ASIAN OUTLOOK volume XXIX, issue 1
Vol. XXIX, Issue 1
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Volume XXIX, Issue 1
contents ASIAN OUTLOOK 2
ASIAN OUTLOOK
featured 4 | Syrian Refugee Crisis | Amanda Pearson 6 | Hollywood Whitewashing | Calvin Chan 9 | Death of Sunny Kim | Leslie Park
editorials 10 | College Students and Politics | Alex Ching 13 | Confessions of an Asian Comedian | Lyla Cerulli 14 | What is Brotherhood to You? | Ting Lin 18 | Ellen Pao | Brian Kang 20 | Ahmed Mohamed and his Clock | Angela Wu 23 | One-Punch Man Review | Dale Gao
column 16 | Starting With a Chicken | Lily Ku
arts & entertainment 23 | One-Punch Man Review | Dale Gao 24 | Chungking Express Review | Jin Hwi Hong
conscience 28 | Jason Cruz 30 | Star Gould 31 | Belle Lai
letter from the editor...
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ASIAN OUTLOOK EXECUTIVE BOARD FALL 2015 editors-in-chief
t has been a while since we last published an issue.
Over
the summer,
and during the first half of this semester, there has been a lot of news that deserves attention.
As I look through the submissions for our first issue, a central theme seems to be the need for more cultural and political understanding. For example, the story of Ahmed Mohammed and his arrest over bringing a clock to school reflects the dangers of racial profiling. Another op-ed piece, dealing with Hollywood whitewashing of Asian roles, argues for the importance of Asian and Asian-American representation in the media as well as its correlation to our visibility as a diverse and relevant culture group in America. I hope you enjoy all the pieces we have published for this issue, and take some time to consider the serious issues that our writers address in their pieces. I also want to take a moment to encourage all our readers to go beyond their comfort levels and do something bold this semester. Personally, I never thought I would be part of a magazine, had it not been for a B-Line notice, an uneventful day, and my roommate suggesting, “Why not go?” and I have been better off ever since. For me, it is the thrill of adventure, and the pleasure of learning something new that makes college exciting, so I hope you do the same. Finally, I want to thank the Asian Student Union and the other subgroups, especially the other Board of Directors members. Both Calvin and I sincerely enjoy all the diverse banquets, shows, and events that you all have held, and it is clear that all the hard work pays off. We still have a substantial amount of the semester left, but it has already been one of the most memorable ones so far. I also want to thank all those who submitted to the magazine, as your works greatly improve the quality of the magazine. I hope everyone has a great semester, and I hope you enjoy the issue. Alex Ching Editor-in-Chief, Fall 2015
conscience editor copy editors
layout editors
secretary business manager publicity manager
Calvin Chan Alex Ching Anna Lin Angela Wu Angeles Yeung Brian Kang Eric Liang Airi Kojima Anita Wong Fia Le Ting Lin Cat Cortes Leslie Park Carney Zeng
EDITORIAL POLICY Asian Outlook is the art, literary and news magazine of the Asian Student Union of SUNY’s Binghamton University. Originally conceived and created to challenge, redefine, re-imagine and revolutionize images and perceptions associated with Asians and Asian Americans, Asian Outlook also serves to protect the voice of those in the minority, whether by ethnicity, gender, and/or political orientation. All matter contained within these beautiful pages do not necessarily reflect the views of the editorial board. Asian Outlook reserves the right to edit submissions and publish work as deemed appropriate. Prospective contributors are encouraged to discuss their work with the editors prior to submissions. Articles may be submitted as an e-mail attachment to ao.editor@gmail.com. All artistic and literary pieces may be submitted to aoconscience@gmail.com.
CONTACT POLICY Uninvited contact with writers and contributors is forbidden under punishment of pain. Please direct all questions, comments and complaints to ao.editor@gmail.com. interested in contributing?
E-mail us at:
ao.editor@gmail.com
Or come to our weekly meetings held in the Asian Student Union office (UUW-329) every Thursday at 8:00 p.m.
