Liou and He: Intolerance is Real
By Alice Liou And Huan He, Guest Columnist
Published on Wednesday, January 30, 2013
Last Wednesday during lunch, a student we did not recognize approached our table at the Class of 1953 Commons and spoke to us in gibberish, mocking Chinese. As we were reacting with confusion and shock, he approached a second table with two other Asian students and repeated a similar phrase before leaving the dining area. Recovering from our initial reaction, we had two questions on our minds — first, can we justify this to ourselves as an actual wrong? And second, did this really just happen at Dartmouth?
Similar events have happened to both of us outside of Dartmouth, but we passively dismissed them with no harm to our emotional psyche. What makes this event different, and perhaps more offensive, and why do we feel the need to react with more than confusion and shock? In the grand scheme of things that can be labeled as “racial bias incidents,” is this legitimate enough to warrant reporting? Is this incident “not a big deal?”
Why are we even asking ourselves these questions? If the Dartmouth community is as strong and close-knit as we often advertise, then these uncomfortable questions have no place falling on the shoulders of those who have been undeniably mistreated. The community is not united when sons and daughters of Dartmouth do not think twice about mistreating each other, verbally or otherwise, across all lines of difference. Furthermore, when we hide behind a line of questioning that is critical and dense, we convince ourselves that there is a way to close this case as an isolated incident instead of acknowledging that it is part of a larger problem that Dartmouth should own as its reality.
Some might say that we are painting with too broad of a brush, that this incident is not part of a larger trend at Dartmouth. They may criticize that we are projecting the actions of the irresponsible few onto the courteous many. By and large, students do not engage recklessly with each other. But if we do, in fact, pride ourselves on the community we build with one another, incidents like these, isolated or not, have no place here. As a community, we should all hold each other accountable. Offenders should feel accountable to the people they offend. The people who are offended should, without hesitation, hold accountable those who have offended them. Even bystanders should act accountably, for if we care about Dartmouth, we should also care about each of its constitutive parts. If we are the Dartmouth community, we should not let any one of us violate the sacred common space that allows us to live, learn and grow together.
The easier reaction is to “other” this problem, to detach oneself or evaluate it objectively. It is more comfortable to break down a negative experience that one member of the Dartmouth community has and attribute to it a list of perfectly logical explanations, excuses and criticisms, or worse, to not engage at all. In doing so, however, we no longer are community members who stand side by side but become the interrogator versus the interrogated, or the apathetic. Through this power dynamic, we risk losing the notion of community altogether and become disjointed, unequal parts that do not comprise a united whole.
After much reflection, we decided to file a bias incident report so that our experience would enter an administrative log that documents all incidences of mistreatment, harassment and violence. We hope that our experience becomes tangible evidence of the intolerance one can encounter at Dartmouth. We also want to hold accountable the student who demonstrated a blatant disregard for our community’s values, as we know that he can strive for better. After the incident, many administrators asked if we were okay. We do feel personally okay. What we are not okay with is the idea that this could happen to our fellow community members. We are not okay with the instinctual and skeptical criticism that defines how we process situations of bigotry. We are not okay with complacently aligning what happens at Dartmouth to what happens in the “real world.” We should hold this special place, our home, to a higher ideal and believe it can be free of intolerance, as it is this optimism that precedes any institutional or cultural process of change.
This is a beautiful, wonderful, timely and thoughtful piece. I commend the authors for their honesty and bravery. I am glad I get to be a part of a community with such people.
By Student on Jan 30 | 2:13 am
Dean Johnson, look out the window! See the levels of racism you have created by giving Alpha Phi Alpha a slap on the wrist!
By What hath Johnson wrought! on Jan 30 | 8:44 am
It’s time for those who speak of the “Dartmouth community” ideal to realize that this community is no longer restricted to the relationship between fraternal brothers. We are a “Mad Men” college functioning in a “Modern Family” world and this has to change. When alumni speak of community at the College, they speak of the camaraderie between their brothers. When I speak of community at the College, I speak of my group of white, Asian, African, Afro American, Asian American, Hispanic, Latino, Native American, gay, and lesbian friends. I am sure I am missing a few, but such is the reality of our diverse contemporary Dartmouth community.
By G.A.H. ‘14 on Jan 30 | 9:17 am
This piece said exactly what needed to be said. Great depth of thought and concise writing by the authors. I, personally, have gained a much better understanding of their perspective and applaud their efforts and courage in putting out this piece.
By D’14 on Jan 30 | 9:30 am
Perhaps there is some good that has resulted from an obviously stupid, insensitive, intolerant act…
…and that is THIS heart-felt, thoughtful editorial by Alice Liou and Huan Hea.
I suppose it may be too much to ask… but maybe — just maybe — the equally stupid, insensitive, intolerant perpetrator will read this and comprehend the mischief of his act.
I hope.
By Anonymous on Jan 30 | 9:45 am
I’m glad the authors spoke up. I am not okay with this type of incident either. Our community is distinguished by the leadership we bring to address the problems of the world. That starts right here, right now, every day, with each other. I appreciate the leadership and the clarity the authors brought to us in this piece.
Jim Borchert, alumnus and staff at our College
By Jim Borchert on Jan 30 | 10:29 am
I know a current student at Dartmouth who has faced a lot of bigotry. I am a current Frederick Douglass Academy senior and I was hesitant in applying to Dartmouth after hearing what goes on there. But after reading this piece, I am glad that the bigotry does not go unseen. It strengthens my love for the college.I will be proud to join the Class of 2017 knowing I won’t be victim to such ignorance displayed by some people. I know individuals' actions do not represent that of the whole.
