Sombrero Photo Featuring James Ramsey, University Of Louisville President: ‘We Made A Mistake’

A sombrero photo taken by University of Louisville President James Ramsey has raised a significant outcry this week. The photo showed him and his staff wearing clothing which was considered offensive, including sombreros (Spanish for “hat”), ponchos, and fake mustaches and beards. Some of them even wore head wraps, and most participants were seen holding rattles.

In the light of the outcry by Republican presidential hopeful Donald Trump for his speech on illegal immigrants, this only adds to the insult for the Hispanic community. As previously reported by the Inquisitr, Trump was quoted as saying that immigrants were “rapists” who bring crime and drugs across the border. This outraged Hispanic celebrities such as Pitbull and Gloria Estefan, both of whom made public their dislike for the real estate mogul’s comments.

The sombrero photo featuring University of Louisville President James Ramsey was one of a gallery posted online at the Courier-Journal. While there has been no word yet from Ramsey himself, his chief of staff, Kathleen Smith, offered an official apology.

“We made a mistake and are very sorry,” Smith said.

@uofl shows not even a #PhD can keep some people from being idiots! University of Louisville apologized after its… https://t.co/bAXz45WLpZ

— Jennifer W. Sanchez (@JennSanchezMPA) October 30, 2015

John Karman, a university spokesperson, said that the photo had been taken during a party at a mansion that Louisville President James Ramsey uses for such events. This, of course, only mirrors certain recent fraternity activities that have come to light in the past year.

One fraternity previously mentioned by the Inquisitr threw a “Kanye Western” party. Instead of focusing on the rapper’s music, participants showed up to the party in “black face,” wearing fake butt implants to mimic Kim Kardashian and generally engaging in racist activities. This led to protesters gathering outside the party using the slogan, “Our culture is not a costume.”

The “Kanye Western” party had also given new black students the wrong impression that they weren’t welcome at the school.

Louisville Cardinal student newspaper editor Olivia Krauth wrote her own scathing reprimand on Thursday for James Ramsey’s sombrero photo.

“[If] a fraternity threw a party with a Mexican theme and pictures of them in these outfits got out, they would be in huge trouble just like countless other Greek organizations across the country in the past few years. … As the president of a university, I would expect more.”

The university director of the Office of Hispanic and Latino Initiatives, Sarah Nunez, used a similar comment to the protesters from the “Kanye Western” party. ABC News says her words to the Courier-Journal about the sombrero photo were, “Don’t dress like a culture. They aren’t costumes, they’re people.”

Another similar issue arose when a Penn State sorority dressed in similar clothing in 2012, according to the Courier-Journal. They also apologized for “portraying inappropriate and untrue stereotypes.”

This is a period when fraternities are regularly getting in trouble for inappropriate behavior, and authorities are beginning to question the need for them. University of Louisville President James Ramsey’s sombrero photo is only proverbially adding fuel to the fire.

Kathleen Smith added a challenge to staff and students in her statement about the offensive photo.

“We commit to a series of campus conversations with students, faculty, staff, alumni and community members to further focus on diversity and racial equality issues underpinning the pluralistic society we all support. This event shows we have much more to learn about our community.

“We pledge to continue to work together to promote an environment that values all people regardless of race, religion, ethnicity, country of origin, immigration status, sexual orientation or gender identity. [We vow to] institute immediate training on diversity and racial equality issues.”

What do you think should be done about the sombrero photo featuring University of Louisville President James Ramsey?

[Feature image via Country Club Prep]