Updated: April 17, 8:51 a.m.

A University of Portland awards banquet meant to honor student athletes featured "violent" and "misogynistic" speech, according to an opinion piece written by Olivia Sanchez, a student athlete who attended the event Sunday night.

The event was hosted by tennis player Goutham Sundaram.

By 2 p.m. Monday, Sundaram's name had disappeared from the team roster online.

"Sundaram, the emcee, introduced himself with a speech in which he said he was going to open up, get real and 'make the stage (his) locker room,'" Sanchez, the news and managing editor of UP's student paper, The Beacon, wrote.

"Sundaram's speech detailed his sexual pursuits during the last four years," Sanchez continued, "and explicitly stated that his main goal throughout college was not academic or even athletic, but sexual: to get white women to sleep with brown men."

According to a follow-up post from The Beacon, an email sent Monday to participants in the university's athletic program included an apology from Sundaram.

"I would like to address what happened at the Wally's last night," Sundaram said. "I want to apologize for taking away from the focus of the night. The night is meant to celebrate the excellence of student athletes and I would like to apologize if I made any people uncomfortable."

In an email sent to the University of Portland community Monday afternoon, University President Fr. Mark Poorman apologized for the incident, saying, "Along with many others, I am appalled by the student's actions."

A statement put out by the Associated Students of University of Portland Monday evening called Sundaram's speech "a stain on our University and our fellow students," adding, "it is apparent that we as a University have an arduous road ahead when it comes to conversations of misogyny, rape culture, and sexism."

The statement noted that "just last week there were efforts around campus to spark conversation and education through a Sexual Assault Week of Awareness."

According to Sanchez, she walked out as did many in attendance, including former Trail Blazer and current UP men's basketball head coach, Terry Porter.

"University President Fr. Mark Poorman remained seated in the front of the room," Sanchez wrote.

At some point after she left the room, Sundaram was ushered off the stage, Sanchez said, though he did continue to emcee the event. Sanchez did not remain for the remainder of the banquet.

"I felt trapped," she wrote. "This event was mandatory."

"I have woken up at 5:00 in the morning nearly every day of my college career. I have pushed myself physically, mentally and emotionally to achieve success," she said. "This night was supposed to be about me. About all of us."

"Instead, it was a 'locker room': one that I was excluded from since I couldn't get the joke," she continued. "The 'joke' was never meant for me."

"These offensive statements do not reflect us, and they do not reflect our mission," Poorman wrote in his email. "As president of the University, I remained at the event to honor those who gathered to celebrate student athletes, teams, and Athletics staff for their many accomplishments in the past year."

"I apologize to all of you that this occurred," he added.

Poorman went on to say that the school has "continuing work to do to educate and raise consciousness" and the that athletic department had already removed Sundaram from the tennis team roster.

"There is no place at the University of Portland for what was said," Poorman said. "It wasn't funny, and it is completely inconsistent with the important dialogues that continue on our campus. Verbal or physical, it is still abuse."

Sundaram previously played tennis at Lincoln High School where he was the 6A state champion in 2014 as a senior and The Oregonian's 2014 Tennis Player of the Year.

Read the full statement from Poorman below:

Dear Members of the UP Community,



Last night I attended the "Wally's," an awards banquet organized and run by student members of an advisory committee to athletics.



Unfortunately, the celebration was marred by shocking and offensive comments made by a student who was emceeing the event. Along with many others, I am appalled by the student's actions. These offensive statements do not reflect us, and they do not reflect our mission. As president of the University, I remained at the event to honor those who gathered to celebrate student athletes, teams, and Athletics staff for their many accomplishments in the past year. This important tradition was the purpose of the evening, and I did not want what happened on stage to take away from the recognition of others in attendance.



I apologize to all of you that this occurred. Clearly we have continuing work to do to educate and raise consciousness. I spoke with Athletics this morning. They have already taken steps to hold this student accountable, including removing him from the roster. I expect additional steps will be taken to address the conduct and any impact.



There is no place at the University of Portland for what was said. It wasn't funny, and it is completely inconsistent with the important dialogues that continue on our campus. Verbal or physical, it is still abuse.



Sincerely,

Fr. Mark

Nick Daschel contributed to this report.

-- Lizzy Acker

503-221-8052

lacker@oregonian.com, @lizzzyacker