The University of Florida has decided to discontinue the use of its ‘Gator Bait’ cheer and band performances at sporting events moving forward.
Florida President Kent Fuchs announced this week that while there is no direct evidence of racism with the school’s cheer, the term “gator bait” itself is associated with “horrific historic racist imagery.”
“While I know of no evidence of racism associated with our “Gator Bait” cheer at UF sporting events, there is horrific historic racist imagery associated with the phrase,” Fuchs said in an official statement. “Accordingly University Athletics and the Gator Band will discontinue the use of the cheer.