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CMU President Apologizes After Student Dresses As Naked Pope

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) -- The president of Carnegie Mellon University has issued an apology for the actions of a student who portrayed herself as the pope naked from the waist down.

KDKA reported this week how those actions have outraged the Pittsburgh Diocese.

Today in a letter to the CMU community, President Jared Cohon said no discipline has been prescribed and the matter is still under investigation.

But he stressed that he is also extremely disturbed by the incident.

The statement reads:

"This act was highly offensive and, as we have said, the university has been investigating the matter and following our procedures to determine if disciplinary action is warranted.

Some people seem to equate limited communication with no action, believing that the university is doing nothing, and somehow hoping that the issue will just go away. This is not the case, and those who know me and my administration should reject such ideas out of hand.

While our process is still in motion and I cannot comment on or speculate about the resolution of the matter, I can apologize to those who took particular offense. I regret that this occurred, and I apologize to all who were offended by this, for religious or other reasons, and especially to those who witnessed this behavior."

Tuesday, the National Catholic League called for an immediate suspension of the student, noting that CMU recently suspended fraternity members for taking sexual pictures inside the frat and emailing them to other members.

"If CMU tolerates this incident, invoking no sanctions whatsoever, then it is opening a door it may regret," the organization said in a statement.

"What if instead of shaved pubic hair in the shape of a cross, a student chooses to depict a swastika?

CMU's decision not to suspend this female student, who publicly ridiculed Catholics and violated the local ordinance on public nudity, while invoking sanctions against the frat boys for offensive behavior behind closed doors, is legally problematic and morally indefensible."

No word yet on what, if anything, will happen.

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