Florida Rescinds Admissions to Student Who Made Racial Post

Associated Press

June 12, 2020

FILE-This Saturday, Sept. 10, 2011 file photo shows the west exterior of Ben Hill Griffin Stadium at University of Florida, in Gainesville, Fla. The University of Florida has rescinded an admissions offer to a prospective student who posted a racist comment on social media. (AP Photo/John Raoux)

GAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP) — The University of Florida has rescinded an admissions offer to a prospective student who posted a racial comment on social media.

Florida’s flagship university tweeted earlier this week that the prospective student “will not be joining the University of Florida community this fall.” The tweet did not offer any further details.

The Gainesville Sun reports that University of Florida officials have been looking into allegations of prospective and enrolled students posting racist messages on social media. Their concerns come as protests have been held across the nation in response to the death of George Floyd at the hands of police officers in Minneapolis.

The source of the admissions offer being rescinded was an Instagram post a Cape Coral, Florida, student made about two years ago. The post had a photo that referred to two black girls in her class with the caption, “I really try so hard not to be a racist person, but I most definitely am, there’s no denying it,” according to the newspaper.

Last week, the University of Florida tweeted that it was looking into racist or threatening posts made by other students.

“We strongly reaffirm our commitment to a diverse campus community where people from all races, origins and religions are valued equally, welcomed and treated with love, not hate,” the university tweeted.