Vol. XXIX, Issue 1
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The Syrian Refugee Crisis: How One Photo Changed Everything By Amanda Pearson
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T ALL STARTED WITH A PHOTO. ON SEPTEMBER 2, an image of three-year-old Aylan Kurdi shocked the world and brought a face to the Syrian refugee crisis. The photo became a symbol of the tragedy that thousands of refugees have and continue to face as they try to seek asylum in Europe. This is not a new situation for Syria. Syrian refugees have been seeking asylum for the past four years, ever since civil war broke out during the Arab Spring. Over the years, various military, rebel, and religious groups have fought in Syria, with the most notorious of them being the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria, more commonly known as ISIS. Currently, Syrians face war-torn villages, demolished cities, and the constant presence of death in their homeland. These are push factors for more than four million Syrian refugees seeking asylum in various countries throughout Europe. The online response to the photo was immediate, with many expressing their sympathy for Aylan’s father, Abdullah Kurdi, who lost not only his three-year-old son, but also his five-year-old son, Galip, as well as his wife, Rehan. As the media spotlight focused on Kurdi, more news came out about how he had lost his family
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at sea. According to The Independent, the 15-foot long plastic raft that his family was attempting to escape on was being led by a Turkish captain who “panicked when high waves battered the boat and jumped into the sea.” It was at that point when Abdullah took control of the raft, but it was eventually overtaken by the dangerous waters and capsized. As he and his family were thrown into the Mediterranean Sea, Abdullah discovered his two sons were dead in the most heartbreaking way: he found one son alive and left him to go find the other, only to discover he had drowned, and upon returning to the other son discovered he had drowned as well. His wife, Rehan, was unable to swim and also drowned. The family originally lived in Damascus, but fled to Kobani before finally stopping in Turkey, where they were funded by monthly donations from Abdullah’s sister, Tima Kurdi, who lived in Canada. They finally made the decision to try escaping into Germany in order to seek asylum due to the lack of work opportunities for Abdullah in Turkey, where many Syrian refugees live but are unable to find work. After the death of his family, Kurdi’s sister offered to bring Abdullah to Canada to stay with her. Instead, he returned to his hometown in Kobani, Syria to
bury his wife and two children. As he said to the IBTimes, “I want to be close to my family’s grave, to be able to visit them every day.” The response from the international community called for more to be done for Syrian refugees and called out the lack of action from both the European Union and several Gulf countries. Germany’s Chancellor, Angela Merkel, announced that Germany would open up their borders and resources for all refugees seeking asylum. So far, the country has accepted more than 450,000 refugees and they hope to expect to take in 800,000 refugees by 2016. Even though this was a huge victory for activists, it has sparked much controversy. Many European nations are unwilling to accept as many refugees, and some countries’ leaders have even gone so far as to close their borders entirely, as was the case with Hungary. Much concern also stems from how the economy of these nations will survive to support not only their own people, but also the massive influx of refugees seeking asylum. However, as studies have shown, refugee populations have positively impacted developing nations by lowering the unemployment rate, creating businesses, and increasing low birth rates. If more European nations were to openly accept refugees, it would not only benefit them economically, but also in that refugees would no longer have to cross borders illegally or risk their lives crossing dangerous seas. In the Middle East, the largest populations of Syrian refugees are in parts of Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, and also Lebanon, a small country that is running out of resources to properly accommodate the more than one million refugees who have sought shelter within its borders. With so many entering into these neighboring countries, a different question has arisen; namely, how many have entered into Saudi Arabia, one of the wealthiest countries in the world with a GDP over $700 billion? The answer: zero. That’s right, zero refugees. Bahrain, Yemen, Oman, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, and Kuwait have accepted zero Syrian refugees, mainly because these countries did not sign the 1951 Refugee Convention agreement given by the UN, which officially defined refugee status and the rights that holders of that status are entitled to. Another reason is that some Gulf countries have been linked to ISIS as supporters of the faction, which has resulted in the countries not taking a firm stance in opposition against them. However, Saudi Arabia and Yemen have donated over $1 billion in relief funds for refugees in Lebanon and Jordan. Despite these large financial contributions towards the
DONATE OR VOLUNTEER TODAY: http://donate.unhcr.org/international/general http://www.arcrelief.org http://www.rescue.org
plight of Syrian refugees, the lack of social and political inaction has left devastating effects. More than 2 million Syrian children are refugees, and they are in need of proper shelter, healthcare, food and water, clothing, and education. Many cross several borders alone because they have either been separated from their families or they have lost them as a result of the war. The dangerous consequences of traveling illegally through several European countries and risking death or abuse could be curbed if more Gulf countries opened their borders to them. The impact would be significant, as millions of refugees would be able to remain closer to their homelands and be surrounded by people who share a similar language and similar cultural beliefs. Perhaps if more neighboring Gulf countries had been willing to open their borders, Abdullah Kurdi would still have his family today. Perhaps Kobani would not be remembered as the final resting place for his wife and children, along with 11 of his other family members who died as a result of an ISIS attack three months ago, but instead as a place of hope for them to return. However, that is not the case, and as the fighting continues throughout Iraq and Syria, such a thing seems less and less likely. Today, the whereabouts of Kurdi are unknown. He was last spotted in Kobani, unable to find work, yet determined to do one thing: fight against ISIS. He said, “I feel like I have lost everything, that my life is over but I must fight and struggle for what’s left.” So what are we left to do? Well, there are ways that we can help. There are many organizations that provide clothing, food, tents, and healthcare such as the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, the American Refugee Committee, and the International Rescue Committee. As college students, we can make a difference. As Abdullah put it himself, “People have offered me help, but that help … should go to all in Kobani, to everyone living here.” The more we advocate for the voiceless, the more they will be heard. Offer not just your money but your time, your skills, and your voice for a cause that is in need of more help, volunteers, and supporters.
