An Arkansas Tech student who dressed up as rapper Lil Wayne and wore blackface at a university costume contest has drawn criticism on social media as well as a condemning statement from the university president.
President Robin E. Bowen said in the statement she shares in the "deep hurt" caused by the student's costume, which she said failed to take into account the feelings of other students.
"We are in the business of education, and rather than running away from this very unpleasant situation we will use it as an opportunity to reinforce our institutional commitment to diversity and inclusion," Bowen said in the statement.
The statement said the costume contest was held by an unspecified student organization at the university's Russellville campus on Wednesday. The school will look into what "appropriate corrective measures" will be taken, the statement added.
The name of the student was not released.
Many people took to Twitter and Facebook to criticize the student's choice to wear blackface, including Twitter user Frenzy Hunter, who said "Blackface is HIGHLY offensive. Fight the urge to wear it."
Others posted comments questioning why such offense was taken with a Halloween costume, and arguing that it was wrong to compare the makeup to blackface costumes seen in minstrel shows.
"I do not personally agree with this girl being disciplined for this costume. It was a costume ... not the same as blackface in the hateful historical sense," Facebook user Kimberly Parker said in a comment.