De facto segregation at SDSU a result of cultural, racial division

[starang21]

Originally posted by DeltaSigStan
Despite what I said about our greek system, those who actually hang out on campus during the day (instead of going to the beach like a normal person) comprised the "inspiration" for this article, which I wanted to see if your school had the same kind of effect. I think this girl is really ignorant; if she ever took a look on a regular basis, these so called spots aren't ALWAYS dominated by one ethnic group (Or maybe it's cause I hang out at ALL these spots at various times) :

By Kinsee Morlan, Staff Writer

Even with the recent budget cuts that have caused a drop in numerical enrollment, San Diego State University President Stephen Weber promises to maintain the university's diversity enrollment in order to achieve its shared vision of creating a community that can be proud of its diversity. As far as sheer numbers go, the school has actualized this vision and Weber, along with the multicolored, multicultural student body, should scramble to the top of a mountain and proudly announce to the world that we have achieved what the civil rights movement set out to accomplish.

But wait - perhaps from the top of the mountain, Weber and the students will have a better view of what really goes on here at SDSU. From an aerial view, I'm afraid San Diego State would look more like a southern segregation state from back in the day than an integrated, highly diverse college campus. Just take a look for yourself if you haven't already noticed. Take a walk around campus to see just how "integrated" our campus really is.

Let's start our little stroll from the West Commons area where there is almost always a small pocket of black students who hang out in front of the Aztec Market. Rarely - if ever - will you see white or Asian kids in the mix, as it is simply known to be one of the black hangouts. Yet another well-known black hangout is in front of East Commons where, at almost any time throughout the day, you can find these students enjoying each other's company.

When you walk inside East Commons the theme of segregation continues. You'll see Latinos sitting at one table eating lunch and a group of Asians sitting at a table right next to them. If you walk down Centennial Walkway, you're likely to be watched by the row of generally white fraternity boys who consistently line the way.

How about a break for a quick game of pingpong? If you make your way to the lower level of the Aztec Center, there is a good chance you'll run into a large segment of SDSU's Pacific-Islander population. I could go on and on, but I'm sure you've all noticed this yourself, so I needn't waste your time.

The only reason I even bother to point it out is because this sort of de facto segregation is not supposed to exist on a college campus, but it seems to me it is the college campus itself that seems to perpetuate the problem. Groups like MEChA or the Japanese Student Society or any other culturally based student organization are a great way of maintaining one's sense of cultural identity and provide a wonderful social outlet for minority groups. However, they also draw boundaries and limit an individual's overall social network.

Personally, I would like to eliminate these culturally based student organizations, but I know that would eliminate minority voice and expression on campus, so all I can do is be aware of my self-imposed segregation and try to do something about it. I'll vow to hold on to my own culture and personal baggage, but promise to be brave enough to carry it with me to "foreign" destinations. I'll stop being so narcissistic in wanting to hang out with others who are just like me, and instead branch out to try to include a wider array of friends. If you do the same, who knows? Perhaps our aerial view will look less like Birmingham in the '60s and more like something Weber and all of us students can truly be proud of.

- Kinsee Morlan is a journalism junior.

- This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of The Daily Aztec. Send e-mail to letters@thedailyaztec.com. Anonymous letters will not be printed - include your full name, major and year in school.

sounds eerily like the movie "Higher Learning"

[Taualumna]

Originally posted by starang21
i've never seen it, and i've been a member of several asian/pacific islander associations. but hey, if you say it happens...

I went to a school where many of the Chinese students were from abroad or immigrants who have received some of their education in Chinese. However, "many" is not "all" and every one of these students can read English. However, the posters are still in Chinese.

[starang21]

Originally posted by Taualumna
I went to a school where many of the Chinese students were from abroad or immigrants who have received some of their education in Chinese. However, "many" is not "all" and every one of these students can read English. However, the posters are still in Chinese.

could it be that they are still adjusting to the new language?

[Taualumna]

Originally posted by starang21
could it be that they are still adjusting to the new language?

If they can pass the TOEFL exam, they can read well enough to understand posters posted in English. It's heck of a lot easier than reading text books! If they want to speak Chinese in the clubs, then fine. Most CBCs know how to speak anyway. However, by not printing English or bilingual signs, they are leaving out a huge group of people who may be interested in joining.

[starang21]

Originally posted by Taualumna
If they can pass the TOEFL exam, they can read well enough to understand posters posted in English. It's heck of a lot easier than reading text books! If they want to speak Chinese in the clubs, then fine. Most CBCs know how to speak anyway. However, by not printing English or bilingual signs, they are leaving out a huge group of people who may be interested in joining.

passing the TOEFL exam and being completely comfortable with a new language are completely different things. i know engineers who speak in spanish because it's easier for them. if that was their purpose, then you're right..they are excluding. but do you truly know why they printed the posters in chinese?

