"Race" in College Admission FAQ & Discussion 11

[jym626]

<p>Not believing for a minute that the “disgrunttled caucasians” made up Kill Haole Day. Not for a single solitary minute. My DH grew up with many hawaiians (hence he knew the term). I’ll ask his thoughts on that. Perusing the web suggests that when it occurred it was more likely egg throwing and name calling. But still aginstt the “round eyes”. Sorry cobrat, your friends and cousins and classmates dont have the info on this one.</p>

[keepittoyourself]

<p>

Of course history matters, but what some people of one race did to your ancestors of another race, is completely irrelevant to how you should treat people today.

</p>

<p>Do you think there’s a difference between a German non-Jew racially abusing an Israeli Jew, and an Israeli Jew calling a German non-Jew a ‘Kraut’? I think there’s a pretty big difference.</p>

<p>

I didnt quote you, keepiitto,so i couldn’t have misquoted you. But I still feel that trying to quantify “degrees” of offensiveness is ridiculous.

</p>

<p>I don’t think so. We do it with all kinds of things.</p>

[texaspg]

<p>Jym - his gig pays a lot more than an engineer at IBM.</p>

[jym626]

<p>thats just ignorant. The word “kraut” refers to a german person. So using it in a derogatory fashion elsewhere is just… ignorant. You are stretching beyond the realm of reasonable discussion to be inflammatory. Should we call you a ■■■■■■? Thats an offensive term.</p>

[Bay]

<p>Cobrat,</p>

<p>Which schools did your “Hawaiian” (which btw is only used to refer to people of native Hawaiian descent) friends attend, and when? Putting their experiences in context will help understand the extent of their knowledge.</p>

[lookingforward]

<p>In case anyone is hung up on the point, most of us probably don’t equate a rude driver with a racist. (That’s a real Huh? moment…) But I don’t care how bad his day was, I don’t want to hear a racial epithet. </p>

<p>Btw, “everyone I know” is one of those great imprecise comments that sometimes get cred without processing. Hearers focus on some assumed magnitude of “everyone.” It could mean 3. Ya know.</p>

<p>Urban dictionary: Kraut: Offensive slang for a German person.</p>

[rockvillemom]

<p>I think this thread has wandered way off track. I want to link an article I just saw, about an anti-Semitic incident at Penn State. My purpose in doing so is to say to OP that unfortunately, these incidents occur all over the country. Leaving NC does not mean your daughter will find an idiot and bigot free campus environment.</p>

<p>[STATE</a> COLLEGE: Police: Largely Jewish fraternity at Penn State targeted with anti-Semitic vandalism | Crime | CentreDaily.com](<a href=“http://www.centredaily.com/2013/11/08/3877857/police-largely-jewish-fraternity.html]STATE”>http://www.centredaily.com/2013/11/08/3877857/police-largely-jewish-fraternity.html)</p>

<p>

STATE COLLEGE — Police say a predominately Jewish fraternity was the target of anti-Semitic slogans and swastikas that were spray-painted on a dozen cars Thursday night or Friday morning in State College.</p>

<p>The 12 vehicles were parked behind the Delta Sigma Phi and Beta Sigma Beta fraternities on the 400 and 500 blocks of Berry Alley.</p>

<p>They were discovered to have been vandalized around 8 a.m Friday.</p>

<p>Police said that many of the derogatory remarks were targeted toward Beta Sigma Beta.</p>

<p>“We are more worried about the message,” said State College police Lt. Keith Robb. “The vandalism is bad enough, but we want to investigate a predominately Jewish frat (targeted) with that kind of message.”</p>

<p>In addition to the anti-Semitic messages were crude sexual pictures and phrases.

</p>

<p>Read more here: [STATE</a> COLLEGE: Police: Largely Jewish fraternity at Penn State targeted with anti-Semitic vandalism | Crime | CentreDaily.com](<a href=“http://www.centredaily.com/2013/11/08/3877857/police-largely-jewish-fraternity.html#storylink=cpy]STATE”>http://www.centredaily.com/2013/11/08/3877857/police-largely-jewish-fraternity.html#storylink=cpy)</p>

[argbargy]

<p>It must be their environment
[Penn’s</a> son hurls racist, homophobic slurs at paparazzo](<a href=“http://www.usatoday.com/story/life/people/2013/03/27/penns-son-hurls-racist-homophobic-slurs-at-paparazzo/2024793/]Penn’s”>Sean Penn's son hurls racist, homophobic slurs at paparazzo)</p>

[apprenticeprof]

<p>I get the disagreement over this issue, but saying that there is no such thing as a degree of offensiveness is just silly. Forget about comparing offenses against one group to offenses against another - how about laughing at someone’s accent versus shouting a racial slur? Both are offensive, one is more offensive.</p>

<p>Bay, I agree with you up to a point that what one person’s ancestors did to another’s shouldn’t affect their relationship in the here and now. That is different from acknowledging that certain words and actions, over time, have developed a connotation that still holds sway today.</p>

[cobrat]

<p>

Cobrat,</p>

<p>Which schools did your “Hawaiian” (which btw is only used to refer to people of native Hawaiian descent) friends attend, and when? Putting their experiences in context will help understand the extent of their knowledge.

