Harvey Mudd's Bogus Bias Incidents Take II

You all remember Harvey Mudd, right? That school where someone called Hillary Clinton a "foxy lesbian" and received a talking to and a campus wide email to everyone?

Well, now someone was quoting an Asian comedy and used the "negao" word, so you know people are going to be upset. Mudd's Interim Vice President and Dean of Students Guy L. Gerbick has officially freaked out and sent an email to his and now Pomona's entire campus. I'm sure you'll be shocked to know that Gerbick is author of a bogus paper entitled "Diversity Works: The Emerging Picture of How Students Benefit."

For the actual record, there's very little, if any evidence to suggest "diversity" is good. Social scientist Robert Putnam of Bowling Alone fame concluded that it may actually cause groups to "hunker down" in ethnic enclaves. Sound familiar?

Notice how at the end they talk about how a "black man" will be president. I wonder where their sympathies lie. I'm offended that they would suggest that the reason he'll win is that he's black...

Let's go line by line.

Last Friday night, an HMC student entered the room of another Mudder where several people were gathered watching an Asian comedy movie. The entering student, quoting a line from another Asian comedy, said "good morning, negao," which is intended to sound like the word "nigga" with a Japanese accent. Realizing that the joke wasn't funny to the group, the entering student quickly left the room.

So the joke isn't funny. And? Does this really warrant the Dean's disapproval? Are we going to ban all jokes or art that uses the phrases "nigger" or "nigga" now?

The next day the host of the gathering wrote to a dorm chat list forcefully expressing her offense at the use of the n-word, even in jest or imitation. Other people similarly wrote of their offense. The offending student wrote to the list explaining why she said what she did and apologized for offending people. She also apologized to the host in person.

Apologize. Apologize! Anyone thinking this scene from South Park right now?

While some people may not consider this a bias-related incident or act of hate, it starkly highlights several important points for everyone at Mudd.

1. Harvey Mudd's goal is to provide a safe, supportive community of respect for everyone on campus.

Safe and supportive? Isn't education supposed to be just the opposite? Something that draws out actual discussion and moves you beyond your comfort zones to genuine wisdom?


2. While everyone has full free speech rights here, words can have real consequences. When you say something, even in a light-hearted way with no bad intent, people can be substantially, negatively impacted. Your use of language can even affect the great amount of work that many people have done to build a community that values the differences we all bring to being Mudders.

First of all, impact isn't a transitive verb. You can't be "impacted" by something, unless its a tooth or an asteroid. Second, so what if your language offends people? They retain the right to hate you or spread rumors about you. But you still retain the right to speak or make unfunny jokes.


3. Saying racist, sexist, or homophobic things doesn't just affect people of color, women, or gay people. It has real effects on people in majority groups and makes for an unwelcoming environment for everyone.

Notice how Mr. Gerbick conflates the use of a bad racialist joke with actual acts of homophobia, sexism or racism. Shame on him for making light of those incidents, few in number though they may actually be.

If you want to talk with a supportive person trained in talking about race, please check the list of MAP (Multicultural Ally Program) allies at http://www.hmc.edu/about/administrativeoffices/institutionaldiversity1/map1/allynames.html or talk to your proctor, who has also been through MAP training. Talking with an ally may be especially useful for people who have prejudiced attitudes and would like to change.

An "ally"? Is this a war? Why has your proctor been through mandatory sensitivity training which is, by and large, bunk?

4. We need to talk more about race. So, this Friday's Forum will have Gary Kelly leading a discussion on race, including clips from a full-length movie completely devoted to how people feel about the use of the n-word. We can then talk about how to continue the discussions, particularly as the possibility of a black man being president of the U.S. becomes more probable.
Please, if Obama's elected, it'll be because he's a Socialist, not because he's black (all that certainly does help get out the guilty, Volvo-driving, latte-drinking, progressive vote.)