<p>They sent out that mass e-mail about this party mocking Black History Month, and I was wondering if anybody had details on exactly what the party was all about?</p>
<p>Yeah, wtg ucsd for specifics.</p>
<p>[Outrage</a> over UCSD party mocking black culture - SignOnSanDiego.com](<a href=“http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2010/feb/17/outrage-expressed-over-party/]Outrage”>http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2010/feb/17/outrage-expressed-over-party/)</p>
<p>UGH, I was hoping this wouldn’t make it to CC. This became a huge deal over nothing. Yes, it was very wrong of the party planners to include hurtful racial remarks (which were copied and pasted from urban dictionary) in the event invitation. However, people need to stop accusing certain greek organizations of their involvement. It was a party thrown by a neighborhood, not a specific organization. They have all apologized, it’s time to move on.</p>
<p>I dont even understand why the university sent out an email. It seems like a poor PR move and now they are getting way more publicity than they probably even wanted. I would have never even known about it if not for that email that was sent out.</p>
<p>That being said the university isn’t doomg a damn thing to about it except holding an education session, because they cant punish them. It wasn’t a UCSD affiliated event. </p>
<p>Sure it was racially charged but what about parties where people dress like white trash?</p>
<p>^I think they sent out an email because think about what the press would say if the Chancellor knew the party occurred and did absolutely nothing?
One of the frats does a Eurotrash themed party every single year and no one has ever complained about that. It’s absolutely ridiculous to pull the race card sometimes and not all the time.</p>
<p>Honestly, at this point, I’m just sick of this whole thing. Ok, some students made a mistake. The people who were responsible have apologized, so lets drop it now. I understand what they did was wrong, but by perpetuating it you’re just adding wood to the fire.</p>
<p>The issue NEEDS to be addressed. Black students were attacked, and they NEED the assurance that this type of thing will NOT be condoned. </p>
<p>@AviB0y: You want to know what I’m sick of? People letting issues pass by as of its not a problem. Social issues like this, if it were not perpetuated, would only increase anxiety among black students on this campus… please ensure you’re capable of understanding how this issue hurts those targeted.</p>
<p>I’m interested in your feelings with regards to the annual “make fun of white people” party, VehementBehemoth.</p>
<p>Yes, the party was racist but how is having an uproar and staging a protest supposed to address the problem? Expressing anger is satisfying but it does nothing constructive or concrete. Is it going to make anyone less racist? I highly doubt it. The only thing it would do is to make everyone more politically correct and dialectically sensitive. Really racist people would find a way to express themselves regardless of who condones them.</p>
<p>Sometimes the best way to address the issue is to consciously ignore it. Staging an uproar only makes the respective racists more infamous and more notorious than ever-- for them especially, there is no such thing as bad publicity. Why do you think people like Ann Coulter are still in the news? They thrive off the anger that you show them. People like them will never stop showcasing how ******baggery they can be. You think forced apologies mean anything? If you ignore them then you reduce them to the pathetic showcases that they are. Let them be racist in their self-centered world and let everyone else move on with their lives.</p>
<p>Meanwhile everyone becomes more conscious about how politically correct they have to be. If the issue escalates enough then what is going to happen? The students get expelled? That’s gratifying in the short term, but what would happen to all the other students’ freedom of speech? If it is true that the frats also have Eurotrash and white trash parties, does this imply that black students need extra protection and reassurance more than other ethnic groups?</p>
<p>^Well said.</p>
<p>And in case anyone is interested, there will be a Compton Cookout Part 2 that celebrates our first amendment rights, our diversity, and pokes fun at stereotypes. Look for the invite on facebook.</p>
<p>@Vehement:</p>
<p>Yeah, this was wrong, but the only way to fight it is by completely ignoring it as Subtle_Overlord said. There is nothing that can be done. By just giving the whole party any attention, not only do you let the racists (who’s views society will never be able to eradicate because everyone is inherently racist) get the satisfaction of knowing they probably accomplished their goal, but you also draw bad media to the school.</p>
<p>And who knows, it may have just been an honest mistake on behalf of the students who thought, “Oh, there are white trash parties, why dont we do an African American themed one.” This could simply be a case of people trying to treat minorities as equals to Caucasians (in that if a white trash party can be thrown, so should any other minority trash party be too). If thats the case, the problem isnt with the students themselves since they are trying to fulfill the wishes of the minorities, but rather with society for being too quick to play the race card. (Please dont take this as me defending the people who threw the party, I believe that the party was wrong and have just brought this point up as a WHAT IF SITUATION)</p>
