Calif. University Apologizes for Serving Fried Chicken on MLK Holiday
- Posted on January 27, 2011 at 8:43pm by
Meredith Jessup
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Note to self: serving soul food in honor of Martin Luther King, Jr. is apparently NOT okay… or at least that‘s the lesson I’m taking away from the latest political-correctness kerfuffle going down at the University of California – Irvine.
While many schools have recently come under fire for not serving enough health-conscious options, UC Irvine is getting a lesson in culturally sensitive cuisine. The LA Times reports:
A last-minute decision to serve fried chicken and waffles at a campus dining hall in honor of Martin Luther King Jr. was a regrettable choice and lacked sensitivity, UC Irvine officials acknowledged Wednesday.
The meal was served at Pippin Commons on Jan. 17, the first day of UC Irvine’s 28th annual Martin Luther King Jr. symposium. …
The menu and a sign in the dining hall reading “MLK Holiday Special: Chicken and Waffles” were pulled together at the last minute by a chef and other cafeteria staff members, said UC Irvine spokeswoman Cathy Lawhon.
The culinary choices were made without any university oversight, Lawhon said.
While the university seems to be working to distance itself from the… er, incident… UC Irvine student Ricardo Sparks, a co-chair of the Black Student Union, has filed a formal complaint with the school’s administration.
“It‘s just another in a long line of small events on our campus that aren’t meant to be taken in a certain way, but are at least questionable in their cultural legitimacy,” John Murillo III, director of communications for the Black Student Union, told the Times. “It takes all the radicalism and activism that we tried to do with the symposium and then [the cafeteria] serves chicken and waffles and takes away from all the stuff that we did.”
Officials at the university are agreeing, saying the chicken & waffles menu on MLK day did not show “good taste.” While the menu’s intention was to offer comfort food, Lawhon admitted it “probably wasn’t the most sensitive thing.”
The chef has not been formally reprimanded, but officials with Aramark Corp., the company which runs campus dining services, said they would conduct “cultural sensitivity training” for managers and chefs.
“I understand people have prejudice and ignorance,” Sparks said. “But this is out in the community and nobody is saying anything about it.”


















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Comments (207)
luvnmycountry
Posted on January 27, 2011 at 9:41pmAll I can say on this story is…….LOL!!!
Report Post »NEMATIC
Posted on January 27, 2011 at 9:39pm“I don’t think it was Kosher, either”?
Report Post »Smokey_Bojangles
Posted on January 27, 2011 at 9:35pmWish I could celebrate every holiday with fried chicken,collard greens,and corn bread.Maybe being a campus dining hall , the food sucked and that is why they are apologizing?
Report Post »captquest
Posted on January 27, 2011 at 9:34pmhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-b5aW08ivHU&feature=related
Report Post »eat-more-bacon-USA
Posted on January 27, 2011 at 9:33pmHuh? No KFC on MLK day? WTF?
Report Post »beekeeper
Posted on January 27, 2011 at 9:32pmWhat the…?
“It takes all the radicalism and activism that we tried to do with the symposium and then [the cafeteria] serves chicken and waffles.
So their ‘activism’ was under-cut by chicken and waffles?
MLK would be so proud of them!
Report Post »Gunonesis
Posted on January 27, 2011 at 9:31pmReparations!
Report Post »Edgar Bennet
Posted on January 27, 2011 at 9:29pmI‘m Irish and I’m just putting the finishing touches on a class action lawsuit on behalf of all my fellow Irish-Americans to rid those evil capitalistic bars from serving green beer on St. Patrick’s Day.
Can you imagine? My family survives the potato famine generations ago (which we DID NOT ask for btw) and I have to bear the visuals of green beer and the smell of corned beef & cabbage?!?!???!?!?!!?
Report Post »bestartist
Posted on January 27, 2011 at 9:29pmWhat on earth would have been “culturally sensitive” to serve?
Report Post »Do some people actually eat fried chicken with waffles…..
what do I know, I’m Italian. but I digress.
