Colorado State University officials say a photo circulating on social media showing students posing in blackface does not violate university rules or regulations and that the students involved will not be punished.

The photo, which began making the rounds over the weekend, shows four students in blackface — some smiling, some crossing their arms — with the caption “Wakanda forevaa,” a reference to the “Black Panther” comic book and film.

Late Tuesday, CSU President Joyce McConnell sent an email to the students, staff and faculty of the Fort Collins campus to address the situation.

“Because of the long and ugly history of blackface in America, this photo has caused a great deal of pain to members of our community,” McConnell wrote. “We have heard from many of you — and we hear you. Moreover, we respect your voices. We know that images like this one — whether consciously racist or not — can perpetuate deliberate racism and create a climate that feels deeply hostile.

“We also affirm that personal social media accounts are not under our jurisdiction. Our community members — students, faculty and staff — can generally post whatever they wish to post on their personal online accounts in accordance with their First Amendment rights.”

The letter goes on to say that while the image runs counter to CSU’s principles of community, it does not violate any university rules and the involved students won’t be punished.

Some students on social media expressed outrage about the university’s response, calling it disappointing and “gross.”

CSU students post themselves in blackface, and the president of the university sends and email to students saying people can post whatever they want to post. Once again, CSU disappoints me. — Shaylur™ (@Shaylur1) September 11, 2019

Some students who go to CSU posted pictures on Instagram in blackface. This is extremely embarrassing, and I am ashamed that they go to our school. To put the cherry on top the school can’t even punish them. Gross. — Graeme Schroeder (@grvyschrodinger) September 11, 2019

Tony Frank when something bad happens: a nazi is a nazi is a nazi ~ New CSU President Joyce: some people posted blackface pictures all over social media all we can really do is talk about it … OK @ColoradoStateU Tony Frank would NEVER — hamm (@Rhiannon_Hamm) September 11, 2019

CSU said that while the university can’t take punitive actions against the students, campus leaders can help educate and talk about race and identity.

“CSU is an educational institution committed to respecting every member of our community and to facilitating discussions that can promote honesty, learning, and healing,” McConnell wrote. “We are all here at CSU to learn, and we believe that this can be a powerful learning moment that leads to healing and reconciliation. We urge every member of our community to listen, and to hear, all the voices that make up this wonderful, diverse campus family so we can move forward together, stronger than ever.”

This situation was not the first time CSU has been in the spotlight recently over race-based issues.

In April, a CSU senior accused “Ram Handler” team members and university officials of discriminating against her and other students of color.

Last year, two Native American brothers were pulled from a campus tour after a parent called to report them because they were “quiet” and wearing dark clothing. The American Civil Liberties Union demanded CSU amend its campus policing practices following the situation.

The university said more details will be shared next week about planned events and conversation addressing the blackface issue.

Blackface in academic settings became a national conversation earlier this year after the discovery of Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam’s 1984 medical school yearbook page, which featured a photograph of one person in blackface and another wearing KKK robes.

The Democratic governor initially admitted to being in the photo and then recanted a day later, yet acknowledged he had worn blackface around the same time as part of a Michael Jackson dance contest.

Days later, Virginia’s attorney general, Mark Herring admitted to wearing blackface at a college party.

The conversation prompted The Denver Post to uncover photos in decades-old Arapahoe High School yearbooks showing students wearing hoods that resembled those of the Ku Klux Klan. Littleton Public Schools denounced the images as “abhorrent and offensive.”