The University of Florida drew criticism after several black graduates were forcibly ushered off stage after “strolling” – described as a black fraternity and sorority cultural tradition – during the school’s weekend commencement ceremony, Time reported.
Video footage which flooded social media showed an unidentified faculty member quickly pushing and shoving black students away after they danced and strolled onto stage.
One student recounted the experience to the Gainesville Sun.
“Both of my friends wanted to celebrate by strolling, which is a cultural tradition in historically black fraternities and sororities,” said 22-year-old Christopher Garcia-Wilde, who graduated on Saturday with a bachelor’s degree in microbiology.
He said he chose not to follow the tradition because he saw other students being shoved.
“But my two friends who graduated with me really wanted to do it, so they tried. They both were pushed and one of them got an entire bear hug.”
The backlash prompted the school to release an apology to the students.
Taking to Twitter, University of Florida President Kent Fuchs admitted that school officials were "inappropriately aggressive in rushing students across the stage," adding that he wanted to personally apologize and reach out to the students involved.
He later addressed the incident in a video posted to Twitter.
"I also want you all to know that we inappropriately, physically rushed a number of students across the stage in one of our commencements, and I want to personally apologize for us doing that, on behalf of myself and also the University of Florida," he said, per The Orlando Sentinel.
"I want our students to know that we’ve changed that practice and also want each one of you to know that we celebrate you, your graduation and your accomplishments.”
The apology wasn’t enough to fend off criticism that has lit up social media since Saturday.
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