KILLJOY uni chiefs have banned students from getting free sombreros — because they are “racist”.
Hats were dished out to freshers by a local Tex-Mex restaurant in a bid to drum up business.
But bosses at the University of East Anglia ordered them to stop, claiming doing so broke strict rules about discrimination.
Students wearing the big floppy sombreros were made to take them off by po-faced Student Union bosses.
Uni chiefs claimed handing out sombreros breached a ban on “stereotypical” imagery.
It read: “Discriminatory or stereotypical language or imagery aimed towards any group or individual based on characteristics will not be permitted as part of our advertising.”
The sombreros were seen as racist and a form of cultural appropriation, despite the fact that the Pedro’s restaurant website says it offers a “Tex-Mex experience”.
But students have slammed the ban.
One, who did not want to be named, said: “It’s ridiculous. It’s a comedy hat, not some sort of sacred religious dress.
“Who is going to get offended? Speedy Gonzales?”
Rafel Spilman added: “What utter b******s.”
But the Union defended their madcap stance.
Campaigns and Democracy officer Chris Jarvis said: “We know that when it comes to cultural appropriation the issues can sometimes be difficult to understand and many don’t realise that they may be about to cause offence or break a policy.
“So we’re discussing internally how we can improve our briefing to both external organisations and our own members so that people aren’t caught out at the last minute.”
He added: “At the SU we want all members to feel safe and accepted, so at all events we try to ensure that there is no behaviour, language or imagery which could be considered racist, sexist, homophobic, transphobic or ableist.”
Pedro’s was unavailable for comment.