A Colorado State University student agriculture club apologized Tuesday for using an image of a black figure hanging from a tree on an invitation to an election forum.
The Collegiate Farm Bureau said the flier was a “serious lapse of judgment and sensitivity.” The students were trying to say CSU’s future “hangs” on Referendums C and D, budget measures on the Nov. 1 ballot, the group said.
“The image was certainly not intended to be racially offensive in any way and does not reflect the attitude or beliefs of the CSU Collegiate Farm Bureau nor the Colorado Farm Bureau,” student Melanie Calderwood said in an e-mailed statement. “We will strive to be more conscientious about similar matters.”
CSU did not plan to sanction the students, spokesman Brad Bohlander said. “After looking into this seriously, we feel strongly that there was no mal intent by the students,” he said. “The lack of intent doesn’t mean it’s OK. We think the students made a mistake, and they’ve learned from this.”
Staff writer Jennifer Brown can be reached at 303-820-1593 or jenbrown@denverpost.com.
