Pace University’s football captain, Tyler Owens, has been suspended after a picture surfaced on social media of Owens performing the Nazi salute while draped in the Confederate flag.
The photo was captioned “The grand wizard,” in reference to the leader of the Ku Klux Klan.
According to The Pace Chronicle, the photo was sent to them by an alleged group of African-American students and athletes, who saw the photo last weekend and felt something needed to be done.
President Steven J. Friedman released a statement saying that an un-named had been stripped of his role as captain and that he “will not participate in University football activities pending the outcome” of an investigation by the university, reports lohud.
“The photograph is highly offensive and contrary to the values of diversity, inclusiveness, and embracing the ethnic and cultural differences among students, faculty, and staff that are deeply held at Pace University and its Athletics Department.That is especially true at this time when states throughout the country are recognizing the symbolic offensiveness of displaying the Confederate flag and the importance of accepting those with different backgrounds is being sorely tested by the refugee crisis in Europe,” Friedman said.
Ginger MacDougall, Owens’ former girlfriend, denied reports that she was the one who leaked the picture to The Chronicle but did express her “surprise” that the photo was ever posted on social media.
“It does not matter who leaked it or how it got out there, the fact remains that (Owens) still wore that outfit, made that gesture, and took the picture,” MacDougall told the school paper. “I do not condone that kind of behavior whether I knew about it or not.”