Tuks sorry over Nazi-related blog
2011-08-02 07:28
Johannesburg - The University of Pretoria apologised on Monday for a blog by its student radio station TuksFM that suggested people should pose like Nazis to create a new social media craze.
"There was never any malicious intent with the placing of the initial content on the blog," spokesperson Nicolize Mulder said in a statement.
"We find it regrettable that the photographic pose that was proposed is one that offends many people and is not aligned with the university's institutional values."
A recent blog entry on the page of the morning show, Bang-Bang Breakfast, showed a photo of Adolf Hitler, along with a photo of two people standing with their right arm in the Hitler salute and their left hand fingers on their upper lips, to mimic his moustache.
Mulder said the entry was posted in the context of individuals being photographed in all sorts of bizarre poses, imitating the social media crazes of "planking" and "owling".
Planking is when an individual lies down in an unusual or incongruous position, to have their photo taken and put up on the internet.
Owling is a similar activity except the person crouches in a perched position and looks off into the distance, to imitate an owl.
The blog entry was later removed when people complained. Among the complainants was the SA Jewish Board of Deputies.
"The apology is extended to all other individuals who are directly affected or offended by this unfortunate incident and the thoughtless conduct of the students involved," Mulder said.
- SAPA