Works Cited - Barnard, Anne, and Karam Shoumali. “The New York Times.” Image of Drowned Syrian, Aylan Kurdi, 3, Brings Migrant Crisis Into Focus. The New York Times, 3 Sept. 2015. Web. 26 Oct. 2015. -Beauchamp, Zack. “The Syrian Refugee Crisis, Explained in One Map.” Vox. Vox, 27 Sept. 2015. Web. 26 Oct. 2015. -Mackey, Robert. “The New York Times.” Brutal Images of Syrian Boy Drowned Off Turkey Must Be Seen, Activists Say. The New York Times, 2 Sept. 2015. Web. 26 Oct. 2015. -Malsin, Jared. “Why Some Arabs States Refuse to Accept Syrian Refugees.” Time. Time, 8 Sept. 2015. Web. 26 Oct. 2015. -Paton, Kallum. “Aylan Kurdi: Father of ‘boy on the Beach’ Vows to Fight Islamic State in Kobani.” IBTimes. N.p. , 8 Sept. 2015. Web. 20 Oct. 2015. -Weise, Zia. The Independent. Independent Digital News and Media, 3 Sept. 2015. Web. 26 Oct. 2015.
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Hollywood Whitewashing By Calvin Chan
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I heard that Warner Bros. was going to do a liveDeath Note, I was ecstatic. Death Note is an extremely popular manga series in Japan, that spawned a 37-episode animated series and two Japanese live-action movies: Death Note, Death Note: The Last Name, and the spinoff L: Change the World. The manga is about a high school student named Light Yagami, who discovers a notebook that allows him to kill anyone simply by writing their name in the book. I was a huge fan of this series when I was younger, and I still remembering reading the manga under my desk in middle school when I should have been paying attention in class. With this Hollywood adaptation, one of my favorite stories is going to be introduced to a huge, international audience, and needless to say, I was extremely excited. hen
action adaptation of the popular manga series
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My excitement was quickly dashed when, to my outrage and to the outrage of many other manga and anime fans, Warner Bros. recently announced that they’re going to cast Nat Wolff as Light Yagami. Nat Wolff is a talented actor, and he was great in Paper Towns and The Fault in our Stars, but why is he playing a character called Light Yagami when there are plenty of talented Asian actors working in Hollywood? It happens every time an Asian story finds its way to Hollywood; the story is literally bleached of its soul, and the Asian characters are replaced by white actors. Similar outrage was seen when it was announced that Scarlett Johansson was cast in Ghost in the Shell. Often, Hollywood adaptations of anime stories keep their fantasy setting and context, but for some reason, think it’s okay to substitute white faces for Asian ones. Hollywood has shown time and time again that they love our stories, but they just want to keep us out of them. There are almost no lead roles for Asians in Hollywood, and as a result, we get little to no visibility in the media. Lead roles are important because the audience roots for this character, and they are given enough screen time to be complex and multifaceted human beings. Even when there are roles for us, it’s typically just for a onedimensional side character. Usually when you see a person of color in films, they are just secondary characters who do little more than move the plot along or provide comic relief by reinforcing some racist stereotype. Turn on the TV or go to the movies, and you’re bound to see the sassy black female friend or the awkward, nerdy Asian guy appear alongside the protagonist to make him orher look good.
