Pawpaw wrote:I can't read SigM4's link. The site demands that I turn off my add blocker and I refuse to do that for the Dallas Morning Snooze.
The daughter of one of the Dallas police officers killed during the July 7 ambush was told she was no longer invited to hit an honorary serve at a volleyball game at Southern Methodist University "in light of recent events and diversity within the SMU community."
The university has since apologized and re-extended the invitation.
Heidi Smith shared the email she received from a university official Thursday night on Facebook. Her husband, 55-year-old Sgt. Michael Smith, was one of five officers killed by a lone gunman during an attack after a July protest. Nine other officers and two civilians were injured in the attack.
"Victoria was scheduled to serve an honorary serve at the SMU volleyball game this Saturday to honor her Dad," Heidi Smith wrote in the post. "This is the email they sent me today to back out ... I had to read it to Victoria after dinner tonight."
The email said there would no longer be an honorary first serve due to a communication breakdown.
"The volleyball program was not correctly informed that this would be taking place at the game," the email Smith shared reads. It continues saying that "the demonstration could be deemed insensitive."
Smith redacted the name of the sender, who does not explain what recent events would make the honorary first serve appear inappropriate, though there have been demonstrations across the country against President-elect Donald Trump.
Frederick Frazier, interim president of the Dallas Police Association, said he was disappointed by the message the email sent to a young girl who has just lost her father.
"It's these statements and judgments that are what is tearing us apart. We are in a time of healing. This little girl was about to do something that was going to help that process," Frazier said.
Smith's post has already been shared on Facebook more than 1,000 times. And a university spokeswoman sent a statement Friday morning saying the volleyball program apologizes for the mix-up.
"This incident does not reflect SMU values," the statement says. "Due to a change in staffing, there was a breakdown in communication that led to this unfortunate situation."
"The invitation was intended to help a family heal, and we very much look forward to Victoria's first serve in the volleyball match Saturday."
Read the full SMU statement below:
The SMU Volleyball program extends its sincere apologies to the Smith family and is reaching out this morning to speak directly to Mrs. Smith to apologize and reinforce that the invitation stands. This incident does not reflect SMU values. Due to a change in staffing, there was a breakdown in communication that led to this unfortunate situation. This communication to Mrs. Smith would never have occurred if proper approval and communications procedures had been followed. The invitation was intended to help a family heal, and we very much look forward to Victoria's first serve in the volleyball match Saturday.
SMU values the service and sacrifices of all first responders and honored Victoria's father, Sgt. Michael Smith, as well as Dallas police officers Lorne Ahrens, Michael Krol, and Patrick Zamarripa, DART Officer Brent Thompson, SMU Officer Mark McCullers and University Park Fire Department Chief Bob Poynter at the annual First Responders football game earlier this fall.
Read Heidi Smith's full post below:
