Students, staff and a number of businesses are in damage control this week after shocking photos emerged on social media.

The following image was posted to social media this week which shows a number of students wearing KKK hoods with another student who was painted black (blackface). It is believed that the students are currently attending Charles Sturt University in Wagga Wagga, N.S.W.

The image started to get attention after a young Indigenous man who attended the same high school of the students, re-posted the images in disbelief that former students from his school would do such a thing. He was also shocked to see how much positive engagement the post had received, which included a love reaction from a former school captain of Red Bend Catholic College, Forbes.

The students had been attending what they called a politically incorrect themed party at the Black Swan Hotel in North Wagga. These supposedly educated students are now most likely regretting their actions as the images went viral on social media drawing widespread condemnation. Some other images that surfaced from the event included students dressed up as Jewish Holocaust prisoners and Hitler in a Nazi uniform with hashtags on that post including #csulater and #hazingisfun.

So far the Black Swan Hotel has tried to distance themselves from the images with a claim that they were unaware of the actions taking place at the back of their hotel, which is hard to believe for such a small venue. The Facebook page of the hotel is now receiving a number of 1 star negative reviews in response to what took place.

This morning, Charles Sturt University has publicly responded with the following message.

We would like to remind the university that this is not a situation where there are no winners. The university has the opportunity to take strong action against any of the students who are enrolled at Charles Sturt University. We look forward to writing a positive story that involves a strong response that sends a firm message to everyone in Australia that this type of behaviour is unacceptable.

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