Although you may not realize it, the media is a huge part of our daily lives. Media affects our subconscious and our perceptions, and without adequate representation in the media, Asians will always be tangibly affected in society. When you’re constantly afforded visibility in films and on TV, you get the privilege of a diverse colorful representation. White people can be seen as a doctor, a plumber, the good guy, the bad guy, or even a morally gray character. Because of the limited visibility of Asian Americans in media, we’re seen with a much more limited scope than our white peers. When Asian characters do show up on the silver screen, a lot more weight is ascribed to that person’s actions. As a result, even though there are billions of Asian people, a few select individuals end up representing the entire group. For some Americans who don’t come into contact with many Asian people, all they know is Bruce Lee, Jackie Chan, the nerdy Asian IT guy, and the hyper-sexualized Asian girl. The problem is that most of us don’t fit into any of these categories. Asians in America continue to not be seen as individuals, but as a group.
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The job pool for Asian American actors in Hollywood is already shallow. Hollywood typically uses the excuse that there just aren’t enough roles for us in the industry. But how can they justify this now? A lead role pops up that is written for an Asian actor and would be perfect for an Asian actor, and Hollywood goes and casts a white actor instead. This speaks to a much larger issue of institutionalized racism in the machine that is Hollywood. Asian American actors are refused audition opportunities because “they weren’t looking to go ethnic with this film” or because they’re “only auditioning white actors for this role.” Most of the important roles in movies and TV shows today are still reserved for a certain demographic. It is okay if the Asian American actors were not qualified for the part, but to be denied entry through the door is just not excusable in 2015.
A common counterpoint is that Hollywood is a business and that they just want to make money. They believe that casting white actors in Asian roles will make them more “relatable” and increase box office numbers, but a large body of evidence shows the opposite is true. A lot of recent films where they bleach the story and change the Asian character’s ethnicity end up flopping. The results have been awful movies both financially and critically, such as Dragonball Evolution, which tried to pass off Justin Chatwin as Goku, Speed Racer, which starred Emile Hirsch as the titular character, and most recently, The Last Airbender, which replaced all the ethnic main characters with white actors. When you whitewash a film, it usually drives people away from it because you’re pissing off the core fan base of the original material. Audiences want diverse and authentic movies, and Hollywood isn’t giving it to them. Not only does this practice not make sense financially, but this type of cultural appropriation is socially irresponsible.
It’s ridiculous that in this day and age, this type of practice is still happening in Hollywood, especially when TV shows that star minority casts are quite successful on the small screen. Shows with an especially Asian American cast, like Fresh off the Boat and Dr. Ken, are doing quite well in the ratings department. This is evidence that Americans can relate to Asian characters and having an Asian cast doesn’t make the show alien or any less relatable. This type of institutionalized racism in Hollywood has got to stop. Like Viola Davis said in her stirring Emmy acceptance speech, “you cannot win an Emmy for roles that are simply not there.” And you can replace an Emmy with any other type of accolade.
Sources: http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2015/09/30/hollywood-s-anime-whitewashing-epidemic-nat-wolff-to-starin-death-note.html http://blog.angryasianman.com/2015/09/nat-wolff-to-star-in-live-action-death.html
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THE DEATH OF SUNNY KIM I
By Leslie Park
May of this year, a 26-year-old South Korean burying Kim’s body. He also claimed to have attempted to woman was strangled to death in her apartment in a commit suicide afterwards, showing his slit writs. Some believe this was an act to gain sympathy for his fake guilt. murder of revenge. The victim’s name was Sunny Kim, an English-language Nevertheless, many people are probably wondering how instructor in Busan, South Korea. She graduated from strange it is that none of Kim’s family members or close SUNY Albany in 2011 with degrees in both Economics and friends noticed her disappearance for those two weeks. East Asian Studies. She was also a member of the sorority The reason for the obliviousness was Lee’s strategy of Kappa Phi Lambda, Upsilon chapter at her time in Albany. impersonation. To prevent any suspicions, Lee stole The person responsible for her death was identified as Mr. Kim’s phone to impersonate her on her social media and Lee, Kim’s former boyfriend at the time. It was believed through text messages. He would regularly message her that Kim had met him through her work, and they were family members, such as her sister. He had even emailed originally in a teacher-student relationship. Over time, Kim’s company, where she was recently hired, to decline their relationship grew to that of lovers. However, Kim’s the job offer, with the excuse that she was returning to the relationship with Lee was not a healthy one. A year ago, her United States. The last message that Sunny had actually sent to her family was a message friends had revealed private telling them that