Florida State University President John Thrasher, who recently took action against an FSU vendor who was accused of being racially insensitive, faced similar allegations in 2000.
It was revealed last week that Sam Childers, a principal with Childers Construction, was accused of violating “FSU’s core values” when a picture recently surfaced of him dressed up like Bob Marley at a Halloween party in 2015.
After reviewing the incident and receiving a letter of apology from Childers, Thrasher ended any future business relationship with Childers Construction.
Tiger Bay Club
Thrasher faced similar allegations related to racial insensitivities during an appearance at the Tallahassee Tiger Bay Club in 2000. His comments made state-wide news.
Reports indicate that Thrasher – then Florida House Speaker – used a basketball analogy with racial overtones to describe a black state senator’s opposition to ending state-wide affirmative action policies.
Thrasher was supporting then-Governor Bush’s controversial One Florida initiative which was designed to eliminate racial preferences in education and government contracting and base decisions on individual merit.
During his address to Tiger Bay, Thrasher said, ” I truly have believed that white men couldn’t jump. I believed that until I started working around Kendrick Meek.”
The joke – aimed at state Senator Kendrick Meek – fell flat and Meek was not amused. Meek responded by saying, ” I am praying for Mr. Thrasher.”
A former official with the NAACP said the joke was out of line and that Thrasher owed Meek an apology.
Republican Florida Senate President Toni Jennings, who attended the Tiger Bay meeting, said “there wasn’t anything funny about it.”
After chiding the media for reporting the incident as “real news”, Thrasher eventually issued an apology. He stated, “It was never my intention to offend anyone and I regret if any offense was taken.”
Similar Responses
The two incidents occurred years apart in very different political environments. But the responses by Childers and Thrasher to being accused of racial insensitivities were remarkably similar.
Thrasher said he did not intend to offend anyone and regretted his actions.
Childers apologized and said “I deeply regret my actions that have caused hurt and offense to anyone.”
Thrasher said he was attempting a joke at a luncheon that is known for raucous banter.
Childers explained that he dressed up as Bob Marley for a Halloween party, not to make some racial statement.
After the incident, Thrasher finished his term as House Speaker and went on to become a powerful lobbyist, then a member of the Florida Senate and was appointed the President of FSU in 2014.
However, the fate of Sam Childers and Childers Construction is still unfolding.
FSU Comment
Tallahassee Reports reached out to President Thrasher for a comment on his previous experience with being accused of racial insensitivities and if that experience had any impact on his decision-making process in the Childers situation.
An FSU spokesperson responded with the following statement:
“Florida State University expects civil and respectful conduct from everyone who does business with the university. Mr. Childers’ behavior conflicts with the university’s values of inclusivity and respect for all members of the community, and Florida State University is in the process of ending its partnership with Childers Construction. Two existing contracts with the company for projects near completion will be honored.”
The spokesperson also said, “The university has nothing else to add.”
Like Childers, John Thrasher was Accused of Racial Insensitivity added by Steve Stewart on
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Tsk, tsk Mr. Thrasher. For shame.
Would the aclu or anyone for that matter care if a black man dressed up as Ozzy or Bono or Kiss or Chris Stapleton? NOPE. How is a costume for a party racist ? I’ll wait….
A sad state of our current affairs. A Halloween party from 5 years ago, shows how little the ACLU actually has to do.
But even worse Such a spineless lack of leadership by Thrasher and FSU. They simply roll over and fire Sam Childers because one little white girl said they should. They don’t care how this will affect the families of those who work for Childers and the many sub contractors who do Also.
I think it’s time for thrasher to go
Please, that was 5 years ago and Halloween! What has happened to everyone? Wow, fired for that, 5 years ago, you couldn’t come up with a better excuse to fire him?
