LEWISTON (AP) – An e-mail referring to College Republicans as a “bunch of thugs” was inadvertently sent to the organization by a Bates College administrator, prompting a hasty apology and a reprimand.

The dominoes began falling nearly two weeks ago when Oliver Wolf, a student who serves as vice chairman of the College Republicans, sent an e-mail to college officials seeking publicity for an upcoming event.

Doug Hubley, who works in Bates’ media relations office, intended to forward the e-mail with a note to his boss. Instead, he replied to Wolf.

“Oli Wolf has drafted a press release for a GOP training institute his bunch of thugs is hosting at Bates next week,” the Feb. 23 e-mail reads. “This really seems pretty far afield for an event that we would publicize, but that may just be my socialist tendencies talking. What do you think?”

In a letter, Hubley later apologized “for the hurt and distress that I caused through my stupid, callous use of humor.” He also noted that he has a “rather acerbic sense of humor, especially when it comes to politics.”

His boss, Brian McNulty, director of the media relations office, said a formal letter of reprimand would be placed in Hubley’s personnel file.

Wolf, 20, of Pittsburgh, accepted the apology and McNulty’s insistence that his office has no bias against Republicans or conservatives. But he believes the e-mail brought to the surface an anti-conservative bias on campus.

AP-ES-03-02-04 0915EST