<p>And let me say this… please do not assume that I dont know how a situation hurts those who are targeted. I know what happened… I know how the whole party was a very sensitive area for African Americans who felt like they are being wrongly stereotyped. I know how that feels being a Indian who has been stereotyped as a “terrorist” just because I’m brown or because I do or do not wear a turban.</p>
<p>AND… For all you know, I could be an African American UCSD student who is commenting on this party.</p>
<p>Point being, never assume something about someone that you do not know personally, especially on online forum</p>
<p>First off, there is a significant difference between a white trash party and a ghetto party. In the context of ucsd, african americans make up a tiny percentage of the population and are much more likely to feel marginalized or unwelcome than whites. In the context of our country more generally there are still scars from centuries of overt racism applied by the state. It is far too soon to assume that is all forgotten, and to imagine that if we close our eyes it will disappear. If you believe that then look up some of the comments on the youtube video of the ac transit fight that just happened in the bay area.</p>
<p>I don’t mean to say anything against poking fun at stereotypes, the only problem is when it’s unclear whether you are poking fun at the person or the stereotype.</p>
<p>Last thing, as far as celebrating our First Amendment rights, which are unquestionably good, we can still distinguish between things you are allowed to say, things you should say, and things you should say publicly. Sure, a bunch of Nazis can march through a neighborhood of holocaust survivors, it is their right to say what we want, but does that really sound like something, upon reflection, they should do? Obviously, that is an extreme example, but the point is that when you are speaking publicly (and that is becoming more and more frequent), there is a good reason for political correctness, you should be cognizant of the number of people who may be hearing your remarks, who may have gone to segregated schools, who may have been sprayed by firehoses, who have been mocked and called hateful things with heartfelt derision. In this context, I think it can be seen that raising an uproar will help people remain socially conscious when they act and will help them understand the time we live in in the history of our country much more than tolerating racism (even unintentional racism) and allowing it to fester. People are allowed to say whatever they want, but they will have to be able to tolerate people saying whatever they want right back to them, and we can hope that in the end the majority will continue on the path of increasing awareness and equality that has marked our most recent history.</p>
<p>The administration didn’t really have a choice… it HAD to come up with some kind of press release. If it didn’t, then we’d be labeled as a racist university. Of course, now we have to worry about the press release bringing TOO much attention to the event…</p>
<p>Bottom-line: The university covered its butt, thus avoiding one worst-case scenario. So now, let’s avoid the other worst-case scenario, and move on.</p>
<p>Honestly, this has ballooned way out of proportion. Yes, the party was very offensive but are people going to get mad about similar things, like a white trash themed party? The point of these themed parties is to have fun with cultural stereotypes, and there is nothing wrong with that. That being said, the people on SRTV who said the N-word on TV are a different story. But, they have a right to free speech. Just like the Koala does when they write their stupid newspaper about the earthquake in Haiti or the airplane that crashed into a mans home. That’s why it’s amazing to see how this has become such a big deal. Multiple FB group invitations, stories in the news. Is that really necessary, when there are other issues like the budget crisis and the economy that are more pressing? Also, the BSU…Has anyone seen their exhaustive list of demands? They, to me, seem to be using this event as a catalyst to make unreasonable demands. Seriously, a “safe place for African-Americans on campus?” They’re pretty much asking for segregation…And their other demands are so outlandish and have nothing to deal with the situation. They want art pieces representing black culture around campus…increased enrollment of African Americans in UCSD, free tutoring for African American students. Correct me if I’m wrong, but that would constitute affirmative action which was struck down as illegal in California…Seriously, the best course of action is to condemn the individuals responsible for this, maybe punish the SRTV guys, and just get on with our lives.</p>
<p>Going to advertise the Compton Cookout Part II here while I’m at it:
<a href=“Redirecting...”>Redirecting...;
<p>And a link for everybody lighten up to:
[YouTube</a> - Everyones A Little Bit Racist](<a href=“http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tbud8rLejLM]YouTube”>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tbud8rLejLM)</p>