[Taualumna]

Originally posted by starang21
passing the TOEFL exam and being completely comfortable with a new language are completely different things. i know engineers who speak in spanish because it's easier for them. if that was their purpose, then you're right..they are excluding. but do you truly know why they printed the posters in chinese?

I don't know why they were printed in Chinese only. I asked a girl who was a member of the organization, but she won't tell me. It does sound like "CBCs and Non Chinese Need Not Apply". The only way someone like me could have gone to these activities is if we knew people who can read the language. That's quite rare. It's sort of an exclusive club, I guess...

[Munchkin03]

Originally posted by Taualumna
If they can pass the TOEFL exam, they can read well enough to understand posters posted in English.

The TOEFL is a joke. That's not just because I've seen a copy--my friends who are international students talked about how easy it was...it is very very basic English.

Originally posted by Tom Earp
Da, Rudey, maybe it is because your posts are inane and always flaming some one who does not beleve everything that you profess.

And your posts AREN'T inane? I might not always agree with Rudey, but YOU are the intolerant one, DA!

Oh Dumb BOY posting things on Your Personell point to me was infantile as is your usual style! God, what and ijiot!

Is this the pot calling the kettle black? How can you, of anyone on GC, call someone an idiot?

It's clear that you are irrelevant, intolerant, and offer very little to the GC community at hand. Game over. You lose. Please leave.

[AOII_LB93]

Originally posted by ChaosDST
At least I can always understand Rudey's posts. I can never understand Tom Earp's posts.

Ditto on that one...I've tried reading them and I've just given up. I think I need a Tom to English dictionary.
/end hijack.

[Taualumna]

But really though, there must be some student there who is comfortable enough to put together a bilingual poster. In any case, it isn't hard to read something along the lines of:

"CSA Kareoke Party at the Student Centre"

[preciousjeni]

Originally posted by Taualumna
But really though, there must be some student there who is comfortable enough to put together a bilingual poster. In any case, it isn't hard to read something along the lines of:

"CSA Kareoke Party at the Student Centre"

Maybe you could approach the president of the organization or perhaps the person in charge of publicity and explain that you'd like to understand the organization better by attending an event, but you can't understand the flyers.

The flyers may be only in Chinese because:

1) They may simply be ignorant to the fact that they are offending people.

and

2) There might just be a reason that they haven't told everyone school wide.

I know you're an alumna, so it may not necessarily be feasible for you to do this, so try to find another student who would be interested. YOU could be the start of something fresh and new for the campus!!

[Taualumna]

Originally posted by preciousjeni
Maybe you could approach the president of the organization or perhaps the person in charge of publicity and explain that you'd like to understand the organization better by attending an event, but you can't understand the flyers.

The flyers may be only in Chinese because:

1) They may simply be ignorant to the fact that they are offending people.

and

2) There might just be a reason that they haven't told everyone school wide.

I know you're an alumna, so it may not necessarily be feasible for you to do this, so try to find another student who would be interested. YOU could be the start of something fresh and new for the campus!!

No use of me doing that anymore. This was at the school I went to as an undergraduate, and it's 2-3 hours away from Toronto. I don't really know about the posters at the U of Toronto itself, since I'm pretty much confined to one building for my classes! I do know that their public ads, seen in the Asian malls are bilingual. I'm not sure about campus posters, though.

[DeltaSigStan]

Originally posted by starang21
i've never seen it, and i've been a member of several asian/pacific islander associations. but hey, if you say it happens...

All five Asian/Pacific Islander student associations here always advertise in English, and they are very diverse when it comes to that ethnicity (ie they're not predominantly Chinese or Filipino. I'd join one, but members of the Asian frat I pledged years ago are in them, and they all still hate me for joining another fraternity.

[deuika]

Interjection....You know, some people have OTHER people to take the TOEFL for them.

That Is All

[Taualumna]

Originally posted by DeltaSigStan
All five Asian/Pacific Islander student associations here always advertise in English, and they are very diverse when it comes to that ethnicity (ie they're not predominantly Chinese or Filipino. I'd join one, but members of the Asian frat I pledged years ago are in them, and they all still hate me for joining another fraternity.

Perhaps everything's in English because they're Asian/Pacific Islander associations, not ethnically based? Queen's University, where I did my bachelor's degree had several Chinese organizations alone, and this wasn't just to separate the Cantonese speakers from the Mandarin speakers. What's funny is that Queen's is often seen as a "white" school!