Race Retreat Antagonizes Students
Charles Johnson
Last Updated: 5/1/08 Section: News
Several of the students I spoke with bristled at the very notion of what it's meant to be Asian. "Of course, by Asian they do not mean Indian, Russian, Israeli, Pakistan or Singaporean. They did not invite the Russians or the Israeli kids," one student noted. "Asia has two-thirds of the world's population. It's fairly ignorant for them to assume we all have something in common."
Throughout the retreat the Asian American Advisory Board kept complaining about how they weren't a recognized group, that they didn't have an office and that if students really wanted to show their loyalty to the cause they could work for those objectives. Some talked about a 5-C Asian cultural center analogous to OBSA. "Throughout the time there, the Asian Advisory Board kept saying that there were special needs of Asian students and that those weren't being meant. I reject that," said one student. "I don't need any special needs. Special needs are for the disabled."
Paradoxically, several members said that there was institutional discrimination against Asians on campus, but these same members were also upset that the white professors failed to note the cultural differences between Asian students and treated them just as they would any other student.
Later a session occurred where students were instructed to list stereotypes that the "white people" think of when they think of Asians. "Several students volunteered that Asians were bad drivers, frugal with money, 'model minority,' you know the usual," said one student. "One girl protested and said that she didn't feel that those stereotypes summed her up at all. She was told that the stereotypes don't apply to her at all, but that the white people think this about her. The fact that the leaders were stereotyping white people went unnoticed or at least unsaid."
At least one student noted the cult of victimhood permeating the retreat. "There was one girl from Harvey Mudd who said that everyone thought she should be a math and science person, but all she wanted to be was an engineer. I said to myself, go ahead, no one's stopping you. The only person in your way is yourself."
Several other students criticized the event. "They got me to go to this retreat on false pretenses. They [misadvertised] it. They said it would be fun. The only thing interesting was the forest fire."
"We didn't even know that the black and Latino students were there," said one student. "Later when some of us wanted to sit with them, we were given skeptical looks and approached by one member who gave us the impression that we should sit with other Asians only."
When asked if he would go back or get involved with the group, one student just laughed. "F--- no."
Throughout the retreat the Asian American Advisory Board kept complaining about how they weren't a recognized group, that they didn't have an office and that if students really wanted to show their loyalty to the cause they could work for those objectives. Some talked about a 5-C Asian cultural center analogous to OBSA. "Throughout the time there, the Asian Advisory Board kept saying that there were special needs of Asian students and that those weren't being meant. I reject that," said one student. "I don't need any special needs. Special needs are for the disabled."
Paradoxically, several members said that there was institutional discrimination against Asians on campus, but these same members were also upset that the white professors failed to note the cultural differences between Asian students and treated them just as they would any other student.
Later a session occurred where students were instructed to list stereotypes that the "white people" think of when they think of Asians. "Several students volunteered that Asians were bad drivers, frugal with money, 'model minority,' you know the usual," said one student. "One girl protested and said that she didn't feel that those stereotypes summed her up at all. She was told that the stereotypes don't apply to her at all, but that the white people think this about her. The fact that the leaders were stereotyping white people went unnoticed or at least unsaid."
At least one student noted the cult of victimhood permeating the retreat. "There was one girl from Harvey Mudd who said that everyone thought she should be a math and science person, but all she wanted to be was an engineer. I said to myself, go ahead, no one's stopping you. The only person in your way is yourself."
Several other students criticized the event. "They got me to go to this retreat on false pretenses. They [misadvertised] it. They said it would be fun. The only thing interesting was the forest fire."
"We didn't even know that the black and Latino students were there," said one student. "Later when some of us wanted to sit with them, we were given skeptical looks and approached by one member who gave us the impression that we should sit with other Asians only."
When asked if he would go back or get involved with the group, one student just laughed. "F--- no."
Viewing Comments 1 - 2 of 2
Some Pitzoid
posted 10/29/07 @ 11:47 AM PST
This reminds me of this Blue Eye Brown Eye workshop held at Pitzer one year. They brought us all to the Student Center for this event and then tried to replicate the experiment made famous by a school teacher some years ago. (Continued…)
clester
saeed
posted 6/20/08 @ 5:43 PM PST
haha charlie, the transition program must've enraged you
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