UF TODAY MAGAZINE ISSUES APOLOGY

Sunday, I mentioned that the University of Florida's alumni magazine UF Today included Charley Johns among it's " 81 Gators You Should Know". The former governor and state senator during his tenue in public office advocated segregation, and formed what became known as the "Johns Committee" which targeted opponents of segregation and later gays in the state's education system. The committee's tactics included survellance, interrogation, intercepting mail, and threats. Needless to say, the inclusion of John in the magazine's list angered many alumni and gay rights advocates.

UF Alumni Association director Randy Talbot Wednesday issued a public apology for John's inclusion in a letter to the Gainesville Sun, saying the decision was "contrary to the support of diversity at our university."

UF Today acknowledged in the list every Florida governor who attended the university, although Johns was actually enrolled for only two months during the 1950s.

Magazine editor Liesl O'Dell said that the intent of the feature was not to honour those individuals listed, but to raise awareness about standout graduates from a variety of backgrounds.

Talbot said that "We need to do a better job of researching our stories in the future."