Spring Break
Law School Party Causes Stir Over Stereotypes
Lindsay Larsen
Issue date: 2/2/07 Section: News
The Law School organized a roundtable meeting on Jan. 25 to discuss the party. Strasser spoke about what occurred at the party, and then the 200 attendees of the meeting were served pizza and broke into small groups to discuss the issues at hand. The meeting "began a conversation, and [is] only the beginning" to addressing the problem, said Strasser. The meeting gave an opportunity for students to share their opinions and began the process of resolving hurt feelings.
There was a Jan. 29 community open forum with Professor Robin Barnes as a mediator. Students had the opportunity to prepare statements and speak, according to Strasser. There will be further faculty meetings to discuss the issue.
Strasser hopes students will learn the importance of appreciating their differences from this incident, as well as the importance of being professional.
Nichols says he will stop and think about how future parties are perceived by others.
"I've learned a great deal about sensitivity," Nichols said. "There certainly seems to be a disconnect between cultures at UConn Law, and I am now more sensitive to the perspective of many of my classmates."
Recently, there have been other controversies over similar parties at schools around the nation. In January, students at both Tarleton State University in Texas and Clemson University in South Carolina had parties for Martin Luther King Day and pictures were posted on Facebook.com that were deemed offensive, according to CBS News. The pictures from the Tarleton State University party were posted on thesmokingun.com and feature students wearing hip-hop apparel and giving gang hand signals, as well as one girl dressed as Aunt Jemima.
There was a Jan. 29 community open forum with Professor Robin Barnes as a mediator. Students had the opportunity to prepare statements and speak, according to Strasser. There will be further faculty meetings to discuss the issue.
Strasser hopes students will learn the importance of appreciating their differences from this incident, as well as the importance of being professional.
Nichols says he will stop and think about how future parties are perceived by others.
"I've learned a great deal about sensitivity," Nichols said. "There certainly seems to be a disconnect between cultures at UConn Law, and I am now more sensitive to the perspective of many of my classmates."
Recently, there have been other controversies over similar parties at schools around the nation. In January, students at both Tarleton State University in Texas and Clemson University in South Carolina had parties for Martin Luther King Day and pictures were posted on Facebook.com that were deemed offensive, according to CBS News. The pictures from the Tarleton State University party were posted on thesmokingun.com and feature students wearing hip-hop apparel and giving gang hand signals, as well as one girl dressed as Aunt Jemima.
Viewing Comments 1 - 10 of 18
C
posted 2/02/07 @ 8:04 AM EST
Good grief!
If a portion of the population is so "offended" by people mimicking their behaviors -- perhaps that portion of the population should clean up their "culture" so that there is nothing to mimic and thereby offend. (Continued…)
LBowden
posted 2/02/07 @ 10:09 AM EST
Wow! As a Uconn graduate I must say I was quite dismayed at not only the judgement of some of the Uconn law students, and a former president of USG, but also at utter lack of common concern some readers of this newspaper show. (Continued…)
Tim Chambers
posted 2/02/07 @ 11:45 AM EST
Makes me embarrassed to be an alum.
Keish
posted 2/02/07 @ 1:57 PM EST
I am not at all surprised that this event took place, however I am disappointed. Should I ever need an Attorney for ANYTHING: Mortgage Closing, Contracts, Traffic Violation you name it, Uconn Law is NOT EVEN THE LAST PLACE I would seek to solicit an Attorney. (Continued…)
SomethingCreative
posted 2/02/07 @ 2:22 PM EST
I'm white. People could throw a "White Rich Snobby Party" or whatever they want and I honestly couldn't care less about what they wore or drank. If you're confident in your own self-image (and obviously at a themed party people are going to take stereotypes out of proportion) then you should have no problem with a party like this. (Continued…)
Danielle
posted 2/03/07 @ 11:02 PM EST
I found the party to be very offensive not only as a black woman but as a person in general. It is unfortunate that people continue to use stereotypes judge an entire group and hide behind their ignorance as an excuse. (Continued…)
Kerry
posted 2/06/07 @ 12:47 PM EST
I agree with Danielle 100%. The stereotypes and discrimination that white people suffer from is not a reflection of 200 years of social, institutional and legal discrimination. (Continued…)
niamichelle
shaun
posted 2/09/07 @ 3:15 PM EST
I'm curious if they are imitating black rappers or the white ones like paul wall & bubba sparks with their gold teeth? I'm sure every single white student there has the hip hop stations tuned in on their radios. (Continued…)
Annette
posted 2/12/07 @ 9:58 AM EST
The theme should have been of your own back wood culture, becuz you have a culture that has for centuries needed cleaning beginning with your hillbilly ebonics, your hatred & hatred for anyone that's not you, your immaturity in 2007 to continued this racial hatred, and obviously your love for black folk that you can't admitt, and among other things your promiscuity. (Continued…)
Quesadilla
posted 11/28/07 @ 10:04 PM EST
I think it may have been racially charged, of course. It's a party where party goers portray black gangsta culture and white snobby culture. Of course the black gangsta culture is less affluent, so the party can be seen as picking on them. (Continued…)
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