# (![[info]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif){kind=small} _assemblage) wrote in ![[info]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/community.gif){kind=small} ucberkeley,@ 2005-09-28 17:24:00 |
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Anti-Asian American Hate Crime at U of Mich
Last week, a White University of Michigan student on a 2nd floor balcony urinated on two Asian students walking below. Racial slurs followed. Here are some articles on what happened:
http://www.michigandaily.com/vnews/disp
http://www.freep.com/news/statewire/sw1
http://www.michigandaily.com/vnews/disp
For those of you who are unfamiliar with the UM campus, it is rather diverse with a large Asian American student population standing at 13%. This is disproportionate to the state Asian American population at 1.8% (nationally we're at 3.6%). Ann Arbor itself is known as a very open minded community as a result of its association with the University and large multinational companies like Pfizer. Some like to compare the city to Madison, others call it "a cleaner Berkeley."
But there are obviously some distinct racial problems that pop up in this little bubble. I recall having some experiences myself as a student. Even more recently, about a year ago, there was an incident when some White men tried to run my husband and I off the rode while we were on our bikes (with the usual "Go back where you came from!"). I think it's about time that our communities speak out.
Here's an online petition......try reading some of the comments after the signatures. Very poignant:
http://www.petitiononline.com/aanoh
Your thoughts can also be sent to University of Michigan President Mary Sue Coleman at presoff@umich.edu .
The students are organizing a rally and some public statements around what happened, especially as the University administration has yet to take action such as expelling the students or at least make a strong statement in support of the victims. Moreover, there's already a string of denials from the perpetrators and local community's wondering if this is even an example of ethnic intimidation. Please sign the petition and email the University president. I'll send updates on other action including a public demonstration and protest letter against some radio DJs who've recently made offensive comments about this matter.
Thanks!
Linh Song, MSW
Executive Director
Mam Non Organization
www.mamnon.org
Last week, a White University of Michigan student on a 2nd floor balcony urinated on two Asian students walking below. Racial slurs followed. Here are some articles on what happened:
http://www.michigandaily.com/vnews/disp
http://www.freep.com/news/statewire/sw1
http://www.michigandaily.com/vnews/disp
For those of you who are unfamiliar with the UM campus, it is rather diverse with a large Asian American student population standing at 13%. This is disproportionate to the state Asian American population at 1.8% (nationally we're at 3.6%). Ann Arbor itself is known as a very open minded community as a result of its association with the University and large multinational companies like Pfizer. Some like to compare the city to Madison, others call it "a cleaner Berkeley."
But there are obviously some distinct racial problems that pop up in this little bubble. I recall having some experiences myself as a student. Even more recently, about a year ago, there was an incident when some White men tried to run my husband and I off the rode while we were on our bikes (with the usual "Go back where you came from!"). I think it's about time that our communities speak out.
Here's an online petition......try reading some of the comments after the signatures. Very poignant:
http://www.petitiononline.com/aanoh
Your thoughts can also be sent to University of Michigan President Mary Sue Coleman at presoff@umich.edu .
The students are organizing a rally and some public statements around what happened, especially as the University administration has yet to take action such as expelling the students or at least make a strong statement in support of the victims. Moreover, there's already a string of denials from the perpetrators and local community's wondering if this is even an example of ethnic intimidation. Please sign the petition and email the University president. I'll send updates on other action including a public demonstration and protest letter against some radio DJs who've recently made offensive comments about this matter.
Thanks!
Linh Song, MSW
Executive Director
Mam Non Organization
www.mamnon.org