FSU family here and my daughter is a current student at FSU. Unfortunately the situation in Tallahassee is endemic of what is happening on public college campuses nationwide. Simply put, it;s the encroachment of politics and victim mentality onto these campuses. Thrasher is simply representative of many University presidents; a Lawyer and Politician turned academic. Politicians bend to the will of the prevailing winds, as their primary goal and responsibility to themselves is to remain in power and generate as much cash as possible via fundraising. If John Tharasher thinks the left is the side that will keep him in power and support his immense need to raise cash, he is sorely mistaken. I’ll always love FSU and be eternally grateful for the education and life lessons I was taught and learned there. Some of those lessons we’re being an independent thinker. Charting my own course. Challenging the prevailing wisdom and being true to my core beliefs and fundamentals. Apparently John Tharasher did not have the benefit of the same college learning experience I did and by these hypocritical actions demonstrates he’s not qualified to lead FSU and should return to politics where his heart and skills apparently still lie.
I dropped my FSU tag years ago when I saw how much money the school was (and is) bringing in. To my fellow FSU alumni, stop supporting FSU! It is not the university we grew up loving to support and cheer for.
Sad day for FSU. Sam and his family have supported this University for years. Let the witch-hunts begin.
Despite being a FSU grad (’86), I’ve been done with them for years. If reasonable, rational people were aware of all the ‘centers’ that exist within various colleges at FSU, whose purposes are to promote some the most nonsensical Leftist causes and ideas you could imagine, you’d never give FSU a dime of your hard-earned money (beyond that which is extracted from you via taxes). Even a good football team won’t overcome that in my mind. Both of my kids are attending conservative private colleges.
I wonder if Present Thrasher would approve of me wearing my Frankenstein Costume Halloween ? Maybe I would not offend to many monsters out there. I am afraid Thrashers lack of leadership will cost the University millions in future donations. By the way Mr. President when will you take a pay cut to save the University some money?
So Thrasher gets to basically call a black man an Uncle Tom and then pull this with Childers?
Petition to Fire John Thrasher here
https://www.change.org/p/the-citizens-to-tallahassee-fire-john-thrasher
It is bad enough to turn your campus over to a bunch of ersatz student radicals who will then make it impossible for you to acknowledge anyone who founded the university. But, destroying a man’s reputation, and his business because he went to costume party for his daughter five years ago, and at the insttigation of yet another childish faux radical up in Tennessee, has truly made John Thrasher a danger to the Tallahassee community.
I also deeply regret early support for John Thrasher with folks on FSU Board of Trustees. He has proved to be the arrogant egomaniac I was warned of. The damage this “pol” has done to FSU is inestimable and from which the University and its athletic program may never recover. This is what happens when we permit term limited politicians to land in cozy state jobs with benefits and amenities only designed to stimulate their egos and power hungry mindsets. I withdrew my support for the President’s Club, the FSU Foundation, Scholarships, and the Seminole Boosters in 2014 when I fully realized my mistake and the unwillingness of the Board of Trustees to reign him in. I went through the “Radical Sixties” as an undergrad at FSU. Thank God we had serious and brave Presidents at FSU to stand up to radical Marxists like Radical Jack Lieberman and the SDS, I count John Champion and Stan Marshall among the brave. John Thrasher’s contract extension should be revoked immediately by the FSU Board of Trustees.
Well, I don’t care about Childers comment. If we check our own history we too have probably said or did something that might be viewed as offensive to someone or some group. I don’t like FSU and as a black person I am more offended by the comments that I am seeing than a black face Childers or racial insensitivity. I might be wrong. However, to me your comments appear to be really racist.
Respectfully, Ms. Hubbard… I’ve read through the comments you lament. It appears that you seem to view “disagreement” or simply having a differing opinion as being “racist”. Please elaborate on the analogy. I truly seek to understand.
In 1975, at the ripe old age of 10, I dressed up as Dr. J (NBA Hall of Famer Julius Erving) for Halloween. Why? He was AWESOME, he was my hero! There was no racist intent, just admiration. However, I’m fairly certain my grandmother applied dark powder to my face to complete the look. Lord, I hope that Polaroid doesn’t surface.
