Flyers advertising a student barbecue were deemed too militaristic, students said.
MAHWAH -An American-themed barbecue at Ramapo College last Friday was nearly scrapped after the students' 'Uncle Sam' promotional material was deemed "too offensive" and militaristic, according to Campus.org.
"I was told that our advertising was too 'military and recruitment-oriented,' because we had the Uncle Sam saying 'I want you...'," Ariana Rivera, assistant residence director of Bischoff Hall said in an email to College Republicans and Democrats.
The original proposal nearly a month earlier called for a barbecue encouraging students to register to vote.
Students in the school's Republican and Democratic organizations agreed to run tables during the Sept. 16 event and get the word out to students that they should vote in the upcoming elections, according to Campus.org.
Flyers went up with a picture of Uncle Sam and the words, "We want you...to come to our BBQ," according to the report.
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Last Wednesday - two days before the event - the assistant residence director sent an email to students explaining the theme was "considered offensive." The emails were posted online by Campus.org.
According to Campus.org, students were confused because other posters on campus have contained the same idea along with an image of Uncle Sam.
Rivera wrote that the barbecue could only proceed as a "standard barbecue," which did occur last Friday, Campus.org reported.
A spokeswoman for Ramapo College denied the university threatened to cancel the event and said the barbecue theme was changed and that "there were American flags hanging." The spokeswoman told Campus.org the theme change was a "miscommunication" but declined to comment further.
Anthony G. Attrino may be reached at tattrino@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @TonyAttrino. Find NJ.com on Facebook.