Obama Skit Roils North Dakota School

Student In Blackface Portrayed Obama In Bawdy Fundraiser At State University

(CBS/AP)  North Dakota State University is investigating complaints about a campus skit in which a white student in blackface portrayed Barack Obama receiving a lap dance.

The same skit, part of a charity fundraiser held at a campus theater, also featured a depiction of cowboys having sex with each other, witnesses told The Forum newspaper, which first reported the backlash Friday.

"We're trying to find out the right approaches for accountability, but at the same time try to heal wounds that have occurred and allow the campus to move ahead," Janna Stoskopf, NDSU's dean of students, told The Associated Press on Friday.

The March 18 skit involving the NDSU Saddle and Sirloin Club was performed at the Mr. NDSU Pageant, which is sponsored by the Alpha Gamma Delta sorority and raises money for diabetes research.

The Minneapolis Star Tribune reports that the club, a coed group for students interested in agriculture, have publicly apologized for their actions. The sorority, which put on the event but wasn't part of the skit, also apologized.

People who attended it said a pageant contestant from Saddle and Sirloin dressed as a woman from the Internet video "I Got a Crush on Obama" and performed a strip tease for another student, who was wearing dark makeup and an afro wig.

In the background, two male students dressed as cowboys simulated anal sex while holding an Obama sign that one student ripped at the conclusion of the 30-second performance, the Forum reported.

"That seems to be consistent with what's been described to me," Stoskopf said.

The Star Tribune reports that Josh Boschee, NDSU's coordinator of Greek life, said the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators had specifically addressed blackface among college students at its last convention.

"It is pretty typical on college campuses," Boschee told the paper. "The hard part is recognizing that the students that were a part of this, I don't believe were intentionally malicious. But the impact of their actions was malicious. It ended up affecting our community in a not-so-positive way.''

University President Joseph Chapman said the campus will work to ensure such incidents do not occur.

"The students involved have accepted responsibility for their actions and expressed deep remorse," he said in a statement.

"NDSU does not and will not ignore acts of intolerance at our institution or in our community."

The Obama campaign had no comment Friday. Obama is to speak at North Dakota Democrats' state convention in Grand Forks next week.

Josh Reimnitz, who is the NDSU student body president and saw the skit, called it "totally tasteless" and said he and other audience members were shocked.

"Honestly, I still don't know what the intention of the skit was," he said. "It was very silent, and there were some boos. People were looking at each other, not knowing how to act."

Messages left by the AP for Russell Danielson, adviser of the Saddle and Sirloin Club, and Malika Carter, an NDSU assistant director of multicultural student services were not immediately returned.

"It doesn't matter if you're rural. It doesn't matter if you're from Fargo or Beulah, N.D.," said Joy Rice, a black Fargo resident and a member of the city's human relations commission. "You still need to respect people of color, in all aspects of life. This is a form of racism, and it's really taking a step back."

The skit follows a complaint filed against a sorority at the University of North Dakota in Grand Forks, where guests wore Indian costumes and red paint on their faces and bodies.

"This falls into the same category," Rice said of the NDSU skit. "It's just as bad."

Stoskopf said she expected the investigation could take until May 9, the end of the school year.

"One of the issues here is how do we balance what our policies and expectations about behavior are with the issue of freedom of speech," Stoskopf said. "Where does all of that get us?"

NDSU has 10,403 undergraduates. The student body is 92 percent white, while 1.5 percent identify themselves as black or African-American.

[kansas1946]

I am not sure I see where the racism is in this, but I think the cowboys BFing in the background was a bit much!!

[oldpilot954]

My apologizes, that sound much harsher than I meant it to.

[oldpilot954]

I despise the kind of trash this event seems to have been. However, I also am about tired of hearing a one-sided version of racism. I have many black friends and have had for most of my 50+ years. What I get tired of is the cries of racism every time a white person expresses his/her right to freedom of speech while a black person can make the same statement about whites and it is pefectly acceptable. Racism is not limited to one color. American blacks have more opportunities and priviledges than black people in any country in the world. There are more slaves in the world today than there were when the US economy hinged on african slaves. Why don''t we hear cries against the slavery in North Africa. If the USA is so bad, feel free to move anywhere on the African continent--just be sure that you are from the right tribe for the area you are in.

[aenea-2009]

I''m a big fan of Obama, and a North Dakota resident. I think the incident at UND with the Native American dress was better described than this. "Racial Insensitivity" It''s not that we''re a bunch or racist back country hicks. I can''t speak for the intentions of those who put on the skit, but I would think that they weren''t wearing the black face for the purpose of imitating a black person. The point was to look like a celebrity. (yes, politicians fall into this category) Obama is black, therefor, part of dressing up as him would involve appearing black. I wanted to be Addy from the American Girls books for Halloween when I was 7 and didn''t understand why wearing black face would be wrong. My parents had me dress up as another character who was white, in order to not offend, but I was disappointed. I wanted to look like her because I looked up to her. Why does all imitation of an African American have to be racism? Don''t they say imitation is the highest form of flattery?

