The Rice Thresher, Vol. 94, No. 5, Ed. 1 Friday, September 22, 2006 Page: 3 of 16

                                
THE RICE THRESHER OPINION FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 22,2006
Guest column
Stereotyping jokes have no place on campus
Satire is a difficult medium to mas-
ter. And when used improperly, it can
actually be quite hurtful, which wri-
the resounding result of bst week's
Backpage. First off, (he
article was poorly written,
and although the "answers"
to the stereotyping ques-
tions are supposed to be too
utterly ridiculous to be taken
seriously, the message is lost
in the inconsistent structure
and lack of parallelism in
the responses, resulting in
clusters of insults. Racial ten-
sions still exist on campus,
which constricts the flexibil-
ity of a publication represent-
ing the university to attempt to make
jokes on the matter. Of all the topics in
the world to poke fun at, why are we
constantly prodding a subject that is
bound to hurt someone, intentionally
or otherwise? No matter how hard we
try to avoid it, everyone has biases, and
validating stereotypes, in joke form or
not, does not help eliminate them. And
unfortunately, if we are not helping
to eradicate stereotypes, then we are
authenticating them.
To start with, I do not appreciate
the misleading parallel being drawn
between black students and crime
on campus. Though there was an
attempt to call attention to the real
problem of racial profiling on this
campus, mocking the issue was in
poor taste, especially considering the
highly unfortunate and rather embar-
rassing incident of racial profiling that
occurred last year. Whether meant as
a joke or not, drawing this deceptive
correlation demeans the reputation
of black students because it further
implants the stereotype of their be-
ing more inclined to commit crime.
Additionally, including the inappropri-
ate rap lyrics was unnecessary,distaste-
Tiffany
Abdullahi
fill and insulting. The writer pushes a
false sense of ownership of these lyrics
and the lifestyle they suggest onto the
black community by implying that
every black person listens
to and respects all forms of
rap, which is certainly not
the case. Isn't it enough that
black students are pigeon-
holed into these stereo-
types outside the hedges?
Rice is supposed to be a
home of more enlightened
minds — people who can
think outside the box. But
if we insist on perpetuating
these stereotypes,we mask
the reality of truth — even
though the purpose of an education is
to enlighten.
Furthermore, ridiculing "Asian
kids" whose "eyes are so squinty"
does not help them feel more in-
cluded. Rather, it isolates and derides
cultural distinctions. In fact, it is not
an uncommon procedure for people
of Asian descent to undergo plastic
surgery called blepharoplasty to
increase the crease of the eyelid and
obtain a more "Westernized" look.
However, I do not support the notion
of people destroying the nuances of
beauty that make them unique. So
why did the Backpage feel the need
to even mention this? Since it does
not attempt to destroy these biases,
it more firmly roots these narrow-
minded beliefs in societal ideals, and
this is an unacceptable practice for
any representative of an institution
of higher education. If the Backpage
editor does not want to make a point,
then it would be best to leave poten-
tially controversial topics alone.
Additionally, part of a complete
education involves learning about
other people outside of those within
your immediate circle of friends and
family. But articles like last week's
Backpage make stepping out of
these comfort zones to explore other
cultures even more difficult, which
ultimately impedes upon receipt of
a comprehensive education. Ide-
ally, every student would graduate
from Rice a little more enlightened
about other cultures, but validating
stereotypes opposes progression
towards this goal.
Lastly, I would like to leave you
with a quote from the Rice Code of
Student Conduct:
"The life and work of a Rice
University student should be based
on integrity, responsibility, and
consideration for others. ... By
entering Rice University, students
accept several responsibilities: to
respect the welfare of all persons in
the University community and their
guests,... and to maintain an atmo-
sphere conducive to education and
scholarship. Failure to fulfill these
responsibilities may result in the
suspension of specific privileges, the
withdrawal of the student's privilege
of attending the University, or the
imposition of other sanctions."