Arugula, maybe that.
this is about as stupid as it can get, although every time I think that it all gets even MORE stupid.
Gunonesis
Posted on January 27, 2011 at 9:28pmUm, I’se luvs chikn!
Report Post »clinicalminded
Posted on January 27, 2011 at 9:27pmNo offense, bu Roscoes Chicken and Waffles is the best restaurant in LA and orange county (Long beach). WHAT were they supposed to serve moo goo gai pan? Caviar and crepes? EVERY black friend I have loves chicken….not all have had it with waffles, but if and when they did…case closed.
Report Post »noesis
Posted on January 27, 2011 at 9:24pmwatermelon for desert?
Report Post »streetconcepts
Posted on January 27, 2011 at 9:23pmThey need to get over this whole I’m repressed thing and everything is a insult. I don’t complain about the fact that they get black history month but yet someone decides to serve chicken and waffles and they get offended.
Report Post »Pray for USA
Posted on January 27, 2011 at 10:05pmThey complain it is the shortest month.
Report Post »parmajohn
Posted on January 27, 2011 at 9:21pmThank goodness it wasn’t a pity olive wrap….Goverment approved of course
Report Post »stmike
Posted on January 27, 2011 at 9:20pmIdiots! Didn’t anybody stop to think that maybe Dr. King liked fried chicken? This whole country really is going down the road of that movie Idiocracy. When can we get that president Camacho guy in the whitehouse?
Report Post »BlazingStraddlers
Posted on January 27, 2011 at 9:45pmIsn’t Camacho on the ballot in 2012? Idiocracy should be mandatory viewing each day in Congress and the Senate. If they don’t want daily prayers to open the sessions, Idiocracy will do nicely.
It should also be shown in KKKaliforicate…. especially the scene where it‘s proven that Blue Gatorade won’t make crops grow!!
Report Post »grandmabb
Posted on January 27, 2011 at 9:19pmSo no corned beef and cabbage on St. Pat’s day or Mexican food on Cinco de Mayo? What about BBQed hot dogs and hamburgers on Memorial, 4th of July or labor Day?
Report Post »cheezwhiz
Posted on January 27, 2011 at 9:25pmNo more saltine crackers to crumble over soup, on rest of the days, right ?
Report Post »RIIIIIIGHT
;-)
arvadadan
Posted on January 27, 2011 at 9:25pmI guess PC is winning out, I will miss the Corned Beef!!!
Report Post »Edgar Bennet
Posted on January 27, 2011 at 9:30pmI made a later post referencing the same thing. Swear I didn’t see your post, don’t want to be a 1 upper :)
Report Post »BlazingStraddlers
Posted on January 27, 2011 at 9:37pmMost people don’t know that back in 1912, Hellmann’s mayonnaise was
Report Post »manufactured in England. In fact, the Titanic was carrying 12,000 jars
of the condiment scheduled for delivery in Vera Cruz, Mexico, which was
to be the next port of call for the great ship after its stop in New
York.
This would have been the largest single shipment of mayonnaise ever
delivered to Mexico. But as we know, the great ship did not make it to
New York. The ship hit an iceberg and sank, and the cargo was forever
lost.
The people of Mexico, who were crazy about mayonnaise, and were eagerly
awaiting its delivery, were disconsolate at the loss. Their anguish was
so great, that they declared a National Day of Mourning, which they
still observe to this day.
The National Day of Mourning occurs each year on and is known, of course, as Sinko de Mayo
Laus Deo
Posted on January 27, 2011 at 9:55pmMost pub houses and restaurants in Ireland serve bacon and cabbage.. I hate to admit it, but I like it better that way -with a few pints of Smithwicks, of course.
Report Post »BarbWire
Posted on January 27, 2011 at 9:59pmblazingstraddlers. HAHA hee hee giggle giggle giggle OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOh, AH, Ahah. hahahahaha. That was funny. I didn’t get it until the very end. I love the mayo story!
Report Post »Sergio Q
Posted on January 27, 2011 at 9:18pmMMMMMMM…. I like fried chicken ..YUMMIE!
