The University of Florida will no longer use its “Gator Bait” cheer at its sporting events, UF president Kent Fuchs announced in a letter to the university community on Thursday.
The letter detailed actions the university aims to take “toward positive change against racism.” Fuchs, in his letter, said the “horrific racist imagery” associated with the “gator bait” phrase caused the school to immediately discontinue using the cheer.
“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.