By Bianca on Jan 30 | 10:36 am
Next time, please do me a favor and call that asshole a motherfucker loudly and hold him accountable to the public instead of quietly filing a report to the administration that can do nothing but send out politically appealing emails to the campus.
If you don’t know what to say, here’s a script: “Hey asshole, you wanna come back here and say that again?” If he/she doesn’t apologize, throw your water at their face and leave. Those who see it will surely give you a standing ovation as you leave.
This may seem crude and barbaric to some and hard, but through all my experiences dealing with racism as an Asian American, this is the bravest and most effective way of standing up for yourself. Too many times, bullies think Asians will take racism sitting down, which you did to some extent. Now I am glad you took some action, but that was after the fact, pretty much as an afterthought. Please, for the sake of everyone, take action and RESPOND next time.
By J ‘12 on Jan 30 | 10:49 am
Yeah, it’s definitely the greek system deterring applicants, not all these negative op-eds from the D… Fine article, but publish something less soul-crushing every once in a while.
By anon on Jan 30 | 10:59 am
I applaud the authors for making lemonade out of lemons. And J'12, I think that the perpetrator will get what he deserves. Foco happens to have a pretty good surveillance system.
By Anon on Jan 30 | 11:23 am
What a wonderful, well-written piece! It takes a lot of courage and a lot of love for Dartmouth to fight for positive change and to know that we can (and will be) better.
By alumna on Jan 30 | 11:30 am
This is such a thoughtful, wonderful and inspiring piece. The last sentence in particular is so perfect.
By Thank you on Jan 30 | 12:35 pm
The rich white guy frat gets off easy, but it is STILL hazing it’s new members, despite its president’s gloating to The Dartmouth about how they evaded real punishment for their earlier hazing!
The infamous emails: http://imgur.com/a/Rx5iW
The frat’s president’s comments:
“As Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity president Michael Fancher ’13 noted yesterday, his fraternity’s probationary period — imposed after SAE was charged with violating Standard I of the College Student Handbook — was “worded to sound worse than it actually was” (“Alpha Phi Alpha to face hazing sanctions,” Jan. 17). The fraternity faced six weeks of social probation and two further terms of supposed extra vigilance from the College.”
http://thedartmouth.com/2013/01/18/opinion/verbum
“We were on six weeks of social probation and two terms of basically saying ‘don’t mess up,’ and we didn’t,” Fancher said. “College probation is pretty standard. It’s not infrequent for a frat to be on probation.”
The requirement that Alpha Phi Alpha create an external advisory board was similar to one of the conditions in SAE’s sanctions, Fancher said. SAE national representatives and fraternity alumni, however, consider the current advisory board as an unsuccessful and unnecessary effort, and the college regulator placed on the board has only been involved in two of the seven meetings, Fancher said.
Fancher said that the campus-wide email and report published on the Office of Judicial Affairs’ website are very vague about the specific activities that resulted in disciplinary action for Alpha Phi Alpha.
“I can’t judge whether the punishment is fair or not, because I don’t know what happened,” Fancher said.
Fancher said that in the campus-wide email regarding hazing at Sigma Alpha Epsilon sent in April 2012, Associate Dean of Campus Life April Thompson was very specific in detailing what activities led to the fraternity’s probation."
http://thedartmouth.com/2013/01/17/news/hazing
By IRONY on Jan 30 | 12:36 pm
Thank you for writing this. What a wonderful piece! Dartmouth, both the administration and the community needs to acknowledge these problems on campus instead of insisting they don’t exist. It’s time to do something.
By D’11 on Jan 30 | 12:44 pm
Thank you to the authors for your courage in sharing your experience with the Dartmouth Community, and I want to thank Jennifer McGrew for her courage in sharing her experience at Dartmouth last week.
Getting these voices heard is a first step to making institutional changes. They serve as inspiration for students, as well as staff and faculty, to get more involved.
As these authors suggest, the issues raised in their op-ed, as well as those in Ms. McGrew’s, are all of our issues, not just theirs. This is especially poignant as we just passed Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
By Staff on Jan 30 | 1:04 pm
Bias IS real at Dartmouth.
The rich white guy frat got off easy, but it is STILL hazing it’s new members, despite its president’s gloating to The Dartmouth about how they evaded real punishment for their earlier hazing!
The infamous SAE emails: http://imgur.com/a/Rx5iW
By IRONY on Jan 30 | 1:12 pm
The dining halls have always been one of the preferred venues for shenanigans related to senior society taps. I recall many of my peers being given tap instructions that included the recitation of nonsense phrases, either in English or gibberish, to passers-by.
In the hypersensitive environment precipitated by Whiteboard-Gate and the bias response team, I can easily see an innocent prank being misinterpreted.
Unfortunately, given the reputation of a certain senior society, I can also imagine one of their tappees being given a deliberately racist tap mission.
I encourage the authors to attempt to identify the perpetrator. Perhaps you should try to reach out to the occupants of the second table?
By Semi Skeptical Alum on Jan 30 | 1:20 pm
Beautiful piece.
By Anon on Jan 30 | 1:55 pm
Kudos to the authors. Thank you.
By Anonymouse on Jan 30 | 2:54 pm
It is ridiculous how much racism and ignorance there is at Dartmouth. “Best and the brightest?” I think not. Alumni hate to hear this- look at “Semi Skeptical Alum.” For rich, white men, Dartmouth is heaven. Dartmouth is an amazing place, and it should be for everyone, not just rich, white men. It it time for the administration to take real steps towards fixing this problem. Forget about the alumni- this stuff is real. Let’s stay consistent with Dartmouth’s message and eradicate racism to the best of our abilities.
By Demosthenes on Jan 30 | 2:58 pm