We have often discussed how universities have become battle grounds over so-called “microaggressions” and offensive terms or images involving race, religion, or culture. Some of these efforts raise serious questions of the erosion of free speech as well as double standards applied to faculty and students. The example of the sensitivity toward such objections was evident this week at Clemson University, which apologizes for racial or cultural insensitivity for holding “Maximum Mexican” night featuring Mexican cuisine. Two students were offended and the university has apologized.
Clemson Dining’s “Maximum Mexican” night is popular among students for Mexican themed food and festivities. However, two students, who took to Twitter to voice their displeasure with the school’s decision to host such a “#CUlturallyInsensitive” event. “Amanda A” was one of those students:
The university also has themed nights for St. Patrick’s day etc. Yet, one student objected to the wearing of sombreros: “Our culture isn’t a costume and we will not be mocked!” Yet, is it mocking to wear a hat associated with Mexico? If so, they might want to check out Cinco de Mayo celebrations?
Dr. Doug Hallenbeck, Clemson University’s Senior Associate Vice President of Student Affairs, however, went public with an apology for the event’s “flattened cultural view of Mexican culture. . . It is the mission of University Housing & Dining to create supportive and challenging environments that enrich and nourish lives. We failed to live out our mission yesterday, and we sincerely apologize.”
Hallenbeck promised reforms.
At times, stereotypes are evident in celebrations. For example, when I take the kids to places likes Busch Gardens both my Irish and Italian heritage is representing by common imagery and stereotypes, but I am not offended. Indeed, I am glad that my two cultures are so widely enjoyed. Is it a “flattened” presentation? Yes, but all imagery and symbols are reductionist to some extent. My concern is that we are becoming a hyper-sensitive society where people are increasingly attuned to take offense, even when the other party is acting with no malice or disrespect intended by their actions.
What do you think?
Source:
Ah. Rand Paul. The fellow who has problems with the Civil Rights Act of the early 60s. You know, the part about Nee gros being able to eat at lunch counters. The fellow who supports personhood. In other words, he is against ALL abortion from minute one.
And by my count there were two friggin complaints on Mexican lunch. It was a none story on campus until some idiot PR administrator felt he had to issue an apology. But, what the hell. I’ll assume responsibility for the two idiot assumed far lefties if someone will assume responsibility for the reactionaries who rule here.
And yes, Turley cannot write about everything. But, really – Mexican lunch at Clemson? Maybe you have had a chance to read my list of things he HASN’T covered. Don’t blame me for its length – ‘them’s the facts’. That list covers MONTHS of issues and over all that time he couldn’t possibly carved out time for one or two?
Most of the guest bloggers are gone and Cara only writes on SCOTUS, but there is nothing stopping Darren. However, I think my list is of national import would be best served by a legal academic POV. And no, I would not be a suitable guest blogger nor does Turley pass such spots out like candy.
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Mike – I do not see how your thinking can get so twisted. If Rand Paul was actually against blacks he would be for abortions. Margaret Sanger wanted abortions to cut down on the number of blacks. Last numbers I saw showed that blacks had the highest number of abortions. Now, liberals are for abortions, so using your thinking they are against blacks.
Republicans got blacks the right to vote. I see no problem with any registered voter voting, however I am against non-registered voters voting. And that seems to be part of the plan of the Democratic Party to keep illegals in the country until after the next election. There is some thought that Hillary will need all their illegal votes to win the Presidency.
Yes I agree we must stand up to ignorant bullies always, anywhere.
Karin, You go to a good school A kid I taught high school history went to Clemson and is now a successful business owner in his early 30’s. Stand up to the ignorance. Say what you think and get others to do so as well. These ignorant liberals who are the Gestapo on campuses everywhere are bullies. You must stand up to ignorant bullies.
And it would be nutty to assume to know how others live their lives, what interests they have. We don’t know such things about strangers on the Internet and to pretend we do makes us look foolish and even obsessive about other’s private lives.
Donald Trump whines about being disparaged, it makes him look like a buffoon.
JAG, We both have friends that we disagree w/. We would not want to live in a world where we all agreed. But, that is what many people seek, uniformity of thought by any means necessary. I hardly discuss politics except on blogs. We both have other interests and it shows in how we engage people. Many people here eat, drink and sleep politics 24/7. You can see me being disparaged as a racist on this very thread. It is just insane and ignorant.
And remember Professor Turley is a CIVIL libertarian, there IS a difference between a civil libertarian and a glibertarian.
Justagurl, you’ve been away too long. I think perhaps you are being influenced by someone who is not a good authority on the real problems we face in this country.
Justagurl, do you think for one minute that right wingers or Glibertarians care one iota that black men are being shot in the streets? That cops are beating people? A libertarian here regularily calls others here “cop haters” on those threads about police abuse. Do you think for a minute that right wingers or libertarians here are concerned about voting rights for minorities?
