PGHIMC - Pittsburgh Independent Media Center

Carnegie Mellon paper runs racist comic on April Fools Day
by dannyp Friday, Apr. 02, 2004 at 8:20 PM
dannyp@indypgh.org

The Natrat, Carnegie Mellon's April Fools' issue, contained racist and other offensive content.

natrat.jpg, image/jpeg, 600x200

The April 1st edition of the Tartan (entitled The Natrat, Tartan backwards), Carnegie Mellon's student owned and operated newspaper, contained a lot of controversial text and images.

The most controversial and universally offensive item was a comic in which an extremely old and tired anti-black racist joke was repeated. It is interesting to note that many people refer to the offensive event as using the term "nigger" yet the more offensive content, in this author's opinion, is the text that celebrates the killing of African Americans.

The editor in chief of the Tartan, Alex Meseguer, has issued an apology that is visible from The Tartan's mainpage. He claims that he did not see the comic before publication, and having talked to him in person and being a fairly good judge in character, this reporter believes he is telling the truth. When Meseguer was alerted to the issue, he voluntarily ordered the recall of all Natrat copies that were distributed around the campus area.

But alas, an apology and retraction are not enough to heal all wounds. Local brothers of Kappa Alpha Psi, an historically black fraternity, have arranged for a "protest rally" at the fence for Saturday entitled "WE WILL BE HEARD." The event is expected to have extensive media coverage, and Meseguer is expected to be in attendance.

The Tartan receives no funding from the University, but is dependent on Student Government for providing office space as well as, resuming next year, an annual budget. Student Government sources have reported to be weighing a response.

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