University of Tennessee Chancellor Jimmy Cheek Under Fire for Christmas Party Memo

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — An online memo advising employees at the University of Tennessee to make sure holiday celebrations aren't Christmas parties "in disguise" has put school officials under fire.

"Best Practices for Inclusive Holiday Celebrations in the Workplace" is posted on the school's website. It says parties should celebrate workplace relationships with no emphasis on religion or culture.

On Thursday, Republican U.S. Rep. John J. Duncan appeared on Fox News and called the post an example of political correctness run amok.

Other lawmakers expressed support for Duncan. State Senators Delores Gresham and Mike Bell called on Chancellor Jimmy Cheek to resign.

The UT Office of Diversity and Inclusion defended itself in another post on its website Thursday and on Twitter, saying the school is not anti-Christmas but is pro-inclusion.