In all seriousness, when did we start letting snowflakes dictate policy to grown adults? This is really a sad, weak, and embarrassing moment for Thrasher.
What should be asked is why is the Students for a Democratic Society now running things at FSU? They caused so much anarchy back in the sixties and we know how that screwed up American society
I’m gonna kick Thrasher one more time then I’m out.
Thrasher: The worst type of RINO on the planet.
Not only Never Trumper but even more unforgivable a JEBBIE.
Review for a moment Low Energy JEB Bush’s weak lame @ss attempt at the 2016 Presidency … Jebbie had the most money the political pundits all put Jebbie miles ahead of Trump … and Low Energy Jebbie had to run home crying in National Disgrace.
Johnnie Boy just get out of public life while you still can with a smidgen of respect for your family.
Johnnie Boy I am expecting your letter of resignation on my desk at 8:00 AM this Monday Morning!
TOMORROW.
This is so stupid and it keeps happening. I distinguish between blackface which is about racial caricature and stereotypes and makeup that makes you look like a specific person or character. It’s stupid to conflate the two. Only one – the first – is racist and insulting. Also, what Sam did is not as bad as what Thrasher did and in fact, it isn’t bad at all. If a Black person dressed up as George Washington or Charles Manson for Halloween I don’t think anybody would be offended. Neither did anything like what the segregationist Doak Campbell did. People need to grow up. Sometimes your sensitivities are your problem, not mine. This is from a Democrat on the opposite side of many of the partisans who posted here.
The most popular musical of the last decade used non-white actors to play our white Founding Fathers.
The musical?
Hamilton.
Well well we’ll Mr. Thrasher, you can’t even respond to emails, calls, or texts. Now look what you have done. And by the way FSU has lost $10 million dollars in boosters, season tickets, donation, etc. since the story of Sam Childers hit the Tallahassee Democrat.
A few years ago, FSU had a campus-wide referendum on whether to remove the Eppes statue from the Wescott plaza; vote was 71.7% “NO”. I just wanted to put that out there.
My My My Mr Thrasher. I am sure glad that you were forgiven and you saw the inequities of your mistake. I’m so glad that you have continued your ability to continue to move up in leadership positions and that the comment you made didn’t cause you to have to go back to St Augustine. Not so lucky for Sam Childers in today’s world. Not only do you remove him from the vendor list at FSU but you have probably jeopardized his chances at other places where he would be able to have a chance to acquire jobs.John we have all done things we regret. I am sure glad you were forgiven. As a famous and former FSU Football Coach would say . Dadgum John what were you thinking.
Wow, Bradbury was almost prophetic with Fahrenheit 451. Except we’re banning people instead of books and the left are the firemen. Ironically, it would be real easy to stand up to this nonsense if people wouldn’t bow to the pressure.
Just another stunning example of why you should never, eveR, evER, eVER, EVER apologize, take a knee, or bow to the mob insanity. All you do is show them that you are weak, malleable, cowardice, and willingly subservient to their warped ways and dangerous ideology.
It’s bad enough that we have one or more generations of Twidiots and Millidiots to deal with and straighten out… we surely do not need adults to fall apart too.
May God forgive us our transgressions
He will regret these recent pressured decisions that tarnish an otherwise outstanding term as University President.
Yes Andy it does to the 100’s of people who may be laid off and would be seeking new jobs. To Mr. Childer’s and his family’s reputation and his standing in the community which he evidently has supported both financially and through charitable work. I know he has make money through his construction work at FSU, but I sure FSU got more than what it paid for.
Hey Andy, it matters. I wonder if the German people thought it mattered when Hitler rose to power? Do you think anyone thought maybe I should have said something/ anything?
Name one thing Thrasher has done as President?
He’s done a lot for FSU. Under Thrasher’s watch, he’s secured the first $100 million gift in school history, he’s elevated the university to a top 20 public school and raised FSU’s profile to a premier destination of higher learning.
He made a mistake in how he handled Childers. But let’s not forget all of the good things he has done for our school.
