Pres. Hamilton Apologizes, Blames Food Service Provider for Insensitive ‘Black History’ Meal

Students quickly took to social media to criticize the spread in Downstein.

NYU President Andrew Hamilton issued an apology on Wednesday for the Downstein Passport Dining option billed as a “Black History Meal” which included ribs, collard greens, mac and cheese, watermelon flavored water and Kool-Aid.

Students took to social media to highlight the insensitive and stereotypical nature of the meal. One student, CAS sophomore Nia Harris, reached out to NYU Dining Services in an email. In her public Facebook post regarding the situation, Harris said the meal options were “not only racially insensitive but just ignorant.”

Harris went on to argue the situation indicated a broader need to address a culture of insensitivity on campus.

“I don’t want it to stop there …TALK ABOUT THESE ISSUES. These institutions want black students for diversity statistics, but cannot handle when students speak out. It’s time for action,” her post read.

Following these demands and reactions from students, President Hamilton and the regional vice president of Aramark — the university’s food service provider—offered an apology in a statement Wednesday afternoon.

“We were shocked to learn of the drink and food choices that our food service provider — Aramark — offered at the Weinstein dining hall as part of Black History Month. It was inexcusably insensitive,” Hamilton said.

The apology also stated that Aramark has suspended the director of Weinstein dining, who worked for the contractor. Aramark will be “investigating how this happened,” and “putting in place sensitivity training for staff.”

President Hamilton’s and Aramark’s full remarks are below.

Additional reporting by Sam Raskin.