I’m still unsure of why any administration felt the need to tell grown adults how to dress. If they haven’t figured this part of living in a society out by now, all hope is lost. Maybe it’s an extension of student coddling or helicopter parenting? I believe strongly that universities and colleges should be free speech zones, including shouting and swearing, but I also think that this is something the student body should have addressed itself without the intervention of faculty.
So, yesterday as my 17 yo son was heading out to a college football game, I told him “have fun, be careful, don’t do anything stupid” and, of course, his response was “thanks, so glad you reminded me 'cause I probably would have done something stupid if you hadn’t”. It was lighthearted, didn’t needed to be said but the message was that I cared and he acknowledged that I did. Our family did not implode.
Yale issued a reminder that probably wasn’t needed, by most, and I thought that the Christakis’ email response in itself was fine. I just wish that, if there were students who felt that Yale was underestimating their ability to know what is or isn’t appropriate, then they should have written that response instead of Christakis. A college Master “speaking for” students isn’t really any different from Yale reminding them of their P’s and Q’s.
Yale isn’t going to “implode” over this, or at least shouldn’t. All the media attention is causing a domino effect of over-reaction.
@jeremyj, I can tell you are not from a rural area in the Midwest or the South. In some of those areas, this IS polite society to them. My parents’ friends would think it hilarious if my parents came in blackface to a party. Their “society” thinks it is just fine. I don’t think “all is lost”, but I do think racism is deeply embedded in some parts of the country still, and is very difficult to root out and change. There is nothing for it but to keep working at it.
This is a bit off-topic, but how would you have handled the situation, had you been in the Master’s shoes in that video?
I did my undergraduate years at Univ of Michigan. This is most certainly not my impression of the Midwest. I agree that racism is deeply embedded in our country, but I still would have shown someone the door if they showed up in black face. I realize that everyone is very emotional about this issue and rightfully so, I think the real resolution here would be to have some sort of town hall or public forum where we can talk about these issues and students don’t feel threatened enough to yell to be heard. I just don’t want to get into a situation where the faculty is scolding students for bad decisions they have made. They are grown adults and realizing there are consequences to your actions is an important part of being a decent human being.
I don’t think screaming in the middle of campus is effective. As the student, I would have filed a grievance with what body was appropriate. As the faculty, I would have responded and defended my position. Then open the floor to debate. I have been on both sides of something like this and its an unenviable position for either one, but the system exists for a reason.
To @intparent’s point, we were sent some pictures from in-laws of their young kids in their Halloween costumes. An Asian “theme”, including a “ninja” and another child in a “coolie” outfit. I’m Asian and I really hate that it’s apparently perfectly OK to market “coolie hats” as costume props for little kids.
those students are embarrassing themselves.
@ScreenName48105 I’m curious, did you say anything to your in-laws?
Back when I was in college, when dinosaurs roamed the earth, Yale censored their marching band for a formation on the field that they felt was inappropriate (it was edgy and satirical, and maybe in questionable taste, but it was clever). So, at the next game, the marching bands formations were a circle, a square, and a triangle. Sometime political correctness/sensitivity goes too far, IMO.
There is another thread about a NC (I think) professor who railed against PC. Let me see if I can find it.
jym626
his name is mike adams
http://townhall.com/columnists/mikeadams/2015/08/28/get-out-of-my-class-and-leave-america-n2044785/page/full
That was it. Thanks.
“If you are a Marxist and I just offended you, well, that’s tough. I guess they don’t make communists like they used to…” Ok, that was funny.
The people who have a problem with someone saying “stop it” to offensive Halloween costumes are the people who don’t want it stopped. Question for those who don’t want it stopped: what harm can come as a result of banning racist costumes such as blackface?
There are a million ways to dress up for Halloween. Eliminating the racist options still leaves you with a million costumes. I don’t see why this is a big deal. Requiring people to be decent is not a sin, y’all.
On the Jewish holiday of Purim, people dress up - same deal as Halloween costumes, no real “rules.” It would be interesting to know how they’d handle that.
FYI, the Yale Dean mentioned, Burgwell Howard, is black. He just came from Northwestern. He’s a very good guy fwiw.
I’m no proponent of blackface, but I’d also note that too many “offended” people give away their power precisely by being offended. IMO the best way to deal with something offensive is to roll your eyes and move on, not give it greater attention.
Along those lines and in reaction to this very situation, one of my best friends daughter (a senior at Y) penned this response, see:http://indiancountrytodaymedianetwork.com/2015/11/01/van-alst-coddling-white-privilege-silencing-people-color-162287
Very well written response.
Lol no.
Requiring people to be decent removes the whole purpose of being decent.