she was hired for photos of Kim’s brutally a new job. battered face with what It is tragic to hear that such an appeared to be numerous atrocity ended her life on the day bruises and broken fingers, she should have celebrated her new allegedly caused by Lee. job. In an effort to help out their Sadly, no charges were filed. former sorority sister’s family, Nevertheless, the photos the sisters of Kappa Phi Lambda revealed Lee’s abusive created a gofundme page in order behavior. Their relationship to help with the funeral expenses. consisted of a long history It is difficult to imagine how her of domestic abuse, and even family must have felt when they stalking. Unfortunately, discovered that the person they Kim’s friends and colleagues believed they were communicating were not aware of the with was not really Sunny Kim, severity of the situation. but her murderer. Kim’s sister Before the murder described her parents as “really transpired, Lee had followed supportive,” and stated that Kim to her apartment that they wanted big things for their evening, breaking in and children. Now that any chances of strangling her in her sleep. A graduation photo of Sunny Kim. “big things” happening for one of She had allegedly broken up with him not too long ago and Lee refused to accept their children were gone, they are probably having a tough it. Through a fit of rage, he ended her life. It didn’t end time coping. This was clearly an unjust death. She was there for Lee though. He needed to cover his tracks, thus taken too soon, and my condolences go out to her family. I leading to the concealment of Kim’s body. The next day, am sure we all hope that her death will be avenged through Lee packed Kim’s body into a large luggage bag, rented a the law, with no leeway due to Lee’s sympathy stunt. car, and drove to the mountains near Cheonpung Lake in Chungcheong. He buried the bag, which still contained Kim’s body, and enclosed it with a coat of cement and Sources: https://storyofsunny.wordpress.com/ naphthalene to mask the scent. The violent murder allegedly happened on May 2, but http://totalsororitymove.com/kappa-phi-lambda-at-the-universityat-albany-raise-14000-in-one-day-for-a-sister-who-was-murdered/ the police were not aware of the matter until May 22, which http://iamkoream.com/friends-family-of-murdered-south-koreanis when Lee ran to the police and confessed to killing and woman-seek-justice/ n early
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On American Discourse: College Students and Politics By Alexander Ching
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couple of weeks ago,
I had the pleasure of talking to one of my former professors. We were discussing the current state of the presidential primaries (this conversation being prior to the Democratic primary debate held by CNN), and I professed my disinterest with the current candidates. My professor perfectly summed up my attitude towards the contenders for the presidency by saying, “It feels depressing, doesn’t it?” At this simple, off-hand comment, I was speechless. In one sentence, my professor was able to articulate all my angst, self-doubt and anger towards the current state of American politics. I first want to add an aside and say that I consider myself a centrist. I believe that the Affordable Care Act was a good idea, but at the same time I support a stronger American foreign policy compared to the status quo vis a vis the Obama administration’s policy. Similarly, while I do not support Donald Trump specifically because of his views towards immigrants, I am equally hesitant to support Bernie Sanders, based on his lacking foreign policy and idealistic views. My professor told me that she felt the same. While I was happy that someone else understood my political stances, I began to doubt my position as I started to wonder about why I felt as if there was a void in politics, about this feeling that Republicans and Democrats were bickering with each other instead of having more constructive disputes. I would now like to provide some evidence to support the claim that politics is currently extremely divisive. A few days before I met with my professor, John Boehner, the Speaker of the House, announced his retirement at the end of this October. While Boehner held ideological differences with Democrats, his strongest opponents came from within his own party. Tea Party Republicans viewed Boehner with contempt; many believed that he was not conservative enough and unwilling to stand behind
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the Republican ideology of limited government. This divisiveness materialized over large legislative battles, especially over the debt ceiling, against which Tea Party Republicans argued vehemently, in turn creating financial uncertainty. (Recall that the rating agency S&P reduced the country’s credit rating during debt-ceiling negotiations during August 2011.) It is clear that even within our political parties, which we often assume are comprised of a core group of like-minded individuals, there instead exists large, fractured movements that cannot agree on how to lead. These differences span between parties as well. The Pew Research Center showed that there is increasing animosity between voters of both parties. According to polls, 38 percent of Democrats today now view Republicans “very unfavorably,” compared to 16 percent of Democrats in 1994. For today’s Republicans, 43 percent of them now view Democrats “very unfavorably,” compared to 17 percent in 1994. While the Pew data shows other interesting trends, what is striking here is that there seems to be less and less room for compromise. What happened? Some may say that politics is always divisive, that it is `oftentimes a zero-sum game. While I agree that politics almost always produces a winner and a loser, I also believe that there is a difference between disagreeing with a member of the opposing political party and viewing them with contempt. I believe that today, we are more likely to not only disagree with someone but also use that ideological basis as grounds to evaluate their moral character. I am reminded of the (falsely attributed) Voltaire quote, “I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it.” It seems that today, not only are we, as a society, moving further and further away from defending free speech, we are also only allowing a certain type of speech to exist. The strongest evidence for this comes