Report Post »Willie Wonka
Posted on January 27, 2011 at 9:18pmShould we close KFC, Church‘s and Popeye’s on MLK day too? PC my ass!
Report Post »BlazingStraddlers
Posted on January 27, 2011 at 9:41pmJust goes to show ya that PC doesn’t care who it jumps up and bites on the ass! Imagine that…. liberals being outed as racists!!
Report Post »Fight for America
Posted on January 27, 2011 at 9:17pmI am insulted and the Calif. University and the Black Student Union owes me an apology, They are getting in the way of people who like to eat fried chicken any danged day of the week.
They are getting in the way of people who want to read the news without some political stupidity getting in the way of a quiet lunch and read.
It’s not like they made an official college collage picture of his face out of chicken parts.
It’s food people.
Report Post »82dAirborne
Posted on January 27, 2011 at 10:05pmHow the hell can food, common everyday food, be somehow racist??
Quick – somebody hand me the duct tape!
Report Post »82dAirborne
Posted on January 27, 2011 at 10:08pmThat ain’t enough……. I need more!
Report Post »royalstar
Posted on January 27, 2011 at 10:13pmThey served Chinese food on Mao’s birthday at the white house this year. I guess that was inappropriate too. Actually it was for a number of reasons. Actually I don’t know if it even happened. According to Wikipedia, for what it is worth, says that fried chicken and waffles is a traditional soul food. Apparently the black student union kids have no soul. Actually it is true that progressive/marxist/communists don’t have a soul. How ironic!
Report Post »mrsmileyface
Posted on January 27, 2011 at 9:17pmHow is serving fried chicken and waffles racist. I love fried chicken and waffles. And I’m pretty sure if MLK were alive and at that banquet he would have seconds. What their missing from the menu is sectioned off wattermellon for desert. Then it would be complete.
Report Post »BuckwheatA2
Posted on January 27, 2011 at 9:17pmFor the last few years, our local McDonalds have had McNuggets on sale on MLK day. No joke.
Report Post »quiet little lamb
Posted on January 27, 2011 at 9:12pmdear god…i had black eyed peas that day. am i a racist too?
Report Post »Darmok and Jalad at Tanagra
Posted on January 27, 2011 at 9:51pmWhich one did you have that day, WIl.I.Am, Fergie, Taboo, Apl.de.ap?
Report Post »Bob_R_OathKeeper
Posted on January 28, 2011 at 1:44amI had pig’s feet with hot sauce, I feel really bad now, ………. because it gave me heartburn.
Report Post »click4cheapandeasyweb
Posted on January 27, 2011 at 9:12pmDoing my very best Meghan McCain impersonation… OMG!
Report Post »CatB
Posted on January 27, 2011 at 11:09pmFer Sure!
Report Post »RobertCA
Posted on January 27, 2011 at 9:11pmis this country going nuts ???????????
Report Post »cheezwhiz
Posted on January 27, 2011 at 9:17pmIts UC Irvine.
Report Post »If the chicken had been halal , there would have been no problemo .
RobertCA
Posted on January 27, 2011 at 9:19pmKFC should close on MLK .
bullcrapbuster
Posted on January 27, 2011 at 9:20pmThe progs keep out doing themselves. Stupid is what stupid does.
Report Post »Blacktooth
Posted on January 27, 2011 at 9:21pmyes
Report Post »Blacktooth
Posted on January 27, 2011 at 9:22pmWe all need “cultural sensitivity training”
Report Post »beekeeper
Posted on January 27, 2011 at 9:26pmWho gets to decode what foods are offensive whom?
If this is what the black student union has to complain about, maybe it‘s time for them to admit they really don’t have anything to complain about?
Just a thought…
Report Post »So broke
Posted on January 27, 2011 at 9:27pmWTF !!! No KFC on MLK day ??
Report Post »Redd
Posted on January 27, 2011 at 9:30pmDid they forget the chitterlings???