If he has done so much why are gifts and contributions in total down – why are dpeartment heads worried – nice try – the cancel culture he is instilling isn’t anything to be proud of and is hurting the university period
And Childer’s Construction Co. deserves the same consideration you just gave Thrasher for what their company has done for FSU and the economy of Tallahassee. Thrasher should reverse his position on Childer’s Construction Co. ASAP.
Couldn’t agree more!
What matters is that hundreds of individuals who work for, or with, Childers Construction as employees, subcontractors or suppliers now have their employment or businesses as risk. Through no fault of their own.
I’m Done with FSU!
Come on, everybody–in the scheme of things, it really doesn’t matter. Get a life.
It absolutely does matter to the employees of Childers Consruction and the subcontractor who work for them – only another hypocrite would say get a life
It’s a sad day for FSU- well one again of many. under Thrasher’s rule. He is the WORST president we have had in my lifetime. He is simply proving everyone right, about his lack of leadership, his lack of diplomacy, and his lack of personal strength and character. FSU – Wake up,… you are hurting and you won’t address the point of pain… it’s is the guy behind the President’s desk. What good has he done FSU? Can anyone name anything positive? I can’t – again lifelong resident and 4th generation Tallahassean.
He has been an OUTSTANDING President. Sadly, there are many of us who believe he erred in judgement with regard to Mr. Childers. . . for dressing up as his hero.
Mr Thrasher is obviously a racist by his own definition (see Mr Childers and Mr Eppes)
Remember as well him totaling ignoring the FSU student government fight against Christians and turning a blind eye towards anti Semitic comments
Resign immediately Mr Thrasher before you ruin FSU completely, you have already done enough damage to the institution you allegedly love.
Maybe Thrasher should go back in black face with lipstick and a female wig!
Then beg Joe Biden to anoint him Vice President.
Go for it Johnnie Boy AKA Joan Thrasher the next VP of The USA…NOT!
Sanctimonious hypocrisy is no way to live.
Appropriation: I see a plumber use a wrench & I do the same. As the Cancel Culture Virus spreads keep this in mind. 1/3 of people have no sense of humor. [Scott Adams – Dilbert cartoonist * public speaker] Read the write-ups on the Salem witch trials. Teachers Unions, MSMedia, Democrat-Antifa-BLM are all authoritarian enforcers exacting revenge for the imagined aggrieved. Pathetic.
Halloween honors the dead. “Day of the dead”. But the next day is “All saints day.” Will they be allowed marching in?
I find it interesting that the woman who raised the concerns about Mr. Childers was the same woman who, on the day after Trump was elected, implored us all in a tdo editorial not to tear each other apart limb to limb.
Thrasher is a hypocrite and has no back bone, can’t wait for his time to end at FSU!!
Boosters need to speak with their wallets and not support such a weak president
I’m a bit confused here. Exactly which “race” did Childers offend when he dressed up for Halloween as an iconic reggae singer who was born in British Jamaica?
Should we expect another Tallahassee intersection to be painted with the phrase “Jamaican Lives Matter”? And wasn’t “White men can’t jump” a movie that came out of the Cancel Culture Clowns in Hollywood?… like the movie “White Chics”.
As a “person of color”, these Melanin Maniacs are beginning to really tick me off. Their ignorance is overwhelming. This insanity only goes to prove that the is no systemic racism… only the systemic exploitation of the lie.
Very well said ….
I said a similar statement to my husband the other day who is an FSU graduate. Maybe he could have chosen a different artist to dress up as, but Bob Marley was not “black/african american”. Is it possible Mr Thrasher is throwing stones and hiding his hands?
Edward, I really think you are missing the point. White people have never been oppressed, beaten, endured looking at signs painted on the door color just to name a few. The most saddening part of this topic is that black people are still going through shit todays where some of the main players are the FSU facility.
Another thought. Why not teach full history? The good, the bad and the ugly. Then we wouldn’t need a month of Black History. But as long as American history is taught to show that white folks in America did all the work to make America great. There will always be this bad race relation. Your history books are not correct.
