Lipscomb President Apologizes In Centerpiece Flap

NASHVILLE, TN — In a campus-wide e-mail, Lipscomb University's president apologized Friday after a centerpiece caused a row at a dinner for the college's African-American students.

"Several students shared with me their concern about the material used for centerpieces, which contained stalks of cotton. The content of the centerpieces was offensive, and I could have handled the situation with more sensitivity,” LU president Randy Lowry wrote in the e-mail. “I sincerely apologize for the discomfort, anger or disappointment we caused and solicit your forgiveness.”

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One of the students who attended the dinner posted a picture of the centerpieces on Instagram and noted "the meals that were provided resembled many 'black meals' they had mac n cheese, collard greens, corn bread etc." She said that a similar dinner Lowry hosted for Latino students did not feature the centerpieces, though it did feature tacos as an entree.

The student said that when confronted with concerns about the centerpieces at the dinner Lowry said he thought they were "fallish" — upland cotton is harvested in Tennessee from late August until the first frost — and "it isn't inherently bad if we're all wearing it," according to the student.

In his email, Lowry said he welcomed the opportunity to "continue this conversation," inviting students to set up a time to speak to him.

Lipscomb, affiliated with the Churches of Christ, has a student population that is roughly 77 percent white and 7 percent African-American.

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Image via Lipscomb University