Student in blackface unapologetic about act

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. (AP) -- A Penn State University student who wore blackface to impersonate the student body vice president says he has nothing to apologize for.
Jason Covener told Penn State's student newspaper, The Daily Collegian, Thursday that he was the person in blackface in photographs that had been posted on the personal Web site of Brian Battaglia, the chairman of the Penn State College Republicans. "I dressed up as Takkeem Morgan. I don't really feel compelled, though, to defend or explain how I dress at a private Halloween party," said Covener, a member of the College Republicans. In a written statement released Thursday night, Battaglia also defended the pictures -- although he had removed them from his Web site -- saying his organization stands for freedom of speech.