School apologizes for serving Mexican food alongside alien decorations

A school in Maryland is apologizing after serving a Mexican food buffet during a sci-fi themed event.

The food was served during Stevenson College's "Intergalactic" night, which featured cutouts of spaceships, planets and aliens.

The college sent out a letter to students after they received complaints that the food and décor pairing was racist, illustrating an association between Mexicans and illegal immigrants.

The event "demonstrated a cultural insensitivity on the part of the program planners and, though it was an unintentional mistake, I recognize that this incident caused harm within our community and negatively impacted students," Caroyln Golz, a college administrative officer, wrote in the letter.

"We would never want to make a connection between individuals of Latino heritage or undocumented students and 'aliens' and I am so sorry that our College Night appeared to do exactly that," she continued.

Dr. Golz stated that staff would be required to undergo cultural competence training and will implement “mechanisms for future program planning that will ensure college programs are culturally sensitive and inclusive.”

She also added that she is "an ally for students of color and, in particular, undocumented students" and encouraged students to report to the school any kind of hate they may witness or experience.

The letter, collected by the Pundit Press, concluded with Golz writing that she cares "about the individuals in our community" and that she "want[s] everyone to feel respected, included, and affirmed."

See picture of event here.