Two of the most prominent 2016 presidential candidates, Bernie Sanders and Donald Trump
from the “politically correct” crowd, which comprises many college students. Just this October, the Wesleyan University student government voted unanimously (270) to slash the budget for the student newspaper known as the Wesleyan Argus, amid controversy surrounding its publishing of an op-ed regarding the “Black Lives Matter” movement. I will get back to the issue of college students, the “politically correct” community, and how we, as college students, are limiting the space for discourse, but first I want to get to the root of the issue: the Internet and the rise of digital media. I think the biggest problem we have nowadays is that most of our news comes from those people who conform to our own views; specifically, our friends and family. Often our understanding of the world comes from the views of our parents. It may be that as we grow up, our political beliefs changes according to what we experience personally, but it is certainly the case that we start off looking at politics through the same lens as our families. What makes our generation (that is, current college students) different from our parents and their forefathers is that we have grown up with the Internet. This is important because it means that we receive news sources very differently than they did. Twenty or thirty years ago, to get the news, we would either have to watch TV, or, in most cases, go to a store where all types of publications surrounded us, from strictly conservative newspapers to liberal ones. Today, a lot of us receive the news via social media, where we aren’t surrounded by all types of news and opinions; instead, we are only aware of the ones we “follow.” Even if you don’t
get the news via social media, but instead have your sites bookmarked or sent via a RSS feed, you are still surrounded by the views you are most familiar with. It may be that you subscribe to a wide array of media that cover a number of ideological views, in which case I am very happy. But can you say the same for your friends? The problem of reading “comfortable” literature is that we miss the whole story. By only sticking with one interpretation of the facts, we don’t consider the other arguments, which can only detract from our understanding. This near-sightedness proves costly, as we then falsely believe that our understanding of the situation is “just” or “perfect,” while neglecting any other reasonable explanations. Perhaps the most blatant example of this occurred immediately following the Democratic presidential debate. The media group known as “NowThis” released a short video trying to incite controversy over CNN’s proclamation that Hillary Clinton won the debate. They theorized that CNN had deleted a poll on Facebook showing that Bernie Sanders had won the debate, and that not only did CNN disregard the facts, they also resolved Hillary to be the winner because CNN was owned by Time Warner, a company that had donated a large amount of money to Clinton’s campaign. However, the facts showed quite the opposite. CNN did not delete the Facebook poll, and Don Lemmon, one of CNN’s anchors, even referenced the poll on live television. Yet not only did “NowThis” not retract the video after its inaccuracies were demonstrated, but Sanders supporters also continued to spam social media sites, proclaiming CNN to be in cahoots with Hillary.
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Sander supporters called one writer for Slate magazine a “hack,” questioning whether the writer had taken money from Clinton’s campaign to publish a piece saying that Clinton had won the debate—all while disregarding the writer’s reasons for declaring Clinton the winner. While it is clear that the Internet age has allowed people to become more entrenched in their views, what might
“Anybody who comes to speak to you and you disagree with, you should have an argument with them, but you shouldn’t silence them by saying you can’t come because I’m too sensitive to hear what you have to say.” - Barack Obama
not be so clear is how this affects us as college students. I previously mentioned how the current generation of college students has grown up with digital media, and I have just given an example of how dangerous such media can be. The next is to show how college students can potentially become more biased in terms of our political ideology; this is where the idea of political correctness comes in. I see dangerous censorship via political correctness to be the culmination of being entrenched in our specific literature. We have come to believe that the things we read on the Internet to be the complete truth, regardless of competing opinions, such that we “own” the space for all discourse on the subject. To some, their beliefs are the only ones that matter because they haven’t confronted any arguments against them, due to the fact that they have been so selective about what they choose to consume and what is immediately on their radar. This has become dangerous to the point where students and some faculty at Rutgers rejected Condolezza Rice as a candidate to deliver the commencement speech for the 2014 graduating class. The rejection was on the grounds of her participation in
