<p>I'm not from Cali. I've visited the state on vacations numerous times, from San Diego to Sausalito, but that's my only connection. I have no family or friends living there. As some people have the incorrect impression that the Midwest is all cows and farms (except Chicago, of course) my impression of California is a shining LIBERAL state with a tremendous amount of racial and ethnic diversity. But from what I've seen on YouTube recently and in numerous articles - all stumbled on by accident - UCSD, and by extension the city of SD, seems to be in reality more like the U of Mississippi in the 1960s. The only thing missing is the National Guard and they may be called up next.</p>
<p>What EXACTLY is happening there? Why are there so many racial issues in what is supposed to be paradise? Where do all the campus rednecks come from? I'm really curious, because my "stereotype" of southern California was so completely different than what I'm learning. I guess you don't see the real San Diego when you're a tourist.</p>
<p>There’s racism everywhere. In UCSD’s case it was just a small group of morons doing stupid stuff on campus. They don’t represent what the school is about. Most students are cool.</p>
<p>wow, people should just drop this topic at ucsd. there is no racism at ucsd whatsoever. like what usmco311 said, it was a bunch of morons who thought they could take advantage of the situation and do stupid things on campus. whats so funny and ironic is that this situation started from an african american trying to host a party at ucsd, known as the compton cookout. some people took it a little too far and this whole situation got way out of hand. dont let the media give you a bad idea that ucsd is a racist campus just because this happened.</p>
<p>This topic is soooo lame. Seriously, I’ve never met one racist in my two years here (including the guys who threw Compton Cookout, who I know personally). Nor have I seen any “rednecks”, to use your term (which is rude, too). Like others said, it was one stupid decision made by a couple guys and it was blown out of proportion. The noose incident was actually orchestrated by a minority to draw more media attention. So don’t always believe what you hear. Everyone just kind of rolls their eyes at the whole thing now.</p>
<p>PS - No national guard is showing up anytime soon… we were at school for a whole quarter after the incident and everything was calmed down. Again, don’t make assumptions.</p>
<p>Generalizing what an entire student body (and city) is like based on YouTube and a bunch of articles written by people not from here doesn’t seem like the most progressive approach to forming an opinion on a place.</p>
<p>There’s a major difference between African-Americans being lynched and some frat boys attending a party thrown by Jigaboo Jones… In my mind, the anti-Semitic, anti-LGBT graffiti/vandalism happening at UC Davis is far more newsworthy, but the state of the media is a whole other problem.</p>
<p>@OP, just to add one more thing, your last line is almost laughable - UCSD =/= all of San Diego. This is a huge city. There are flashy neighborhoods such as La Jolla along with lower-income areas. It is ridiculous to generalize all of San Diego and its millions of inhabitants based on the actions of a few university students (and as MiqueMaus pointed out, Jiggaboo Jones - the guy who originally planned the Compton Cookout - google him).</p>
<p>I can’t speak for what happened at the school as I’m an incoming freshman (I can only suppose that the media blew it out of proportion, as they do with everything), but I can tell you about the city of San Diego. I’ve lived here all my life, and most people are not racist. In every city there are people who hold simplistic views about other cultures, but being openly racist is not at all socially acceptable in San Diego. It is indeed a melting pot of diversity, don’t judge the city until you get here! It’s a hard city to make generalizations about. :)</p>
<p>Well, I don’t live anywhere near Cali, so I haven’t been following this story. But my curiosity was peaked when I read a blog by a UCSD alum who graduated TEN YEARS ago and said she faced similar kinds of racial animosities back then, so it’s hard to believe this is a recent issue, and something committed by a small group of morons. </p>
<p>Like I said, I’ve only been to SD as a tourist (3 times) and never experienced any kind of racism (yes, I am a person of color). I figured UCSD must be a paradise for kids who enroll, kids of all races. I’ve even considered relocating to SD, CAL and living on the beach when I retire, but geez, not if the Klan has moved in. All this jigaboo stuff that smacks of Alabama and Mississippi circa 1960s. And Compton Cookouts? What does that mean? Is Compton a bad SD neighborhood or something? If it is just a few morons (I guess it was their older brothers 10 years ago, eh?) why can’t the administration weed 'em out?</p>
<p>Yeah this is absolutely ridiculous, just come to UCSD and figure it out yourself. Don’t worry no one gives a **** if your black, white, mexican, asian or whatever in California. Yes, some people can be racist (like 5% of the population) but the truth of the matter is… no one actually cares. The situation was done by some losers and was blown out of proportion because its UCSD, nothing exciting like this has ever happened at UCSD…which tells you that it’s obviously not racist school</p>
<p>so it was an african american who started the party? and someone on cc also said there’s white trash parties too. sounds to me its everybody else being stupid and thinking everything to do with african americans is racism. maybe they overdid somethings but the the party idea itself was fine</p>
<p>something happened at my school and a teacher stopped it thinking its racism (toward african americans). actually the african americans loved it.</p>
<p>@uchogwarts - yes, an African-American “internet sensation” guy came up with the idea for the party and put a few guys on campus in charge of inviting people/hosting it, etc. There are indeed white trash parties, south of the border parties, and other invites where people mock different ethnic/religious backgrounds. Maybe it’s in bad taste, yes, but in this particular circumstance people became way over-sensitive and aimed to bring light to a problem that doesn’t exist.</p>
<p>@plainsman, there is no one to “weed out.” Ever heard of free speech?</p>
<p>Honestly… if you’re basing it off of stuff on Youtube, you’re going to get some polarized reactions. The people who really really have true deap seated anger/feelings for the issue are the only ones who’ll post up things like that.</p>
<p>No one even talks about it anymore. Its just one of those things that happened and it doesnt matter anymore.</p>
<p>And word of advice, if you’re worried about racism, you might as well be home schooled or do an online college b/c you’ll find racism of some sort everywhere you go</p>
<p>ucsandiego915 do you mean you think the parties are in bad taste or the fact people trying to make a big deal of them? I think race themed parties are perfectly fine</p>
<p>I mean I personally think they’re fine too but to some, they are considered bad taste. I try to be as PC as possible on these boards haha but I think everyone needs to lighten up.</p>
<p>And yes, this topic needs to die. Ignorant idiots who don’t even go here need to stop posting threads about it in the first place.</p>
<p>Of course. But what’s the purpose of exercising “free speech” just to belittle other groups of people? It serves no constructive purpose. The only thing it can accomplish is bad feelings. It’s really irrelevant that other people are thin-skinned or hypersensitive. Why belittle other groups? That’s the question. Why? This doesn’t happen on every college campus. Only some. Why? Is there a lot of tension among the races in California? Is it because Cali is currently the only state with a majority “minority” population? Why use “free speech” in such a cruel way?</p>
<p>Astrina: Thanks for the link to the article. Wow. What a terrible idea to mock another group like that. I don’t even know those clothing brands, nor am I familiar with the listed beverages. OMG, what’s a “Natty?” I’m almost afraid to ask. California is a strange place. I’ve never saw that side of Cali as a tourist. </p>
<p>A high school friend of my daughter left Minnesota and went to some state school in southern California. I think it might’ve been UCSD or Cal State at SD, something like that. Anyway, she transferred back to Minnesota after two years. She said she couldn’t take it anymore, and she’s blonde and blue-eyed. She didn’t elaborate and I didn’t ask -she’s my D’s friend, not mine - but it must be really bad out there. Gosh. I never realized! It seemed like such a great area during my visits.</p>