'Compton Cookout'

" OFFICE OF THE VICE CHANCELLOR -
STUDENT AFFAIRS

CHANCELLOR'S DIVERSITY OFFICE

February 17, 2010


ALL STUDENTS AT UCSD

SUBJECT: Campus Response to Racial Incident


Over this past weekend in an off-campus apartment, a racially-themed
party was held that mocked the commemoration of Black History Month.
The party was announced on Facebook, and while the announcement has
since been removed, it was viewed by many UCSD students before being
taken down. The text of the announcement has been widely circulated, and
news of its creation has been posted on community blogs and
prospective-student recruitment sites.

Many members of our campus community who have viewed the website find
the idea of the gathering to be patently offensive. I understand that
students of color, already finding themselves seriously underrepresented
on our campus, see this incident as an example of UC San Diego's
unwelcoming climate. Others who care about strengthening our sense of
community are dismayed at the language and images chosen. My heart goes
out to all who have been affected by this incident.

I have been reminded by many in our academic community that among the
highest of academic values is our right to free expression, and yes,
this right does extend to offensive speech and misguided humor. At the
same time, I am urged by others to utilize the harshest sanctions in
responding to the organizers of this event.

Currently, Student Life staff are conducting a full investigation of the
incident and the role of registered student organizations in it. They
will determine if this violation of our Principles of Community is also
a violation of our code of conduct. They are working with the national
arms of the relevant Greek letter organizations so that those bodies may
also follow disciplinary processes.

Students most directly affected by this insensitivity feel isolated and
vulnerable in addition to angry. They need to know they are not alone
in their response to this incident. We are launching a campaign
entitled, "Not in our Community," which will allow members throughout
the community to show their support. You can join our Facebook page, or
pick up a button at the Cross-cultural Center or any Student Affairs
office soon and wear it in solidarity.

No one action or reaction will heal the hurt caused by this event.
Instead, I'd like for you to think about what you could do to help us
learn from such a thoughtless incident. Critical conversations among
trusted friends, College-based events, vigorous classroom debate-all
these and more will show that the power to build community is stronger
than the power to divide it. I also welcome your suggestion for steps
the university can take. Please feel free to share with me your
suggestions of ways to respond to this incident, or to others like it
that may go unacknowledged or unreported. You can reach me at
prue@ucsd.edu.

As members of an academic community, when stressed by acts of
intolerance and insensitivity, our collective responsibility is to come
together to discuss and learn from each other. The remedy for
dangerous, offensive or extreme speech is more speech, not less. It is
our collective voices that will show the resilience and strength of the
UC San Diego community. It is also our communal responsibility to help
those who don't understand what the big deal is, who see such expression
as satire, to understand its historic roots and its present day impact.
They need the best attention from members of the educational community.

Student Affairs and the Campus Diversity Office are currently engaged in
numerous initiatives to increase the presence of underrepresented
students and improve the campus climate for all members of our
community, and we welcome your involvement. Please join us at a
Teach-in scheduled for Feb. 24 from 12 to 2 p.m. in the Price Center
East Ballroom, where we'll explore how such incidents continue to occur
today and to discuss the importance of mutual respect and civility on
our campus.



Penny Rue
Vice Chancellor -
Student Affairs

Sandra Daley
Associate Chancellor and
Chief Diversity Officer"

Recently, there was a racist fraternity party titled, "Compton Cookout" in which the theme was to come dressed in 'ghetto' attire and perform black stereotypes which include, but isn't limited to, hypersexualized black women as well as acting 'Shanaynay'.

And this was VC Rue's response.

It says a lot about institutions when racism is protected by 'free speech' while activities of people of color are heavily militarized. Why is it that trash such as The Koala is protected under free speech yet students of color can't have a weekend conference without heavy police presence? There is an obvious material difference in the treatment of the two groups.

The point to take home is that we cannot rely on institutions invested in racist, sexist, capitalism to appropriately address the needs of the community. Despite being told by students and faculty that it's rather inappropriate to throw around this incident as a learning opportunity as if people of color are supposed to feel grateful that the privileged get to have an opportunity to learn at the expense of people of color, VC Rue not only fails to take any action against the students responsible but also reiterates this need to make this a 'learning experience'.

I don't think she was paying much attention at the town hall.

The point was to address institutional problems. There is something wrong with the institution and the climate of the institution. It is racist. It's narrow-sighted to focus strictly on what these fraternities did - we need to focus on the institution and this was not addressed by Penny Rue. Why? She is invested in the institution. Why would we appeal to someone so invested in the institution to deconstruct it? Whose interests does she serve?

People at the town hall were right, this isn't the first and won't be the last time this sort of thing happens because people entering the university are already 18ish year old products of a racist society. How do we change that?