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And the hits just keep on comin' as Emmis has suspended KROX-FM (101X)/Austin morning hosts Jason Alvarez and Deb O'Keefe for using words on-air that resembled a racial slur. Both were suspended for a week without pay, and now comes word that all Emmis Radio air personalities will now have to undergo cultural and diversity sensitivity training.

The comments were made when Jason and Deb were discussing the problem of cleaning up Zilker Park after the Austin City Limits Music Festival. One of them suggested "hiring" a "wet vac" reports KXAN-TV. Listeners thought she had used a racial slur instead of "wet vac."

In a statement, Emmis/Austin VP Scott Gillmore said, "During that discussion they did not use any slur, but they did make foolish and ugly comments for which we sincerely apologize. They suggested getting a big squeegee or a 'wet vac.' They then repeated the wet vac suggestion in some suggestive and insulting ways." The use of hire is also confusing, as O'Keefe is British, where "hire" and "rent" can be used interchangibly.

The comments comes just four months after former KLBJ-AM host Don Pryor used the actual slur several times during a show. Emmis ousted Pryor from the airwaves cancelled the "Todd and Don Show."

Emmis/Austin is also going to arrange mandatory cultural awareness and diversity training for all on-air hosts on all six stations. The Hispanic Contractor's Association, which came out against Emmis Austin Radio in July, agreed that the station made the right move in this situation. (10-14-09)

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