Issue date: 10/25/07 Section: News

The improvisational troupe Smile and Nod is no longer smiling after an allegedly racist image on a promotional flyer resulted in the suspension of the group's remaining fall performances, with one exception, theatre department officials announced.

The performances were originally cancelled until the beginning of winter quarter, but officials agreed to allow one more fall show on Nov. 3 for the new members.

"We know they didn't intend to do this, but anytime you're dealing with a hot-button item that can be construed as racist, you've got to be sensitive to the other side," said theatre department chair and associate professor Tim Dugan.

"We can't deny that the minorities on campus are truly that - minorities. So it falls to us to be more sensitive to this kind of situation."

The image of a black man's face donning a straw hat and missing teeth was enough to incite enough controversy last year as well, when the group used it as part of a promotional flyer for an off-campus show.

Smile and Nod member Sean Michetti, 23, who created the new flyer, said he was unaware of the controversy.

The new flyers were posted campuswide Oct. 2 to promote the group's show on the following Saturday.

Theatre department heads noticed the images on the following Wednesday and began pulling them down, Dugan said. But the damage was already done.

Many students and faculty members had already seen the flyers, some began to protest and the theatre department decided to take action.

The group was first asked to remove existing posters, send a formal apology to all students via the Mustang Daily, and participate in a sensitivity meeting with faculty and staff from the theatre department and the ethnic studies department.

Finally, officials in the theatre department agreed that noticeable and clear action had to be taken to display the seriousness of the offense, Dugan said.

"We're looking at a short-term punishment to maintain the long-term stability of the organization," said Josh Machemer, a theatre professor and the club's advisor.

"In terms of how we see larger issues like this, being a very visual medium, we have to be very responsible for those images we put out there."

Smile and Nod is an improvisational club on campus that has been around for about 10 years. With 16 members, the group performs every Saturday night. As a promotional effort, members create flyers with humorous images and no text.

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