Luke Gatti: I'm sorry for mac-and-cheese meltdown

A University of Connecticut student from Long Island whose obscenity-laced mac-and-cheese meltdown went viral has posted an online video apology.

Luke Gatti, 19, a freshman from Bayville, acknowledged in his 21/2-minute video he was intoxicated when he berated a manager at the school's student union food court in Storrs, Connecticut, on Oct. 4.

He was due in court Tuesday to be arraigned on charges of criminal trespassing and breach of peace but was granted a continuance to Nov. 3, a court spokeswoman said.

Gatti, who apologized to the food staff of the student union, family and friends, and to the university, said he was ashamed of his behavior.

He made special mention of the food court manager, who on the original video showed composure as Gatti repeatedly berated and pushed him.

"No one deserves to be treated that way," Gatti said.

Gatti admitted he was drunk.

He ended on a light note, telling those who offered him donations of jalapeño mac and cheese to send them instead to their local food pantries.

Gatti remains enrolled at the university, a spokeswoman said.

Because of privacy laws, university officials cannot discuss disciplinary proceedings against individual students. Spokeswoman Stephanie Reitz said students may request an administrative hearing or wait until officials decide to take action.

Some students set up a crowdfunding page to treat the Union Street Market staff to dinner and a night out. The campaign, launched Oct. 8, has raised more than $2,300, with all cash over $2,000 going to a soup kitchen.

Due to state laws, state staffers like the food service workers cannot accept such gifts, Reitz said."If you've watched the video, you'll also be impressed by how well the employees handled the situation," the students wrote.

"The USM employees made us all proud that night and captured what it means to be a Husky," they added.

Reitz said that the main staff member featured in the video -- manager Dave Robinson -- is no longer with the university, as he had planned to move on and the day of the incident with Gatti was his last scheduled shift.

She said university officials are impressed with the positive response even if the staffers cannot accept the dinner.

"The fact that so many people at UConn and elsewhere want to express their admiration for these workers has been really moving," she said in an email. "The University is discussing ways to do something special to recognize our dining services workers -- not just for the handling of this incident, but also for the ongoing hard work and great service they provide our students, employees and guests."