</p>

<p>Vast majority attended public schools in the Honolulu city area and nearby suburbs from the late '70s till a few years ago with most tilting towards '90s and later. A few also come from Maui or the Big Island.</p>

[rockvillemom]

<p>Good artcle on this issue from Dartmouth:</p>

<p>[Take</a> a hard look at racism, sexism and homophobia on college campuses | Andrew Longhi | Comment is free | theguardian.com](<a href=“http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2013/may/21/dartmouth-college-real-talk-racism]Take”>Take a hard look at racism, sexism and homophobia on college campuses | Andrew Longhi | The Guardian)</p>

<p>

In place of its usual academic schedule, we had a day of reflection that entailed a rally on the college green and a series of facilitated discussions. But even that was not enough to heal us. The school faces a possible Title IX complaint by students and alums who claim that Dartmouth fosters a hostile environment to women, racial minorities, and LGBT students.</p>

<p>Dartmouth is not alone. Similar problems and complaints at Oberlin College, Swarthmore College, Occidental, and Amherst show that Dartmouth is not alone in believing that the campus fosters respect and care for all, when, in reality, it might not. This isn’t a Dartmouth problem. It is an American problem.

</p>

[jym626]

<p>Vast majority? Does that mean 3? or 4?</p>

<p>And its beginning to feel like those that want to “quantify” the very personal and subjective feeling of just how offensive a slur is may just be wanting an excuse to post several offensive words. That would be most unfortunate.</p>

[lookingforward]

<p>“Vast majority” is also one of those great imprecise terms. Could mean 4 out of 5.</p>

<p>I hate these threads where everyone thinks they’ve got the only bead on “right.” We can be better than that.</p>

[oldmom4896]

<p>

I think this thread has wandered way off track. I want to link an article I just saw, about an anti-Semitic incident at Penn State. My purpose in doing so is to say to OP that unfortunately, these incidents occur all over the country. Leaving NC does not mean your daughter will find an idiot and bigot free campus environment.

</p>

<p>For sure there is racism everywhere, but the school the OP’s daughter attends does seem to have a culture that is not supportive of minority students. </p>

<p>I posted about this thread to a Facebook page for the parents of NYC-area Chinese adoptees and another parent suggested college prowl er as a good place to see student comments about diversity. You can look up any college and click on “diversity” on the school’s page.</p>

<p>For sure the thread has wandered very far from the original poster’s dilemma.</p>

[jym626]

<p>Agree that this isnt about right or wrong. But when some argue that its “racism” when perpetrated against their nationality, but “history” when perpetrated by their nationality (or close), ell, thats hard to swallow.</p>

[rockvillemom]

<p>I know which university the OP’s D attends and I respectfully disagree that there is a culture that is not supportive of minority students. You have to distinguish between the university itself and a handful of ignorant students. The university in question is constantly running programs on tolerance and diversity. When an incident takes place, the university President is all over it. I really don’t know what else they can do. It just saddens me that the actions of a few students can tarnish the reputation of an entire university.</p>

[cobrat]

<p>

It just saddens me that the actions of a few students can tarnish the reputation of an entire university.

</p>

<p>The problem is the blatant level, frequency, and severity of the incidents witnessed by OP’s D shows that the measures the college in question has taken to promote tolerance and diversity frankly, failed. </p>

<p>It’s also taking place in 2013 which is sad considering the far greater public awareness of racism, bigotry, prejudice, and bullying compared to even 15-20+ years ago when I was in school.</p>

[scout59]

<p>Jumping in late to say that, as someone who grew up in the rural South, I accept your apology, Limewine! I never considered myself a redneck, but apparently there are some who consider my Southern accent as indication of a sub-par intelligence and/or low socioeconomic status. I’m not saying that was your intent, necessarily, Limewine - just making a comment in general.</p>

<p>I’ve lived in the Midwest now for thirty years, and in that time I have had people ask me if I grew up without shoes (???) and without running water. I usually just laugh and say “no” to both before I make some comment about my parents being cousins.</p>

[rockvillemom]

<p>In response to your comment cobrat about it being 2013, racism on college campuses seems to be more active than I realized.</p>

<p>[Everyday</a> Sociology Blog: Racism on College Campuses](<a href=“http://www.everydaysociologyblog.com/2013/11/racism-on-college-campuses.html]Everyday”>http://www.everydaysociologyblog.com/2013/11/racism-on-college-campuses.html)</p>

<p>

A few weeks ago there was a racist incident on my campus. In one of the resident halls, a message was written on a whiteboard that said, “Emmett Till Deserved to Die.” After the message was removed a new message appeared shortly thereafter that said, “You Can’t Erase the Truth.”</p>

<p>Unless you know the story of Emmett Till, you are probably unaware of how hateful and threatening this racist message is. For those who didn’t learn this story in history class (which is probably most of us), Emmett Till was fourteen years old when he was kidnapped and brutally murdered in Mississippi in 1955 for allegedly talking to a white woman.</p>

<p>The incident at my college was actually the latest in a series of racist occurrences at New Paltz in the past few years. For a self-proclaimed liberal college in a liberal town in one of the most liberal states in the country, these blatant displays of racism are both frustrating and frightening. New Paltz, both the college and the town, proudly promotes diversity, multiculturalism, tolerance, acceptance, and understanding. However, the recent spate of racist episodes challenges the very foundation on which these well-intentioned ideals are based. </p>

<p>What’s equally upsetting is that these events are not unique to SUNY New Paltz. As the Journal of Blacks in Higher Education details on its website, racist incidents continue to plague colleges and universities across the United States. Whether it’s “colored only” or whites only” signs being placed (“jokingly”) on water fountains, confederate flags being hung in dorm rooms, racist skits being performed at fraternity or sorority events, racist graffiti being spray painted on campus buildings, or opposing players being taunted with racial slurs at sporting events, racism is undeniably widespread in higher education.

</p>

[glido]

<p>“nfortunately, these incidents occur all over the country. Leaving NC does not mean your daughter will find an idiot and bigot free campus environment.” - rockvillemom</p>

<p>Exactly.</p>