any editorial control over the content of the newspaper. The university does not condone or support any actions that are racially offensive or insensitive."
On Tuesday, the Eastern Echo ran a cartoon that depicted a couple, both wearing Ku Klux Klan robes and hoods, talking to one another near a tree with a noose hanging from it.
Its caption read: "Honey, this is the tree where we met."
The newspaper posted a statement on its website Saturday, apologizing for any "lack of sensitivity" it may have showed in publishing the cartoon and said the cartoon "points out the hypocrisy of hate-filled people."
"Its intent was to ask how can someone show affection for one person while at the same time hating someone else enough to commit such a heinous act as hanging," the statement said.
The cartoon has sparked controversy on some websites and from Eastern students.
On the Echo's website Sunday, at least one African-American student wrote that she found the cartoon offensive and wrong, and it could've "been done in a different way."
Another African-American student wrote that he found it funny.
Siebra, have you read my blog from yesterday about only Blacks can be violent where I talked about the cartoons in the California state college newspaper the HORNET?...
BUT, THINGS LIKE THOSE ROPES IN THAT SCHOOL YARD IN JENA, lA. WERE SEEN AS A JOKE AND BURNING CROSSES ON OUR LAWNS BY THE KKK IS 'FREE SPEECH' (NUP)