I hope the staff members of the
Thresher firmly believe in the ideals
outlined by the Code of Conduct,
but I would strongly advise them to
question themselves regarding their
own subject matter, especially in the
case when the articles are unsigned,
as the Backpage is, because the views
portrayed are understood by default
to represent those beliefs held by the
university. It is my hope that they always
remember those for whom they write
and therefore try to respect the views
of as many students as possible.
Tiffany Abdullahi is a Mess College
junior and Hlack Student Association
Executive Board Member
When I was writing the Backpage
at four in the morning last Thursday,
the last thing I did was think. 1 did
not think that switching between
ironic humor and jabbing
sarcasm would make the
Backpage confusing. I did
not think anyone would
take it seriously. I did not
think of the consequences
of publishing it during Fam-
ilies Weekend. And I did not
think it would insult people.
But people were insulted.
It was offensive — and it
was wrong.
It took only a good
night's sleep and a few
comments from around campus to
realize the mistake I had made. Not
only would families not realize the
satirical nature of the Backpage,
but those harboring racist attitudes
might see the Backpage not as
mockery, but as supportive of their
prejudices. Editor in Chief David
Brown and I quickly agreed that the
campus deserved an apology. Con-
trary to many accusations, this was
not forced—or even suggested—by
any administrators.
Many people have asked me what
I was going for with the Backpage.
Over-the-top, post-ironic humor has
been in vogue lately — just look at
Comedy Central. You are not sup-
posed to laugh with jokes themselves,
but at the idea that people would say
such absurd things. This was the con-
cept I had in mind when I wrote the
Backpage. I thought the falsehoods
on the Backpage were so obviously
over the top that no one could take
them seriously.
In his routines, famed comedian
I>enny Bruce was known for incor-
porating every naughty word, racial
slur and social taboo 1950s America
had to offer. He said, "It's the sup-
pression of the word that gives it the
power, the violence, the viciousness."
While I have this quote on the wall
in the Thresher office, what I do not
Evan
Mintz
have is a reminder that Bruce was
arrested for obscenity. His use of
sexual taboos and racial slurs did not
reflect any actual hatred or
bias — but some felt
he lent credence to
racists or simply did not
believe his style of humor
was appropriate.
Bruce also said, "Satire
is tragedy plus time: You
give it enough time, the
public, the reviewers will
allow you to satirize it."
And in light of very recent
events, this was obviously
  a very bad time for last
week's Backpage.
Contemporary comedian Sacha
Cohen clarifies Bruce's idea in
an episode of "Da Ali G Show" in
which his Borat character sings,
"Throw the Jew Down the Well."
Certainly, very few viewers take
Cohen's character seriously, and
laugh not only at the horrible song,
but also at the racist rubes who sing
along with him. Although the Anti-
Defamation league protested this
sketch at once — another event
I probably should have remem-
bered — Cohen has since made
clear that he is attempting to
expose ignorance and prejudice,
not support them. Indeed, I believe
America has come to a point where
racist jokes can often be laughed
at — not with — in the right context.
This Backpage, however, lacked
the right context. It was poorly con-
structed , and its content hit too close
to home in the Rice community.
If any good can come from this,
I hope the Backpage can spark a
conversation that Rice needs. I have
heard from students who thought
the Backpage was hilarious and
edgy — and from students who
thought it was horrible and insult-
ing. There is a divide of opinion
on what are and are not acceptable
approaches to diversity issues on
campus. We have a disconnect on
Esoteric references
Letter from an editor
Backpage was wrong, despite intended humor
campus that needs to be bridged.
TTie ()ffice of Multicultural Affairs
is holding a forum Wednesday to
discuss last week's Backpage and
related campus diversity issues. I will
certainly be there to participate and
answer any questions. Hopefully the
discussion will not simply end after
a couple weeks, only to be remem-
bered by a small group of students,
but will continue as everybody works
for a better campus atmosphere.
Although I am looking to the
future, I cannot undo the hurt of last
week's Backpage. I can only offer
my explanations and apologies, and
hope the Rice community is willing
to accept.
Evan Mintz is a Hanszen College junior
and opinion and Backpage editor.
