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| Obama effigy found on U. of Kentucky campus | |
| 2008-10-30 | |
| A life-sized likeness of Barack Obama was found hanging from a tree with a noose around its neck Wednesday at the University of Kentucky, the second time in about a month such an effigy of the Democratic presidential nominee was reported on a college campus. UK spokesman Carl Nathe said the effigy was found Wednesday morning in a high-traffic area between a classroom building and parking garage. Police immediately took it down but released no information about their investigation. University President Lee Todd said he planned to apologize to the Obama family on behalf of the school and that he is "personally offended and deeply embarrassed by this disgusting episode." Federal authorities have been notified, Todd said. He said the effigy violates the university's code of ethics and won't be tolerated. "I am outraged because we work very hard, every day, to build bridges across the divides," Todd said. "Diversity and inclusion are among our most precious core values. Episodes like this serve only to erode our confidence in and respect for one another." Mike Lynch, a faculty member who works in a building near where the effigy was found, said he saw it around 8:40 a.m. He described it as life-sized with a Barack Obama Halloween mask, a suit jacket and sweat pants. "This, as far as I'm concerned, says nothing -- absolutely nothing -- representative of this university or this community," he said. Obama's Kentucky campaign director, Kenya McGruder, had no immediate comment. Secret Service spokesman Ed Donovan declined to comment specifically on the situation, but said an effigy can suggest a threatening tone or be an attempt to intimidate. He said the agency is "very proactive about addressing these matters."
In West Hollywood, Calif., authorities on Wednesday were looking into a Halloween display depicting a mannequin of GOP vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin hanging from a noose. The display also displayed her running mate, John McCain, surrounded by fake flames. And in Clarksville, Ind., a man had hanged an inflatable doll made to look like Obama from a tree. He took it down Wednesday, and authorities said it didn't appear to violate any state laws. At the University of Kentucky, Martin Luther King Jr. Cultural Center interim director Chester Grundy said he was outraged by the incident. A rally was held Wednesday night, where staff and student leaders condemned the act. Gov. Steve Beshear called the incident "embarrassing" and "deeply offensive." Raoul Cunningham, president of the Louisville chapter of the NAACP, said he is still trying to sort out his feelings "because there may be a double-meaning because Barack Obama is black, that he would be hung from a tree -- that goes back to lynching." John Johnson, executive director of the Kentucky Commission on Human Rights, called the action unacceptable even if it was a prank. "It's astonishing that somebody would do that at this day and time," he said. "You would hope that our country has progressed further than that." | |
| Posted by:tipper |
| #13 late word is that there have been 2 arrests in this case; meanwhile out west, the SP effigy was taken down by the property owner, and no charges are expected.. |
| Posted by: USN, Ret. 2008-10-30 21:16 |
| #12 Two words KU. Duke University. And I'm not talking about hoops... Well you should. No better way to punish UK Wildcat fans than to bring up Duke, Christian Laettner and THE SHOT. Drives 'em frickin bannanas. Go Duke! |
| Posted by: remoteman 2008-10-30 16:42 |
| #11 You are correct, my fire fighting friend. |
| Posted by: tu3031 2008-10-30 15:59 |
| #10 10-1 it was put up by a Obama supporter. |
| Posted by: DarthVader 2008-10-30 15:28 |
| #9 ...that is if you mean KU Lawrence Kansas and not UK Lexington Kentucky (sometimes the similar abbreviations are switched on accident). My friend is from Lawrence - was trying to explain to me how McCain used the race card without using the race card. Yeah. I was able to have him concede that McCain reclaiming the mic at that rally was an honorable move and that he didn't know whether big o was talking net or gross 250k - he said he would apologize if he was wrong and (Berman whoop) the number drops 50k-100k within these last couple days; rattles his confidence a bit. Friend is a rational person and if something happened at KU which didn't make the paper (so often) I'm am curious what it was and friend's take on it. Effigies are petty and tasteless anyways, but if this one were life size wouldn't it have to be, like, 10 feet tall or something? |
| Posted by: swksvolFF 2008-10-30 15:27 |
| #8 Mike Lynch, a faculty member who works in a building near where the effigy was found, said he saw it around 8:40 a.m. ... "This, as far as I'm concerned, says nothing -- absolutely nothing -- representative of this university or this community," he said. Why didn't "Mr. Lynch" just take it down without calling attention to it? Then he wouldn't have to worry about the university's reputation. |
| Posted by: Penguin 2008-10-30 14:55 |
| #7 tu3031, please clue me in on the KU portion - gotta friend in town from there, might make good conversation. |
| Posted by: swksvolFF 2008-10-30 14:38 |
| #6 Two words KU. Duke University. And I'm not talking about hoops... |
| Posted by: tu3031 2008-10-30 13:37 |
| #5 A rally was held Wednesday night mit MUSIC! where staff and student leaders condemned the act. |
| Posted by: Besoeker 2008-10-30 13:33 |
| #4 Probably an another race-baiting hoax, one more in a long string over the last years. And just in time for the elctions, too! I guess this will get more coverage than the GOP workers being physically assaulted here and there. "It's astonishing that somebody would do that at this day and time," he said. "You would hope that our country has progressed further than that." Nice to see that guy is focusing on the RIGHT kind of racism you're supposed to fight against, as opposed to say, obama's, wright's or ayer's... |
| Posted by: anonymous5089 2008-10-30 13:29 |
| #3 Why does the Reichstag spring immediately to mind? Or that "teacher" in NY with the oh so nast notes put on her door (by her). There is no depth to which Obamatrons won't sink. |
| Posted by: AlanC 2008-10-30 13:17 |
| #2 Federal authorities have been notified, Todd said. Just like they were with the Palin one in West Hollywood, right? Hello? |
| Posted by: tu3031 2008-10-30 13:07 |
| #1 Maybe it was an art installation. It is Halloween, you know. |
| Posted by: Scott R 2008-10-30 13:07 |