<p>“Also, the BSU…Has anyone seen their exhaustive list of demands? They, to me, seem to be using this event as a catalyst to make unreasonable demands. Seriously, a “safe place for African-Americans on campus?” They’re pretty much asking for segregation…And their other demands are so outlandish and have nothing to deal with the situation. They want art pieces representing black culture around campus…increased enrollment of African Americans in UCSD, free tutoring for African American students. Correct me if I’m wrong, but that would constitute affirmative action which was struck down as illegal in California…Seriously, the best course of action is to condemn the individuals responsible for this, maybe punish the SRTV guys, and just get on with our lives.”</p>
<p>It’s a classic case of using their bargaining leverage. Now that the TV cameras have come out and newspapers around the country have picked up on this story, they know that they control the PR side (have you seen the YouTube videos of them screaming while the UCSD administrators look on helplessly?). If they demand a huge amount of things, no matter how absurd/illegal some of them are, then they have a better bargaining position with the administration. The ideal would be for the UCSD administration to grow a spine and point out that most of these demands would increase segregation and/or benefit only specific racial groups (which, to me, sounds like racism), but I doubt that’s going to happen. </p>
<p>By giving into these demands though, the administration is emboldening the “activists” and simply digging themselves deeper into a hole. The BSU students seem to be out for doing whatever it takes to benefit themselves. </p>
<p>What’s really worrying to me is the way the responses have basically said “you’re with us or you’re with THE RACISTS” and that all students who don’t believe that this party was a grave, evil assault need to be “educated” better. That’s not exactly the way a university should work.</p>
<p>Don’t get me wrong, I think the party was stupid, but according to the creator of the event on Facebook, they mock EVERYONE (whites, mexicans, Irish, Veterans, blacks, etc). It is interesting how everyone has their panties in a bunch when a bunch of college students mock black people, but not Veterans on Veterans Day. It just shows that people of today’s society are too sensitive to the race issue. We did elect a black president afterall. </p>
<p>We don’t need to teach white students how to be PC, we don’t need to set a quota for black students enrolled at UCSD, and we certainly don’t need to create a special building for black students that will celebrate their history. These actions will only further perpetuate the issue at hand: a clash between races. What we do need, however, is to talk out loud about these issues and stop being so sensitive about it.</p>
<p>+1 to CaliTrumpet. Party might be in poor taste but I’m seeing UCSD cover their ass while the Black Student Union is having a field day playing the race card.</p>
<p>“At a forum attended by hundreds of students and faculty Friday morning, the Black Student Union issued a list of demands, including mandatory diversity sensitivity classes, increased African American enrollment in students and faculty and the creation of space in central campus considered ‘safe for African-American students.’”</p>
<p>Please see Proposition 209.</p>
<p>Mocking Veterans on Veterans Day? Grow up children.</p>
<p>I’m getting way off topic, so I’ll leave well enough alone after this post.</p>
<p>First, to quote Justice Blackmun, “In order to get beyond racism, we must first take into account race. There is no other way. And in order to treat some persons equally, we must treat them differently.” I do not see this being necessary perpetually, but it remains true today, color blindness and legal equality do not always lead to starting gate equality or equality of opportunity.</p>
<p>Second, with regards to the infinite wisdom of the California electorate, see Proposition 13, amazing what that did for the public school system, particularly for inner city schools.</p>
<p>Third, for some interesting reading on the merits of affirmative action in the context of higher education see Grutter v Bollinger and Gratz v Bollinger from 2003, make sure to scope the dissenting opinions. Point being there are good arguments on both sides for taking measures to increase minority enrollment, and I wouldn’t doubt a school could work around a ban on using race in admissions if it wanted to badly enough.</p>
<p>Fourth, sensitivity cuts both ways, crying “race card” every time race comes into the discussion makes people sound awfully sensitive about being considered racists. Perhaps not everyone is being facetious about the harm the party may have engendered. I don’t know, and I’m really in no position to find out, but it seems to me the logical place to start a dialogue on issues of race is not one where each party chooses to believe the other. That would mean recognizing the party meant no harm, and realizing that it caused some, and trying to understand why on both sides rather than telling the injured party to suck it up and turning a blind eye to the issue. Pointing the finger at Obama and saying that we are equal doesn’t square well with the systemic inequalities in our country.</p>