Report Post »Redd
Posted on January 27, 2011 at 9:32pmThe al sharpton “special”…chicken and waffles…
Report Post »http://www.amyruthsharlem.com/dinnermenu/waffles/wafflemenu01.html
Darmok and Jalad at Tanagra
Posted on January 27, 2011 at 9:32pmWould that mean we can’t listen to Amos and Andy on the radio either? Can we at least have watermelon flavored Jolly Ranchers (my favaorite). As Dieon Sanders says “Come on, Man”
what4
Posted on January 27, 2011 at 9:42pmLet me guess, No Aunt Jemima for the pancakes either?? Eat what you want when you want, It still is a FREE country after all!
Report Post »8jrts
Posted on January 27, 2011 at 9:42pmOMG!! LMAO!! Love all your comments!
Report Post »So broke
Posted on January 27, 2011 at 9:42pmHmmmm, Lets see:
No chicken on MLK day (sho nuf)
No beer on St. Patricks Day
No spagetti on Columbus Day (yes, he was Italian)
No Cherry pie on George Washington Day
No popcorn on Abe Lincoln Day (theater)
No tv dinners (MRE’s) on Veterans Day
No rabbit stew on Easter Sunday
No corn (maize) on Thanksgiving
No beef on Independence Day (English)
Do you get the drift??
Report Post »Curator_JDR
Posted on January 27, 2011 at 9:46pmThis is PC insanity that deadens the brain
see america cured from PC insanity in this LOL animated satire with the “head-up-the-butt” people
http://www.marcrubin.com/hairmerica.ivnu
Report Post »So broke
Posted on January 27, 2011 at 9:51pm@Curator_JDR:
I agree, it is PC insanity (POLITICALLY CORRECT INSANITY)
Now laugh a little!
Report Post »what4
Posted on January 27, 2011 at 9:53pmMLK didn‘t appear to miss many meals and it would be very hard to find somthing he wouldn’t eat, to searve on his B-day!
Report Post »exdem
Posted on January 27, 2011 at 9:56pmI had watermelon that day.
Report Post »Xcori8r
Posted on January 27, 2011 at 9:57pmLet’s see of some astute student will illustrate the absurdity of this by protesting potatoes being served on St. Patrick’s day.
Report Post »grandmaof5
Posted on January 27, 2011 at 9:57pmWHAT!!!!! Has the left coast gone totally insane? I would think the black student body would be honored that southern food was served, especially fried chicken. Not sure about the waffles, but some greens with fat back and corn bread sounds yummy. These kids need to quit looking for hidden meaning in everything around them and concentrate on just being good students. Obama is looking to pick a fight and these kids need to stay out of it and be the best American citizens they can be.
Report Post »82dAirborne
Posted on January 27, 2011 at 10:01pmNO! It’s gone nuts!
Report Post »Independent Tess
Posted on January 27, 2011 at 10:01pmWhat a crazy world we have allowed these United States to become.
Report Post »Now food is being judged as to its political correctness. How sad.
Darmok and Jalad at Tanagra
Posted on January 27, 2011 at 10:04pmJust remember, no Curds and Whey on Little Miss Muffet day. You 8 legged racist.
Report Post »Ironmaan
Posted on January 27, 2011 at 10:08pmThe black community should realize that being so sensitive is a rather severe weakness.
Report Post »http://guerillatics.com
chickenman
Posted on January 27, 2011 at 10:11pmY’all no I likes me some a dat yard bird !!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_RWQ-jyofnE
Report Post »P C BE DAMNED
Posted on January 27, 2011 at 10:13pmDoes Ignorance ever stop. I guess not and I have found when I am around African Americans I am constantly having to appollogize for something uncalled for. I really get tired of it. Its like being around children. Grow the hell up. We are all sick of this sh.t. And it is going to cost you. You are alienating your friends and the stupidity is causing a vast divide that is getting worse as we become more aware of the lies that have been pushed upon us and about us. You are a very hate filled racist people and we will not be a part of it much longer.
Report Post »82dAirborne
Posted on January 27, 2011 at 10:17pmHow the hell can food, common everyday food, be somehow racist??
