The chancellor of Purdue University Northwest has apologized amid intense backlash, after he mocked Asian languages during a commencement speech last week.
Thomas L Keon spoke at the school’s winter commencement ceremony in Hammond, Indiana, last Saturday. Before Keon spoke, graduates were addressed by James Dedelow, a radio host, who said he sometimes used a “made-up” language on air and with his family.
Keon then approached the lectern, saying “Well, all I can say is”, before issuing a string of made-up phrases.
“That’s sort of my Asian version of his,” Keon said, referring to Dedelow, to laughter from several attendees.
Footage circulated online, prompting widespread outcry.
“What in the hell is this Purdue Northwest?” tweeted Phil Yu, a Korean American blogger. “Imagine attending your loved one’s graduation ceremony and having to hear this shit.”
Stephanie Chang, a member of the Michigan state senate, wrote: “I got used to hearing this kind of ignorance growing up and yes, into adulthood … but not from a high-ranking educational leader.
“It’s 2022. Come on.”
Sherrilyn Ifill, a former director-counsel of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People Legal Defense Fund, tweeted: “The professor laughing and nodding next to the chancellor and the one laughing behind him – have they issued statements of remorse?
“What is going on at Purdue Northwest? … This is a question for the board of trustees.”
Keon apologized for his remarks. In a statement on Wednesday, he said: “I made a comment that was offensive and insensitive. I am truly sorry for my unplanned, off-the-cuff response to another speaker, as my words have caused confusion, pain and anger.
“We are all human. I made a mistake, and I assure you I did not intend to be hurtful and my comments do not reflect my personal or our institutional values … I will learn from this and assure you that Purdue Northwest and I will take action to prevent such missteps from occurring in the future.”
Not everyone was convinced.
Ifill wrote: “The ‘apology’ – ‘I meant no offense. We’re all human. I made a mistake’ is utterly insufficient. Is the Purdue board satisfied with this as an end to the matter when the chancellor of Purdue Northwest disgraces the school like this?”
Grace Meng, vice-chair of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus, said: “This manufactured and fake apology for what he characterized as a ‘mistake’ is a farce. Further action should be taken – was this the first time he or Purdue has treated their students and the AAPI [Asian American Pacific Islander] community this way?”