PITTSBURGH -- It's somewhat of a tradition for college newspapers to publish April Fools' editions. Controversy often follows.
At Carnegie Mellon University,
The Tartan has voluntarily shut down for the rest of the semester after publishing a cartoon in which a goat uses a racial slur while telling a mouse how he hit a black person on a bike.
The cartoon, called "Harold and the Other Guy," ran in the newspaper's 12-page April Fools' edition, which also included a depiction of female genitalia and poems about rape and mutilation.
The comic strip angered readers and was labeled "irresponsible and unconscionable" by university President Jared Cohon. Editor-in-chief Alex Meseguer said two
Tartan editors have resigned and cartoonist Bob Rost was fired.
"The horrible cartoon in the April 1, 2004, edition of
The Tartan is a repudiation of our core values and it must not be tolerated," Cohon wrote in a letter. "I condemn the author for creating this cartoon and the editors of
The Tartan for allowing this cartoon to run."
Meseguer apologized to about 75 people who protested over the weekend. He said fatigue had clouded the judgment of editors who allowed the comic to be published.
Michael Murphy, dean of student affairs, said punishments may be handed out after a review of the situation by a committee of students, professors, employees and alumni.
A public meeting about the controversy was being held on campus early Tuesday evening, Channel 4's Jon Greiner reported.
Copyright 2004 by ThePittsburghChannel. All rights reserved. This material may not be
published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.
