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The Daily OrangeLetters: Responses to blackface incident
By
Posted: 11/6/03, 2:21 AM EST Section: Opinion
ESF expects a great deal of its students. For the majority, meeting high personal and academic standards is a matter of daily routine. When there are lapses, however, they must be recognized and remedied. I hope you will join me in reinforcing college values of community, respect and celebrating diversity, and that you will examine your own behaviors and attitudes as reflections of that high standard.
Cornelius B. Murphy, Jr.
President, SUNY-ESF
SUNY-ESF student body issues proclamation
We, the Undergraduate Student Association, as representatives of the undergraduate student body, feel that the actions taken by an ESF undergraduate student on Oct. 31, 2003, were inappropriate. The Undergraduate Student Association does not condone this, or any, type of behavior that would be discriminatory in nature toward any culture, race, gender or sexual orientation. The Undergraduate Student Association will be a supportive partner in taking the necessary steps to educate and inform the campus community about these issues in order to strive for a community of awareness and understanding.
Jason Goodman
President, SUNY-ESF Undergraduate Student Association
Liz Reif
Vice President
Blackface reaction idiotic
In response to the recent events involving a SUNY-ESF student wearing blackface on Halloween, I must say I am appalled at the idiocy of the response to this student's actions.
There is no racial issue to contest here. His costume was obviously meant as a joke and not as a derogatory statement about minorities. Why has there been no furor about all the people who dressed up as 1970s era New York City pimps for Halloween? I see that as a more stereotypical and unfavorable characterization of minorities. It is ridiculous that we all feel we need to be politically correct at all times. Grow up!
I'm not supporting racism, but one of our country's founding principles is freedom of speech. If this kid wants to make an idiot of himself then let him. Why is there a need to push the values of certain groups on all of society? Perhaps an incident like this would be racist if it occurred in 1962 Mississippi, but this is 2003 Syracuse and, if you haven't noticed, we get along pretty well around here. Punishing this kid will accomplish nothing.
Cornelius B. Murphy, Jr.
President, SUNY-ESF
SUNY-ESF student body issues proclamation
We, the Undergraduate Student Association, as representatives of the undergraduate student body, feel that the actions taken by an ESF undergraduate student on Oct. 31, 2003, were inappropriate. The Undergraduate Student Association does not condone this, or any, type of behavior that would be discriminatory in nature toward any culture, race, gender or sexual orientation. The Undergraduate Student Association will be a supportive partner in taking the necessary steps to educate and inform the campus community about these issues in order to strive for a community of awareness and understanding.
Jason Goodman
President, SUNY-ESF Undergraduate Student Association
Liz Reif
Vice President
Blackface reaction idiotic
In response to the recent events involving a SUNY-ESF student wearing blackface on Halloween, I must say I am appalled at the idiocy of the response to this student's actions.
There is no racial issue to contest here. His costume was obviously meant as a joke and not as a derogatory statement about minorities. Why has there been no furor about all the people who dressed up as 1970s era New York City pimps for Halloween? I see that as a more stereotypical and unfavorable characterization of minorities. It is ridiculous that we all feel we need to be politically correct at all times. Grow up!
I'm not supporting racism, but one of our country's founding principles is freedom of speech. If this kid wants to make an idiot of himself then let him. Why is there a need to push the values of certain groups on all of society? Perhaps an incident like this would be racist if it occurred in 1962 Mississippi, but this is 2003 Syracuse and, if you haven't noticed, we get along pretty well around here. Punishing this kid will accomplish nothing.