[aenea-2009]

I''m a big fan of Obama, and a North Dakota resident. I think the incident at UND with the Native American dress was better described than this. "Racial Insensitivity" It''s not that we''re a bunch or racist back country hicks. I can''t speak for the intentions of those who put on the skit, but I would think that they weren''t wearing the black face for the purpose of imitating a black person. The point was to look like a celebrity. (yes, politicians fall into this category) Obama is black, therefor, part of dressing up as him would involve appearing black. I wanted to be Addy from the American Girls books for Halloween when I was 7 and didn''t understand why wearing black face would be wrong. My parents had me dress up as another character who was white, in order to not offend, but I was disappointed. I wanted to look like her because I looked up to her. Why does all imitation of an African American have to be racism? Don''t they say imitation is the highest form of flattery?

[candy-apple]

Would it still be considered racist if the student had actually been black instead of his face being painted black? Oops, sorry, I meant African-American. The political correctness in this country is killing it!! It''s ok for a black person to call a white person every name in the book, but don''t let that white person use the "n" word because it''s offensive. As far as the government and other hypocrites are concerned the only people entitled to be offended in this country are minorities. It''s time to grow up and realize that we''re no longer living in the "old days". This is the twenty-first century, not all whites are racist and bigots. Just because they put on a skit poking fun of someone doesn''t make them racist either. If the skit had been about Hillary of John it wouldn''t have been a big deal. But, don''t offend Obama and his racist cronies!!!

[gunownerdan]

Freedom of speech includes speech you may not agree with.
Political correctness is destroying America!

[thgdriver]

This is nothing more then freedom of speech and expression. I do not agree with this use of the first amendment but thats just the way it is. I don''t agree that burning the American flag should be a use of the first amendment either but the US supreme court said it is legal.

[parrot123-2009]

There are a lot of black churches that when doing skits use white face. I personally am not offended by it, but if African Americans are offended by someone putting on black face, they should in reality stop putting on white face. They should really do to others as they want others to do to them.

Posted by RevSpitz at 01:29 PM : Mar 30, 2008

This Repug could have simply read the article. Cheers!

While white America either blatantly expresses racism or argues that it doesn''''t exist - due to ego, arrogance, well-founded guilt and extreme insecurity - their chickens have come home to roost and are sitting on their heads. Rev. Wright had it wrong when he said, God D--- America. He should have said, America has damned itself.

http://www.liveleak.com/view? i=8ee_1205521504&c=1

(close space in link to view)

While white America either blatantly expresses racism or argues that it doesn''t exist - due to ego, arrogance, well-founded guilt and extreme insecurity - their chickens have come home to roost and are sitting on their heads. Rev. Wright had it wrong when he said, God *** America. He should have said, America has damned itself.

http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=8ee_1205521504&c=1

[andrew1003-2009]

I think the problem here is not nesessarily the black face and afro. It''s the other two in from of the afroed/Black faced charater (Obama) performing anal *** and tearing up an Obama sign.

That is racist and pathetic and has no place at a public University or anywhere else.

The kids should be expelled from school.

I liked my previous idea of having a 6''8" 300 lb Black football player come on stage and actually have anal *** with the two.. I don''t think that they would felt like tearing up and Obama sign then!!!

That would have been a great ending!

[pepperwood2]

The Old Guard is alive & well here in Pa. As Rendell has put it - Obama is out of line & doesn''t know his place. We will show him in Pa. Go Hillary - Go Rendell. We love ya!

[Frisky1989]

Obama go home (and stay there)

[ktgld14]

Racism, Prejudice and Bigotry are alive and well on America''s campuses.......

[rafterman1]

===Lest anyone say I fabricated that Bush quote, in which he displayed ignorance of Pearl Harbor...===
posted by Iceman_1960

Not to mention that the "century and a half" of peace was forced upon the Japanese when westerners showed up with war fleets and strongarmed Japan into opening its ports to trade.

[revspitz]

There are a lot of black churches that when doing skits use white face. I personally am not offended by it, but if African Americans are offended by someone putting on black face, they should in reality stop putting on white face. They should really do to others as they want others to do to them.

[iceman_1960]

RE: Post by Iceman_1960 at 12:28 PM : Mar 30, 2008
-------------------

Lest anyone say I fabricated that Bush quote, in which he displayed ignorance of Pearl Harbor...

http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2002/02/20020218-2.html

[caliengineer]

Interesting article... so, these high schoolers are held to a level of accountability which has long been absent in Hollywood?

Hollywood is THE promoter of the "thug/ playa/ pimp/ gangsta image to youth worldwide and also produced Brokeback mountain.

Are these kids really to blame, or is the blame more appropriately levied at silent America, allowing Hollywood to corrupt our youth with the trash pouring out of that pit?

[iceman_1960]

RE: Post by obama8years at 12:27 PM : Mar 30, 2008
----------------

Repeat after me:

"President Barack Obama"