Another thought. Why did white historians choose to just celebrate the most racist of the Klan. There are plenty of white men that did lots of great work in America. I’m just saying.
Respectfully, Cherish… you’re depth of the history of human oppression is less than replete. Peoples of various levels of melanin have been oppressed for various reasons throughout time. Moreover, the origins of slavery in America was born of a learned trait hailing from the Hutu and Tutsi tribes of Africa, who enslaved each other primarily based on the levels of melanin in their skin. The “white man” of America did not invent slavery, or the act of oppression for that matter. I would agree that history lessons should be more complete.
You appear to view all human existence through a black versus white lens. In reality, we are ALL people of color. It is only our individualism that differentiates us. Bob Marley was neither African nor American. He was British Jamaican… and to exploit his skin tone to appease the current prevailing liberal mob mentality does a true disservice to his “true” heritage and culture.
As a “person of color”, I find this entire mess insulting. The intentional damage this ignorance is doing to our society as a whole, is reprehensible in my view.
Thrasher is the worst type of Rethuglican a complete sellout to cancel culture and his Marxist faculty. Between despicable Demonrats and spineless Rethuglicans, God help us all. Mark my words, this Marxist cancel culture will never stop until FSU is forced to drop the Seminole name and rename themselves and Thrasher will be there to put a spear into it. Coward.
Boy, was I wrong. When Thrasher was being considered for president of FSU and the faculty was skeptical of his appointment I wrote a letter to the editor of the Tallahassee Democrat supporting his appointment and urging the faculty to do likewise. If I still subscribed to the Democrat which I do not I would write another letter apologizing to the readers for the really bad advice.
If you cancelled your subscription to the Fake Newsocrat, you are smarter than Thrasher. Maybe you should be FSU President!
Cancel your season tickets and Booster Contributions … let them hear us loud and clear … many already have … Thrasher you Sir are a hypocrite #StandUp4Sam
Since we have a national theme painted between FAMU and FSU merge the two schools. Name it FAMU State University. FSU no longer in my spending patterns and support. This 1968 grad. can take no more of this.
Well, I will not renew my 3 FSU tags. I graduated from FSU. My 3 children graduated from FSU. My brother graduated from FSU as well as several nephews. We have all agreed to discontinue all support including boosters, tickets, tags. The FSU is finally showing its real colors. It is a shameful radical left institution of intimidation and brain washing. Just like the former Nazi Germany. They are totally corrupt.
Oh darn RINO Thrasher’s beloved leftists are turning on his dum @ss.
Theres something for you to learn here Johnnie boy.
Think real hard … no never mind … you will never get it. You were lost beyond redemption years ago.
Go sit with Francis Epps’ statue in time out Johnnie boy.
Your beloved leftists never liked you.
If you are disgusted with FSU you could support UF with it’s illustrious alumnus Rep. Yoho….
Let’s all continue to do what we can to make sure we keep the DUH in Florida.
Let’s hope thrasher gets the same treatment from the mob he’s been dishing out
Does anyone remember Thrasher pretending to do the “Harlem Shuffle” dance in a video for the Capital Corps Press Skits philanthropic fundraiser about 8-9 years ago? Couldn’t that be defined by the current craziness as “cultural misappropriation” even though the entire legislature was in it?
Well, they must all have been racists! And the press too for showing it!
Done with FSU and Thrasher, even with 2 degrees from there and growing up an FSU fan. Campbell Stadium will be next. Turned in my FSU car tag and stopping future support. First time in @ 15 years to have no FSU tag on my vehicle.
Even IF football is played this season, instead of being 75% empty Doak will now be 99% empty.
Thrasher is doing to FSU what Gabordi did to the Fake Newsocrat – destroying it from a seat of power within.
No money.
No FSUseless.
Next will be Bobby Bowden. He called his players boy and said they wear earrings because their moms does. Doak renamed, Seminole name changed, and Bobby’s stayed and name gone. Part of the liberal Marxist Thrasher’s agenda!