Report Post »“There is something wrong with them. Something seriously wrooooong with them!!!”
P C BE DAMNED
Posted on January 27, 2011 at 10:21pmIs there something wrong with the fried chicken or are these people so enslaved to mythology and ignorance and hatred and racism of their own that they have to be treated like children. Give it a rest as it makes you all look like fools. And as I have already said spoiled children also. We will not for long be oppressed by your insanity. We are preparing to throw it off. That is your chains that will fall on you when we break them. Your awful charges of racism that has destroyed so many will finally be put back on you the TRUE RACIST. We will not associate with trash of any color. God I love America!
Report Post »SnapTie
Posted on January 27, 2011 at 10:23pmLove good fried chicken anytime.
Report Post »beebacksoon
Posted on January 27, 2011 at 10:24pmGive me a break! Food is news? Really?
Report Post »Taquoshi
Posted on January 27, 2011 at 10:35pmThe interesting thing would have been to see the reaction if the school cafeteria staff had totally ignored the holiday and/or not said that it was in honor of MLK. I wonder if they would have been offended then.
It must be so difficult for these kinds of people to get up each and every day knowing in advance that they will be offended by something before the sun sets. It could be anything from someone’s football team tie to the cafeteria menu to someone casually mentioning the Holocaust.
Note to society at large – it’s not all about you. Get over it.
Report Post »dwh320
Posted on January 27, 2011 at 10:38pmAs Obama would say… WTF?
Report Post »jbl8199
Posted on January 27, 2011 at 10:49pmThe politicians just need to stop already!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Are they TRYING to p*ss America off???? If they keep it up there WILL be a revolt.
Report Post »No1YaKnow
Posted on January 27, 2011 at 10:57pmDo people not have any common sense anymore?? This was not a racial event and anyone participating in this farce to “reprimand” or “agree” that it was insensitive might as well pull out the duct tape on their own mouths. As that is EXACTLY what pc speech is intended to do. OVERTON WINDOW.
Report Post »CatB
Posted on January 27, 2011 at 10:59pmThey forgot the watermellon .. really … you don’t think “white people” eat fried chicken? waffles ? Is Glady’s Knight is a “racist”?
http://gladysandron.net/menu_main.html
btw .. I love Fried Green Tomatoes, Catfish … etc. I’m white … didn’t know that food had a “race”.
I wonder if they closed for MLK day.
Report Post »Oil_Robb
Posted on January 27, 2011 at 11:11pmWhat!!!!!!!!…..NO WADA MELON?….WHAT A BUNCH OF BS..NEXT THING YOU KNOW YOU WONT BE ABLE TO SIT ON YOUR OWN PORCH
Report Post »William_Jennings_Bryan
Posted on January 27, 2011 at 11:39pmIf you believe Beck, Gold goes up.
Report Post »If you believe Soros, Gold goes up.
Beck is teaching you to do your own research. If you have not come to this conclusion you are not listening.
bpriv
Posted on January 27, 2011 at 11:56pmGood grief, The people were fed wern’t they?
Report Post »Snackman
Posted on January 27, 2011 at 11:57pmKFC should close on MLK .
Now THAT is funny. Great idea!
Report Post »CultureWarriors
Posted on January 28, 2011 at 12:01amI don’t get it. I happen to like fried chicken, does that make me a racist? You liberals are absolute idiots.
Report Post »nptden
Posted on January 28, 2011 at 12:16am“It takes all the radicalism and activism that we tried to do with the symposium and then [the cafeteria] serves chicken and waffles and takes away from all the stuff that we did.”
Report Post »Think they need cultural sensitivity training…when they think radicalism and activism is ok.
Fried Chicken was appropriate…why not. Like blacks are the only people who eat fried chicken? They need training to be sensitive to the love other races have for fried chicken….and most of all they need training in being TOO sensitive….It’s all BS.
KICKILLEGALSOUT
Posted on January 28, 2011 at 12:40amIt’s California! What else do you expect from the land of wackkos?
