Daily Princetonian Pokes Fun at Asian American College Applicants

Parents Forum
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<p>"'Prince' editor-in-chief Chanakya Sethi '07 said in an email statement on behalf of his board that its members "did not seek to offend" and "sincerely regret having upset" some readers."</p>

<p>Frankly, I don't think they should regret having "upset some readers". Newspapers do that. They SHOULD be upset that they played into the racial/ethnic stereotyping of lots of their readers, who weren't upset, and weren't offended.</p>

<p>They don't get it, and their education is not serving them well.</p>

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<p>Here's an example of ethnic humor done right. From last year's joke issue of the Daily Pennsylvanian:</p>

<p>
[Quote]
Jews call for new curriculum requirement
'Culture shock' cited as motivation behind Jewish cultural appreciation prerequisite
Alex Bellos
Posted: 4/12/05
Following proposals by other minority groups on campus for a cultural analysis requirement, the Jewish Movement for Change has presented a proposal recommending the establishment of a Jewish-American Prerequisite for all Penn students.</p>

<p>Also known as the J-AP, this requirement would ensure that incoming freshmen are adequately familiar with the culture of the Jewish-American community in an attempt to eliminate much of the culture shock many students experience upon arriving in West Philadelphia.</p>

<p>Students from the New York/tri-state area, Boca Raton, Fla., and those from Los Angeles who attended the Harvard-Westlake School are exempted from the J-AP under this proposal due to their assumed familiarity with American Jewry and its unique cultural peculiarities.</p>

<p>Students who can prove their Judaism through matrilineal descent, three or more pairs of Juicy sweatsuits, or circumcision by a mohel are also exempted from the proposed program.</p>

<p>"We just want everyone to feel comfortable entering an environment where Jews form the largest portion of the population," JMC President Herschel Goldenstein-Cohen said. "Penn is a special place, but we understand how it can be intimidating to those unfamiliar with American Jews."</p>

<p>Students who do not fulfill the requirement before entering Penn would have a number of options once they arrive on campus.</p>

<p>Classes included in the JMC's proposal include such popular offerings as "The Third Reich," as well as lesser-known courses such as "Intro to the Bible," also known to many Penn students as "Find a Husband Your Mother Would Approve Of 101."</p>

<p>The Sigma Delta Tau sorority, Sigma Alpha Mu fraternity and "Zeta Beta Wow" Facebook group have all endorsed the proposal.</p>

<p>Responding to a request for comment while stuck in traffic near the Short Hills Mall in New Jersey, former Zeta Beta Tau Vice President for Jewish-Gentile Relations Jacob Schwartzenblum wrote that, "For too long Jews have been an oppressed majority here at Penn. Hahaha, just joking.</p>

<p>"Seriously though, to be Jewish means more than having a near-obsession with Japanese hair-straightening. Judaism is, like, a beautiful thing, and everyone at Penn should understand that."</p>

<p>Members of Campus Crusade for Christ, Newman Center, and the Muslim Students Association could not be reached for comment, although representatives of the Elders of Zion were planning on sending a crack team of Israeli military paratroopers to guard the Hillel Building on 39th Street as soon as possible. They cited a need to protect the "innate cultural differences" between Jews and other, less-circumcised ethnicities.

[/Quote]
</p>

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<p>The question now is will the Asian community in Princeton just brush this off their shoulders while shrugging(as in non confrontational asians) or whether they as a community will take any action.</p>

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<p>
[quote]
Did you ever stop to think that many Asians are raised in a culture where that kind of conflict is unacceptable?

[/quote]
</p>

<p>Oh really? Most of the ones in my school were actually born and raised in America. I guess their parents, however, kept them in the old country ways, where standing up for yourself is culturally unacceptable? Is that what you're saying?</p>

<p>Unfortunately for these people, Americans have a pretty blunt and coarse kind of culture where if you avoid facing that sort of "unacceptable" conflict and confrontation, you don't have a spine. </p>

<p>I remember one time seeing an Asian guy describing his response to outrightly racist situation. He said his idea was to ignore it and that by not addressing the pereputrators, he was somehow refusing to "sink to their level" by refusing to converse with them or address their idiocy. Essentially, it was something about proving how he was "above" them and their shennanigans.</p>

<p>Obviously, that type of attitude is actually not going to be interpreted the same way in this "Grow some balls and speak up" culture.</p>

65

<p>epiphany, I guess my post was unclear. I didn't find Dorothy's post inappropriate, just very intense. I assumed she was a Princeton student & was wondering if she could share some feedback. I also agree that we see plenty of smug superiority on CC when the Asian admissions subject arises.</p>

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<p>
[quote]
I remember one time seeing an Asian guy describing his response to outrightly racist situation. He said his idea was to ignore it and that by not addressing the pereputrators, he was somehow refusing to "sink to their level" by refusing to converse with them or address their idiocy.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>Sounds very sensible to me (and I'm not Asian).</p>

