University of Louisville Apologizes After Photos of President and Faculty Surface Wearing "Mexican" Costumes

University of Louisville President James Ramsey is feeling the heat after photos began to circulate of him and his staff donning "Mexican" costumes at a party.

Ramsey and about 18 other people smile in the front of a mansion wearing sombreros and bushy moustaches with maracas in hand. Most are wearing all over black shirts, except for the president, who is sporting what looks to be a multicolored poncho. See the photo on Fox News.

The photo came to light after the photo was published by the Courier Journal of Louisville in a story about the Amelia Place Mansion, which is where President Ramsey hosted his Halloween luncheon.

Ramsey's chief of staff, Kathleen Smith, issued an apology saying, "We made a mistake and are very sorry. This event shows we have much more to learn about our community." She also advised the university staff pledges to "train staff and engage with the campus over diversity and racial equality issues."

But the damage had already been done. The university's director of the Office of Hispanic and Latino Initiatives Sarah Nunez, said she said heard from a large number of the Hispanic undergraduate population in addition to some of the faculty and staff.

"Some students shared that they felt this was degrading to them, and disrespectful," she said. "They feel hurt. They feel like their trust was broken."

Freshman Leonardo Salinas told Associated Press he was shocked by the inappropriate photo.

"I was appalled," he said. "It's not just offensive to Mexicans; it's offensive to the immigrant community as a whole. Someone thought, 'Oh, this is a good idea.' How did it not click in anybody's mind that it was a very bad idea?"

Outraged students also spread word of the controversial photo by publishing a story deriding the president for his stereotypical Halloween costume in the school newspaper, Louisville Cardinal. "Don't dress like a culture. They aren't costumes, they're people," the column read.

However much upset, Salinas is hoping this incident can actually shed light on the issue at hand. "There could be a silver lining to this terrible situation," Salinas said. "The university realized it's a problem and they need to fix it. It has to be not only something they talk about, but something they act on."