The president of Lipscomb University, a predominantly white private university in Nashville, Tennessee, invited a group of African-American students to his home for dinner last week.
The gathering was meant to be an opportunity for the students to openly discuss their experiences at the school.
However, that plan went awry as the students were offended by the cotton stalk centerpieces used to decorate the tables at the dinner.
President Randy Lowry released an apology to the students Friday, via Facebook, according to The Tennessean.
One of the students at the dinner posted an account of the event on Instagram.
The student wrote that a fellow student asked the president why there was cotton on the table, and Lowry responded that he thought it was a "fall-ish" decoration. Lowry then allegedly told the student "it isn't inherently bad if we're all wearing it."
In addition to the decor, some students were upset by the food served.
Photos of the event show that attendees were served a meal that included cornbread, macaroni and cheese and collard greens. Nakayla, the student who posted to Instagram, referred to the repast as a "black meal," and alleges that the president served Latinx students invited to his home tacos.
A debate on whether cotton used as decoration is offensive has whipped up on social media:
Shame on president of @lipscomb for the cotton-laced centerpieces at the dinner for African-American students! @NAACP
@rolandsmartin
pic.twitter.com/pqVY85Pr35— Angee Renae (@angee_renae) September 15, 2017
Breaking News: Lipscomb Univ has banned Tylenol in bottles b/c they fear picking the cotton from the bottle may represent racism & slavery! https://t.co/uWx2rLfKgT
— #1 Trump Fan (@WeSupportTrump3) September 18, 2017
#lipscomb
#cotton Anyone who doesn't think COTTON BOLL (yes,proper spelling) decor might offend African Americans needs 2. #wakeup
#racist— Enziandom (@sehkoyah) September 16, 2017
The whole cotton controversy at Lipscomb is… interesting, especially since I have a similar centerpiece lol. Mine looks better tho.
— Jessica (@WhoIsJayda) September 18, 2017
We have to purge our universities of idiots who would apologize for cotton being offensive.https://t.co/d3UaEyUn2Y
— Phil Valentine (@ValentineShow) September 16, 2017
@lipscomb Blatant Bigotry! Why invite black students to the president's house to offend their culture? pic.twitter.com/HPEKAF4JP4
— Steven McIntyre (@stmcntyr) September 15, 2017
In Lowry's apology, he stated that if his students are willing, he is open to engaging in more conversations.