The Guardian is reporting that Harvard University has issued an apology for handing out a holiday placemat with social justice talking points.

Harvard officials were forced to apologize to university members this week after issuing color-coded placemats on campus providing students with scripted answers for complex social issues.

Students complained that the one of the leading educational institutions should not be telling them “what to think and what to say.”

The “holiday placemats for social justice” advised students on how to talk to their families over the holidays about Syrian refugees, police killings, student activism and the controversy over the “house master” title which the University recently stopped using.

The placemats were issued by the Harvard Office for Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion along with the Freshman Dean's Office.

One section dealt with student activism and the recent trend of students challenging campus racism. “Why are black students complaining? Shouldn’t they be happy to be in college?”, one question asked. The suggested response stated that the students were not complaining and that “if non-black students get the privilege of that safe environment, I believe that same privilege should be given to all students”.

The Harvard Undergraduate Council criticized the placemats. 

“We reject the premise that there is a ‘right’ way to answer the questions posed. We do not think the offices of the university should be in the business of disseminating ‘approved’ positions on complex and divisive political issues,” the council wrote. “Prescribing party-line talking points stands in stark contrast to the college’s mission of fostering intellectual, social, and personal growth.”

The dean of student life and the dean of freshmen released a joint statement apologizing for the placemats in a statement:

“Our goal was to provide a framework for you to engage in conversations with peers and family members as you return home for the winter break,” they wrote. “However, it was not effectively presented and it ultimately caused confusion in our community. On behalf of the office of student life and the freshman dean’s office, we offer our sincere apologies for this situation.”