0-Week hazing rules pierce
hole in Houston economy
Once upon a time, I was a
freshman, a stranger to Houston
enduring the trials of Orientation
Week. Six other members of Lovett
College's class of 2008
and I gathered as we
nervously awaited our
advisers' arrival with
our scavenger hunt lists.
We had no idea what to
expect, and what we
met were a series of fast-
food-centric purchasing
demands, stunts involv-
ing gallons of milk or
phallic produce and tests
of our abilities to quickly
create Web sites.
It was not until the wee hours
of Thursday morning, after one
I >ovett freshman had been ordained
as a minister and President David
Ijeebron had quoted The Princess
Bride, that I first heard of scavenger
hunt challenges of yore. It started
with a story about a co-adviser get-
ting "Baker, Hell Yeah!" tattooed
on her posterior a few years back,
and my fellow new students and I
inquired why tattooing and pierc-
ing had disappeared from our own
scavenger hunt lists. It boiled down
to ()-Week decision makers worry-
ing that students might feel hazed
by being offered the opportunity to
permanently alter their bodies dur-
ing their first week of college.
I accepted this response and
thought little more of it until two
weeks ago, when my suitemates
and I wound up at a piercing parlor.
I decided to get a new piece of silver
in my right ear and was shooting the
breeze with the piercer, Zac.
He inquired where I was
in school, and when I replied
"Rice" his face clouded over. He
hesitantly asked, "Y'all don't have
O-Week anymore, do you?"
I replied that we did and asked
him how he knew about Rice's new
student orientation procedure. The
story he told in response was heart-
rending: He used to celebrate the
last week of August like airlines cel-
ebrate Thanksgiving, with throngs
of nervous new students and gig-
gling advisers padding his waiting
room. He would watch members
of different colleges bond over the
experience of getting pierced or
inked. He even knew a few of the col-
lege cheers. Plus, he made upwards
of $500per night for every day there
was a scavenger hunt. Clearly, this
man had loved O-Weeks past.
I was thrown off guard. Here
was a guy about to ram a 10-inch
needle into my head looking like
a forlorn puppy as he described
Julia
Bursten
the effects of my fellow students'
neglect had had on him. Without the
scavenger-hunt income, Zac could
not take summer vacations, and
he'd had to rearrange his
August schedule signifi-
cantly once Rice students
stopped showing up en
masse on select Indian
summer weeknights.
His impression was that
my peers and I had vol-
untarily boycotted his
establishment for the
past half-decade's worth
of O-Weeks.
Not so, my perfo-
rated friend. While the
administration has been taking
careful steps to ensure students
comply with section 51.936 of
the Texas Education Code — the
regulations on and definitions of
hazing — it has completely ne-
glected the effect such measures
have on the community outside
the hedges.
There's a case to be made that
the new English Composition
Exam "adversely affects the men-
tal health or dignity" of some new
students. But I have a hard time
understanding some of this year's
scavenger hunt guidelines. They
begin with general anti-hazing
principles, move on to examples of
"typical hazing practices" such as
"being forced to wear embarrass-
ing or humiliating attire in public,"
"binge drinking" and "sexual
simulation," and end with a set
of more Rice-specific rules such
as "O-Week is dry and therefore
alcohol is not allowed," "No strip-
pers or homeless individuals," "No
stealing" and "No tattoos, piercing
or disfiguring in any form."
No alcohol I understand. No
homeless individuals I am down-
right thankful for. But I do not get
why piercing is on par with a crimi-
nal offense in the administration's
eyes. At the basest level, one act
benefits the Houston economy
while the other damages it.
Shame on you, administrators.
While I cannot ask you simply to
hang up your hats and go off and do
something other than university
governance work. I can ask you
to reconsider the scavenger hunt
guidelines in a broader frame of
reference. Keep the rules against
feces, handcuffs and prostitutes,
but think twice about denying us
the ability to put holes in our ears.
Think about Zac.
Julia Bursten is a Lovett College
junior and senior editor.
the Rice Thresher
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