Jared L. Cohon, president of Carnegie Mellon University, apologized on Wednesday for what he said was a “highly offensive” parody by a student who dressed half-naked as the pope during a spring carnival parade sponsored by the institution’s College of Fine Arts, the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reported. Carnegie Mellon has not identified the student seen in photos of the parade, who wore mock papal robes from the waist up but was naked from the waist down. She passed out condoms to onlookers, and her pubic hair was shaved in the shape of a cross.
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh called on the university to take action over the incident. Carnegie Mellon officials said this week they were reviewing the matter, and Mr. Cohon said he planned to remain silent until the review was complete. But in an e-mail to the campus, he said an update was in order in light of comments he had received about the incident. He wrote that the university would take the time to treat those involved fairly.
“I regret that this occurred, and I apologize to all who were offended by this, for religious or other reasons, and especially to those who witnessed this behavior,” he added.