Bush-era policies, yet Rice’s previous speeches showed no indication that she would use this as a political soapbox. For another example, take the article published on Vox titled “I’m a liberal professor, and my liberal students terrify me.” The writer mentions how he felt the threat of being fired based on the literature his students were exposed to. He recounts an incident where students were angry about being exposed to the works of Edward Said and Mark Twain, whom the students found offensive, and these students’ complaints eventually prevented a colleague, who was teaching the course, from having his contract renewed by the school. What has happened is that there now exists, to borrow the words of Charles Cooke of the National Review, an “intellectual veto” against ideas students find discomforting. Part of the reason such hypersensitivity exists is because current college students have not been continuously exposed to opposing viewpoints. It is not that opposing viewpoints are necessarily “more right” than the ones each person believes. But it is important because it poses a challenge, à la the Socratic method: asking each of us if what we believe is logically sounder than the opposition. By refusing to listen to contrary beliefs, people forgo the ability to test their own ideologies. As Descartes said, “If you would be a real seeker of truth, it is necessary that at least once in your life you doubt as far as possible, all things.” And it isn’t just Descartes and I who believe this. As President Obama recently said, “I’ve heard of some college campuses where they don’t want to have a guest speaker who is too conservative, or they don’t want to read a book if it had language that is offensive to African Americans or somehow sends a demeaning signal towards women. I’ve got to tell you, I don’t agree with that either -- that you when you become students at colleges, you have to be coddled and protected from different points of view. Anybody who comes to speak to you and you disagree with, you should have an argument with them, but you shouldn’t silence them by saying you can’t come because I’m too sensitive to hear what you have to say.” Civil discourse is the core of democracy. We can all help to keep it alive by reading ideologically challenging material.
Sources: http://www.people-press.org/2014/06/12/section-2-growing-partisan-antipathy/ http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2014-02-11/house-republicans-seek-democratic-help-for-debt-limit http://www.voltaire.ox.ac.uk/www_vf/about_voltaire/didnt_say.pdf http://www.wsj.com/articles/black-lives-op-ed-rift-endangers-funds-for-wesleyan-university-newspaper-1445302376 https://www.facebook.com/NowThisPolitics/videos/1039640349400788/ http://dailycaller.com/2015/10/15/bernie-backers-declare-war-on-cnn-for-naming-hillary-debate-winner/ http://www.slate.com/blogs/the_slatest/2015/10/14/bernie_won_polls_not_the_debate_hillary_won_the_debate.html http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2014/05/05/rutgers-s-silly-condoleezza-rice-protest.html http://www.nationalreview.com/article/415932/new-mccarthyism-exists-it-has-nothing-do-ted-cruz-charles-c-w-cooke https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2015/09/15/obama-says-liberal-college-students-should-not-be-coddled-are-we-really-surprised/
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ASIAN OUTLOOK
Confessions of an Asian Comedian
By Lyla Cerulli
Lyla Cerulli is the President of the on-campus stand up comedy club, Bing Stand Up. She is a junior majoring in Classics with a minor in Education.
L
I was asked to participate in a “roast battle,” I Asian jokes that were immediately thrown in my direction. My personal favorites were “you put the ‘c*nt’ in country” and “do you pronounce your name ‘Ryra Ceruri’?” Honestly, I should not have been surprised. Comedy is all about finding the unusual thing in a situation, and I was the unusual thing—being the only Asian female in the whole bar. But when he said that, I felt a shift I have never felt before. The audience stopped seeing me as an individual who happened to be Asian and suddenly saw me as a representative for an entire demographic. I became aware that the white male comedians were getting insults about their possible or impossible love lives, how they would die alone, and how their dreams of being big comedians would never be reality. I was not afforded that courtesy. This type of alienation, combined with either blatant or latent racism, drives many minorities away from comedy. It does not seem to matter if you are a woman, a person of color, or even a woman of color, because as soon as you acknowledge that you are different, you become a representative of an entire demographic. And with that unwelcomed representation comes expectations that one may feel pressured to meet. There is almost an unspoken Photo by Jason Cruz need to satisfy white audiences by rehashing stereotypes that they are familiar with instead of sharing actual experiences of being a minority. Margaret Cho, whose comedy career started picking up in the nineties, spoke about a poster created for one of her first shows. The producers took her picture and added a long black braid normally attributed to Chinese workers and a large bowl of rice with chopsticks sticking out of it. The caption read “Margaret Cho: Proof that the Chinese are No Laughing Matter.” She is Korean. I could go on about the disgusting