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Officials at the University of South Florida St. Petersburg took back invitations extended to 14 African journalists due to fears of Ebola.

The journalists were set to come to the campus for the annual Edward R. Murrow Visiting Journalists program. 

From Maynard Institute:

“The program is organized by the US Department of State for foreign journalists to discuss their experiences and share stories about reporting in their countries.,” Jack Pickell and Chelsea Rice wrote for Boston.com Monday in an ongoing summary of Ebola developments.

University of South Florida St. Petersburg’s Department of Journalism and Media studies was one of seven journalism schools hosting 100 of the rising top journalists from around the world. Only the African journalists’ trips were canceled.

In addition, “The University of Georgia cancelled the Oct. 23 guest lecture of an award-winning Liberian journalist after concerns were raised that it could expose students and the campus community to the Ebola virus,” Brad Schrade reported Sunday for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

Read more at Maynard Institute

Liberian journalist Wade C.L. Williams was set to give the McGill lecture talk about her experiences covering the Ebola crisis. Liberia is one of the hardest hit West African countries by the virus, with close to 2500 deaths reported this year.

Wow.

Thoughts on the university not allowing the African journalists to speak?

In your opinion, are Africans who wish to come to America experiencing discrimination?

Sound off below!