Alabama high schooler told to apologize for 'selfie' with cadaver

CLEMENTS, Ala., Feb. 9 (UPI) -- A high school senior in Alabama has been told to apologize to the University of Alabama at Birmingham for taking a self portrait, or "selfie," with a cadaver.

The Clements High School student, whose name was not reported, was on a field trip at UAB on Monday when she posed with the dead body, AL.com reported.

She then posted the photo to Instagram.

"We were very disappointed and shocked that it happened and embarrassed by it," said Limestone County Schools Superintendent Dr. Tom Sisk. "It reiterates a need for us to focus more on digital citizenship. Kids make a snapshot decision in an instant without realizing the effects."

When the high school was notified of the photo, officials discussed the matter with officials at UAB, Sisk said.

"We agreed the appropriate response would be a verbal and a written apology," Sisk said.

The student will issue an apology at the university to the staff involved and deliver a letter of apology, he said.

UAB released a statement Tuesday: "Tours of our facilities to introduce students -- primarily high school seniors -- to the teaching and research we do, play an important role in educating future scientists and doctors. Our policies require discretion and respect in our human anatomy facilities. No phones are allowed, no photos are to be taken, and faces of cadavers are covered. A student was made explicitly aware of these policies and breached them. This kind of disrespect is unacceptable and very disappointing. We will review our processes to ensure this does not happen again."