Wardrobe Malfunction Impersonation

A sorority fund-raiser at the University of South Carolina featuring an impersonation of Janet Jackson's Super Bowl breast-baring performance has caused a campus furor requiring apology. The skit was considered racially insensitive.

Tim Tice, a white sophomore majoring in history, angered some at a March 2 Zeta Tau Alpha sorority fund-raiser that included his take on Jackson�s bawdy Super Bowl performance that left one of her breasts exposed.

Tice�s legs were painted black during the number, and that reminded some of a racist minstrel show.

Tice told about 40 students gathered at Tuesday�s forum that his legs were painted black for a subsequent skit in which he wore a painted-on tuxedo, and he couldn�t wear pants for the Jackson skit because his legs had not yet dried.

"I feel like I haven�t been portrayed as I should be. ... I�m not a racist,� said Tice.

In addition to the apology, some offended students believe that more racial sensitivity training needs to be required. USC's response to the incident is to initiate a program to educate the student population on the history of minstrel shows in which black culture is satirized by white performers dressed as blacks.

Based upon the article, I'm at a loss to understand who exactly was offended and what exactly was offensive. Since everyone will have to endure a history program on minstrel shows, does that mean that minstrel shows are off-limits? Was it offensive that a white man painted his legs black? Was it because a black woman was satirized?
You've got me. But, apparently, somebody was offended by something.

My take is simple. This is another example of political correctness on campus with a lip-service response by a spineless university administration. And, I must mention that the article is incorrect in stating that some people were angered by the skit. Those people were angry long before the skit.

The trend in academia has me thinking that soon there'll be a degree program in sensitivity training. As it is now, all graduates should at least be able to receive credit for a minor in sensitivity studies.