Report Post »independentvoteril
Posted on January 28, 2011 at 12:45amWTF.. I will make sure I serve my family FRIED CHICKEN, COLLAR GREENS AND CORN BREAD .. every MLK day from now on.. it’s just become a tradition in my house..
Report Post »Cobra Blue
Posted on January 28, 2011 at 12:47amHey USC Irvine…you forgot the watermelon for dessert…that’s what really pissed them off. And everyone knows you can’t have fried chicken without some good ole turnip greens cooked with a nice slab of bacon on the pot. Its a sad day when you can’t even “lean” on some good soul food without being bothered. I bet if that cook had been black this would have been a non-event. All you racist Black folks sure are the most sensitive and unhappy bunch of humans I think I have ever seen. If you’d put your damn color chart away, you might find life is a little bit more enjoyable. Not to mention you might get to enjoy some good cooking once in a while and even learn to say thank you…Uncle Remus show wood be disappointed in ya////
Report Post »independentvoteril
Posted on January 28, 2011 at 12:50am@exdem.. where did you get the watermelon?? I want to add that to my new MLK traditional birthday dinner and up NORTH here we can’t seem to get watermelon in the winter..
Report Post »taxed
Posted on January 28, 2011 at 1:03am@CHICKENMAN
hahahahaahahahaahahaahahahaahahaha
http://conservativepoliticalforum.com
Report Post »silentwatcher
Posted on January 28, 2011 at 1:05amWTF? What, are they afraid of some mealy mouthed POS Sharpton casting dispersions at them because a large percentage of the population likes ‘fried chicken?’ What the hell is wrong with those people….fried chicken wasn‘t ’invented’ by blacks,,,,they just enjoyed it,,,as I and millions of other do. Get a life you spineless bastards.
Report Post »booger71
Posted on January 28, 2011 at 1:23amFried Chicken is not soul food
Report Post »Rational Man
Posted on January 28, 2011 at 1:50amYou’ve got to be kidding me!!
Report Post »Svt4Him
Posted on January 28, 2011 at 2:04amI’m going to KFC the next MLK day.
Report Post »Enuff Zenuff
Posted on January 28, 2011 at 6:27am.
Report Post »Man – I’m getting hungry just reading all these posts!
TruthTalker
Posted on January 27, 2011 at 9:07pmGive me a break…
Report Post »TruthTalker
Posted on January 27, 2011 at 10:51pmBy P.C. decree from this day hence forward: Borscht will be served in honor of MLK day!
Report Post »anOpinion
Posted on January 28, 2011 at 5:15am“The chef has not been formally reprimanded, but officials with Aramark Corp., the company which runs campus dining services, said they would conduct “cultural sensitivity training” for managers and chefs.”
The country is now officially insane, I hear John King is going to do a 1 hour special on it :)
if you need a reminder: http://michellemalkin.com/2011/01/19/idiocracy-can-cnns-john-king-please-apologize-for-his-lameness/
Report Post »Enuff Zenuff
Posted on January 28, 2011 at 6:21amI gotta believe that even Doctor King would be disgusted and embarassed that his name would ever be associated with such idiotic political correctness!
Has the left no shame at all?
Report Post »tower7femacamp
Posted on January 28, 2011 at 6:27amFor Gods sake MLK was a protestant preacher ever hear the phrase
Report Post »Chicken eating preacher before ?
mikem1969
Posted on January 28, 2011 at 8:32amcommiefornia strikes again. blacks eat chicken, whites eat chicken, latinos eat chicken, asians eat chicken, what the heck is the problem.
Report Post »Docrow
Posted on January 28, 2011 at 9:12amFuzzy Zoeller pick the menu?
Report Post »Desert Dog
Posted on January 28, 2011 at 3:20pmOH NO!!!! No pizza on Columbus Day. Christoper Columbus was ItaIian!!!
Report Post »proantisocialist
Posted on January 28, 2011 at 6:31pmwhat a crock,they didnt serve watermellon with the chicken,or collard greens,or grits….
Report Post »waggie
Posted on January 29, 2011 at 1:30pmWho would’ve even connected what they were serving for lunch with MLK day? WTF…
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