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<p>Booklady, was Rosa Parks "sinking" to the level of the racists when she stood her ground?</p>

<p>Sometimes a racist situation must be addressed. Other times, like when some idiot yells a slur, for example, it is best to ignore it.</p>

68

<p>I agree with SS's last post. I think the issue of stereotyping is one category where it is a public service to respond, because it's a matter of correcting misinformation. I.m.o., it really depends on the situation involved -- as to whether response or lack of it is the more effective action.</p>

69

<p>epiph, remember this was a "humor" article and by all the response to its feeble stereotyping don't you think that the P'ton student author(s) are just relishing in all the free publicity their writing is receiving. Articles like this are usually meant to elicit a negative response and they have been utterly successful if the chatter here is any indication.</p>

<p>I say give them their 15 minutes of fame and be disappointed by the deafening silence. Yawn!</p>

70

<p>
[quote]
Booklady, was Rosa Parks "sinking" to the level of the racists when she stood her ground?

[/quote]
</p>

<p>Not at all. But that seems to be a different situation from the one described. She confronted racism by non-violent resistance, as did those who sat in at lunch counters. When they were dragged away they didn't speak or fight back, and their non-violence was a testimony to the world.</p>

<p>As epiphany says, it depends on the situation: if the Asian student in question could have done something along the lines above, I'd be all for it.</p>

71

<p>
[quote]
Oh really? Most of the ones in my school were actually born and raised in America. I guess their parents, however, kept them in the old country ways, where standing up for yourself is culturally unacceptable? Is that what you're saying?</p>

<p>Unfortunately for these people, Americans have a pretty blunt and coarse kind of culture where if you avoid facing that sort of "unacceptable" conflict and confrontation, you don't have a spine.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>Yes. Absolutely. I know many Asian children who have been brought up the way their parents were brought up in Taiwan, Japan, Thailand, etc. I agree completely that it's a disadvantage for them when dealing with American culture.</p>

<p>Standing up for yourself is not culturally unacceptable in most countries, to the best of my knowledge, unless the person who is abusing you has more status. What is unusual, I think, is for one Asian of the same status to launch a brutal frontal attack against another. Shoot, I know a Japanese mom who has tried mightily to raise her half-American kid as an American girl, but this is one mightily confused kid because she keeps getting mixed signals.</p>

<p>Anyway, if it's not cultural, what is it? Genetic?</p>

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<p>originaloog,
I definitely understand what you're saying. I'm not an overly serious-type, and I really, really love parody. (The last line in the Philadelphia example was hilarious.) However, I think the attempt bombed in this case, and, given the recency of the Jian Li matter, I think it was also ill-timed to use stereotyping as part of the parody.</p>

<p>As I mentioned I think on this thread in the Admissions forum, racial humor is not for amateurs. It's better left to experienced, successful comedians, some of whom have skillfully done this.</p>

73

<p>
[quote]
Sounds very sensible to me

[/quote]
</p>

<p>Unfortunately, what might seem sensible to some people doesn't necessarily mean its actually practical or effective. </p>

<p>I've seen this "response" in play and it doesn't work. In truth I never thought it sounded sensible in the first place, sorry to say.</p>

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<p>I guess that depends on what you mean by practical or effective: changing the minds of the people who are making the racist statements?</p>

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<p>The article is an attempt to imitate Sacha Baron Cohen. I am not surprised the writers are Asian.</p>

<ol>
<li><p>Could have been funny, I think but this was a bad attempt. The insults weren't submerged enough. The language was too obvious and had actually no 'new' humour in it. Cohen is a genius and the writer has a limited sense of humour. </p></li>
<li><p>Comedy it bloody hard--written comedy is impossible which is why brilliant comedians use visuals to pull it off.</p></li>
</ol>

<p>I have read a couple of great Asian comic books. *Lat and his Lot<a href="Malaysian">/i</a>--and *Mr Kiasu-Everything I also Want<a href="Singaporean">/i</a>. Both are very funny--and part of a wider series. It can be done--brilliantly.</p>

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<p>I think the editorial board judged its readership, and thought the article was appropriate. Again, the problem is not that it "upset some readers", but that, for many others, it likely didn't.</p>

77

<p>This was posted in another forum:
[quote]
This is the best a Princeton student can produce?

[/quote]
Now that is funny!</p>

78

<p>Spend more time on the Admissions Forum, mini. You'll find that your low opinion of Princeton "readership" does not necessarily correspond with the opposing viewpoints being published. (According to Facebook.)</p>

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<p>Seemed like a typical intra-Ivy League bashing: "Hey, some Yalie dissed our beloved Princeton! Lets trash 'im!" Predictable. Uncreative. Yawn.</p>

80

<p>"Spend more time on the Admissions Forum, mini. You'll find that your low opinion of Princeton "readership" does not necessarily correspond with the opposing viewpoints being published."</p>

<p>Oh, I'm sure there were people who were offended. That (thankfully) goes without saying. </p>

<p>But it also misses the point.</p>