Inga – don’t put words in people’s mouths or thoughts in their minds. You really do not know who is a libertarian and who is not unless they identify themselves. And even with that, you have no idea how they will vote. I am a registered Independent. In this state it allows me to pick the primary I wish to vote in. That is only lately. For about 20 years Independents we not allowed to vote in primaries.
Annie, I know that Rand has much different beliefs than I do on a lot of subjects,
BUT… I also agree with him on some subjects…
I have many friends that I don’t agree with.
He is still a LOT better than some of the others in the GOP…
and fact is, TRUST me, when I say, I LIVE in a country that is super Liberal…
Talk about an eye opener… It makes me understand that the MIDDLE is a much better place to be, politically.
Aww Thank you Nick… You rock!!!
and that is exactly, what I want to say to them… ENOUGH!!!!
There are REAL issues in the USA right now… Black men, being shot on a regular basis..
Cops beating people…. Cops, too much power… Using Swat Teams for what should be
NORMAL police work.
Is this a time to be complaining about Mexican food night?
As Mike mentioned, Closing DMV’s in black neighborhoods… etc.. etc… etc….
WE have ISIS who is doing real damage in the world… Corbyn, in the UK, Ultra Left Liberal,
he says he wants to ENGAGE them… NOT fight them…
That is the MINDSET of the Far Left…
Let’s hold hands.. and sing Kumbeya….
Seriously, the stupid is starting to HURT.
Are you kidding me? I’d be embarrassed to know that the school I pay thousands to attend felt the need to apologize for students exploring diversity by enjoying some Mexican food and culture. I’m offended by those claiming offense just to make a spectacle of a simple and innocent cultural experience that should’ve been enjoyed by all. Shame on you Clemson and the few claiming to be offended.
Justagurl, do you know that Rand Paul was a co sponsor to a bill that would give personhood to an embryo? Do you know that would be a back door way of outlawing abortions?
There was a far left commenter here who thought we shouldn’t have a standing army, I think that is pretty nutty. There are far right commenters here who think that because of feminism, women have abandoned their God given purpose of being a wife and mother to multiple children. There are libertarians here that call Hillary Clinton a “fat lesbian”. Where is the proof the woman is a lesbian, and if she were, why would it be a negative? There are nut jobs all across the board, the left wing doesn’t have any more of them than the right or than do wanna be libertarians.
Spelling correction…. Medieval. NOT midevil …
You go, Gurl!! The problem is there are not enough intellectually honest liberals like yourself that say what my grandma would say when we grandkids were acting stupid and loud, “BASTA, BASTA!” [ENOUGH!].
I LIKE Rand Paul….
I would NEVER vote for him… BUT… he is a SMART guy… and I LOVE what he has to say
about Citizen Based Taxation.
He wants to repeal FUBR, and FATCA…
If he wins, I would NOT be terribly upset.
This post should have a TRIGGER warning…. 😀
http://www.vox.com/2015/6/3/8706323/college-professor-afraid
a LIBERAL Professor who is scarred of his LIBERAL Students.
I am sorry, but we are in a time where it is the Liberals THE FAR LEFT Liberals who
have become a joke.
Sorry, but you are not going to find a Libertarian who wants to enact bs on MICRO-AGGRESSIONS.
You are not going to find Libertarians who want an overly long list of TRIGGER warnings.
I don’t know if any of you have a child who is between the ages of 16 and 22… I do.
I can tell you, I hear if from my daughter all the time.
She shows me this crap… (she is like me, NOT to worry, not a pansy a$$.) 😀
WE have feminists groups, getting upset over the rape scenes in Game of Thrones…
Ummmm, HELLO.. Do they think that the midevil times were a time of HOPE and Wonder, where
people held hands and HUGGED?
Good god…
WE have people getting mad at Matt Damon, because he DARED to say that the person who should
win on HIS TV Reality show, should win because they are talented, NOT because of
diversity. Ohhh he was man-splaning… he is a racist… blah… blah.. blah…
Yes, I know that SOME Libertarians are total nut jobs…. BUT, The Far left is starting
to equal them in this area.
I have FAR LEFT friends who think that there should be NO BORDERS…. WTF??
They are in their 30’s.. early 30’s…
Yes, they are growing in numbers… people who don’t even understand WHY we have borders.
This is making my head hurt.
It used to be that the FAR FAR Left, was the fringe, NOBODY cared what they said, because
it was all craziness…. BUT, now, people are listening.
Liberal colleges are coddling these children, turning them into even bigger pansies…. and yes, I find it down right scary..
They are NOT talking about voting rights… NOPE, they are getting pissed off at Matt Damon
and getting their panties in a bunch over MEXICAN FOOD.
Let’s get back to those wanna be libertarians. I think it’s a fad, like belonging to some club that is considered cool, but so many dorks joined the club, they made it uncool. That’s libertarianism with the right wing nuts in attendance. It was ever so much cooler when it was in it’s original state of libertarianism, that is long gone now.
Make that 4th grade.