Three professors from the University of South Alabama were put on leave while the university faces pressure to fire them over a Halloween costume that critics deemed racist.
University President Tony Waldrop announced their suspension Friday and said an independent investigation into the incident would be conducted by attorney Suntrease Williams-Maynard. The three professors in question are Bob Wood, then-dean of the business school who was wearing a Confederate soldier’s garb in the photo from a Halloween party in 2014, while professors Alex Sharland and Teresa Weldy were allegedly holding up nooses in the photo.
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Wood and Sharland issued statements about the photo, while Weldy has not, according to Insider Higher Ed.
“Seven years ago, I rented and wore a last-minute costume that was ill-conceived to a faculty and student Halloween costume contest, at which I served on a panel of judges to select the winners,” Wood said. “I sincerely apologize and am sorry for doing so, and ask for forgiveness for this error in judgment.”
Sharland said in a statement, “In retrospect I can see why someone might find the image hurtful, and I regret this attempt at humor that clearly failed. It was not my intent to hurt or be offensive, and if anyone is offended by this picture I apologize.”
Students have held protests on campus and created a petition urging the university to fire the professors, which has more than 2,600 signatures.
“The casual racism portrayed by these professors cannot go unpunished,” the petition reads. “We are calling for the University of South Alabama to terminate these employees in order to demonstrate that racism has no place on our campus and to recommit to establishing a safe place for all who seek education here. Racism cannot simply be given a slap on the wrist. It must be addressed as the serious issue it is. We cannot have professors who partake in this kind of behavior.“
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The university president acknowledged that the photo had been brought to its attention in 2020, and he said its response then “should have been stronger and broader, and should have more strongly demonstrated an unwavering commitment to a safe and welcoming environment for every member of our community.”
