University of Florida prexy who called black chancellor an 'oreo' will resign

Jet, Feb 9, 1998

The president of the University of Florida, who is White, has agreed to step down sometime this year after causing a furor by using a racial slur to refer to the new chancellor of the State University System, who is Black (Jet, Feb. 2).

According to two people familiar with discussions among Dr. John Lombardi, president of the University of Florida (Gainesville), Dr. Adam Herbert, Jr., chancellor of the State University System, and members of the Board of Regents, Lombardi will resign sometime this year.

Lombardi first will complete some unfinished business, said two people in the State University System who spoke to the Associated Press on the condition of anonymity.

"It's an understanding his future is limited, extremely limited," said one of the sources.

At a private Christmas party at his home, Lombardi reportedly referred to Herbert as an "Oreo" because of his effectiveness in dealing with Whites; Herbert was able to do so because he was "White on the inside," Lombardi reportedly stated.

Herbert and Lombardi met during a private meeting after Lombardi apologized in a letter to Herbert about his remark. The two left the meeting saying that the comment was no longer an issue.

Herbert, the former president of the University of North Florida in Jacksonville, is the first Black chancellor of Florida's 10 public universities, which includes the Gainesville campus.