The 14-year-old daughter of Dallas Police Sgt. Michael Smith, one of five police officers shot and killed in the downtown ambush four months ago, is devastated after Southern Methodist University rescinded a special invitation to her, only to reverse itself a day later.
"I think it was handled very poorly," said Victoria Smith. "I was infuriated."
A star player on the Knights Volleyball Academy team, Victoria and her teammates were set to attend SMU's volleyball game Saturday versus South Florida, and Victoria was invited to hit an honorary first serve in honor of her dad.
"She was looking forward to it. It was something she was able to do," said Victoria's mother, Heidi Bradley Smith. "There's not a lot that's been in her control."
"I felt like I finally got to do something," Victoria said.
Then on Thursday, Victoria and her mother received an email from the school, in part saying, "in light of recent events and diversity within the SMU community … the demonstration could be deemed insensitive."
"She feels like her dad was really disrespected," Heidi Smith said.
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The invitation was withdrawn.
"It just felt, it brought me back instead of forward," Victoria said.
Then, another message from SMU sent Friday apologized for the first, and extended the invitation once again.
"I was just angry after the first one. They just don't want to because they were afraid," Victoria said. "The second one was them just not wanting to get hurt by what they said, just to cover it up."
Devastated, Victoria now says she has not intention of attending the volleyball game.
"I'm definitely not," she said. "It's definitely upsetting, and the second email just made it all a lot worse."
The following is SMU's statement, released Friday:
"It would be SMU's privilege to feature Victoria Smith delivering an honorary serve at the SMU volleyball game Saturday. Her father, Dallas Police Sgt. Michael Smith, was killed in the line of duty July 7.
"The SMU Volleyball program extends its sincere apologies to the Smith family and is reaching out this morning to speak directly to Mrs. Smith to apologize and reinforce that the invitation stands. "This incident does not reflect SMU values. Due to a change in staffing, there was a breakdown in communication that led to this unfortunate situation. This communication to Mrs. Smith would never have occurred if proper approval and communications procedures had been followed. The invitation was intended to help a family heal, and we very much look forward to Victoria's first serve in the volleyball match Saturday.
"SMU values the service and sacrifices of all first-responders and honored Victoria's father, Sgt. Michael Smith, as well as Dallas Police officers Lorne Ahrens, Michael Krol, and Patrick Zamarripa, DART Officer Brent Thompson, SMU Officer Mark McCullers and University Park Fire Department Chief Bob Poynter at the annual First-Responders football game earlier this fall. "
Frederick Frazier, president of the Dallas Police Association, issued the following statement:
"The Dallas Police Association is appalled by the tactless actions of the SMU women's volleyball team and the insincere and apathetic apology that followed. To rescind their invitation to the family of slain officer Michael Smith only adds to the personal grief they've suffered since the July tragedy. We call on SMU President R. Gerald Turner to offer a more detailed explanation on why honoring a Dallas police officer who was killed in the line of duty is considered 'insensitive' by his university."