generalizations of Asia, but I would like to focus on how these producers took away Cho’s individualism. Much like my experience during the roast battle, she was not portrayed as a person, but as a joke. This does not mean that Asian or other minority comedians who point out their ethnicity in their routines are turning themselves into a demographic. Margaret Cho herself, as well as other comedians, such as Russell Peters, Esther Ku, and Kumail Nanjiani, makes references and searing commentary on her own culture. The difference between these two things is that these comics are making fun of their own culture on their own terms. They are writing their own jokes and reclaiming stereotypes that have been thrown in their faces. Asian comics should not be barred from self-deprecating humor just because audiences forget that comics of color are not representative of an entire race. When I make a self-deprecating joke about how I feel that my mom will never be truly proud of me, people may say that I am reinforcing the stereotype of the “tiger mom.” But the truth is, many people, across all cultures, feel that they will never be good enough for their parents. When I talk about that feeling on stage, it does not just resonate with people who have similar backgrounds that I have. It is a shared experience, and comedy is all about shared experiences. Whether it is the performance itself or an everyday story that is the shared experience, comedy shows have a tendency to unite people. But on the off chance that a comedian’s jokes seem to leave people feeling unwelcomed for things that are out of their control, such as their sexual orientation, gender identity, or race, it is not a good joke. And all I want to do in this life is to write a few good jokes. Vol. XXIX, Issue 1 ast spring when
was stunned by the amount of
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B
Andy Meng (on the left with his sister, Rep. Grace Meng) got arrested for connection to the death of Chun (Michael) Deng.
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ASIAN OUTLOOK
By Ting Lin
lindfolded, wearing a heavy backpack, and getting tackled as he navigated towards the direction calling his name was the beginning of a nightmare for 19-year-old, Chun Hsien Deng. Deng, also known as Michael, was a first year student. He died in December of 2013 after taking part in a fraternity ritual with the Baruch Colony of Pi Delta Psi during a weekend retreat to the Poconos. Deng was forced to run across a frozen field with a backpack filled with 20 to 30 pounds of sand. A fraternity brother told police that Deng did not do the things that he was supposed to and “got the ‘bros’ mad.” One of the brothers ran towards him with his head lowered and another threw him to the ground. As a result, Deng suffered many brain injuries. Instead of calling for the police, those involved decided to call the fraternity’s national president, Andy Meng. He instructed the members to hide anything that would implicate the fraternity, such as fraternity letters, paddles and banners. Others even searched online for things like “concussion can’t wake up” and “snoring but not waking up” to find solutions. Medical help was delayed, and by the time Deng was brought to the hospital, it was too late. Five individuals have been arraigned on murder charges and 32 others will be charged with lesser crimes, such as hazing and hindering apprehension. Third-degree murder can include a penalty of 20 years in prison. This is not the first hazing incident that has occurred in an Asian American fraternity. Asian American Greek organizations have grown over time as they have felt alienated from traditional Greek life and began to create
their own. Students who tried to join Nu Alpha Phi at Syracuse University were punished for making mistakes while pledging. One night in March, three pledges were forced to exercise in an outdoor park, rolling and crawling in the snow with no gloves. They were only allowed to wear their pledge uniforms, which consisted of hooded sweatshirts, pants and boots. There have also been many incidents with the fraternity, Lambda Phi Epsilon. The first death was that of Peter Tran, a student at San Francisco State University. He died after attending a fraternity party in 2013. Phanta Phoummarath, a student at No Excuses, No Hazing - Hazng Preventation Oganization the University of Texas at Austin, also died after drinking at a fraternity party in 2005. Pi Delta Psi, founded by eleven men at Binghamton University in 1994 as an “Asian American Cultural Fraternity,” aims to “spread Asian American Cultural awareness in an effort to empower the entire Asian American community.” After the incident, Baruch College not only permanently banned Pi Delta Psi, but also issued a temporary prohibition on the pledging process of every Greek social organization. This debarment was later extended until the summer of 2018. Greek life is not a large part of the student body at Baruch College. Among its 15,000 undergraduate students, only about 100 are active members of a social Greek organization. It is also not the quintessential image of what comes to mind when you think of Greek life. For example, Pi Delta Psi does not have a residential house and shares its official meeting room with two other clubs. Some students are disappointed with the decision to prohibit pledging on campus. In a New York Times article, Phillip Choe, president of Lambda Phi Epsilon at Baruch College said, “if you attend a commuter school, it’s difficult to find a sense of belonging.” When he spoke of Greek life, he said that it was a chance to have a family within the school. Students like Nathalie Rae Pilaza, former president of the Kappa Phi Alpha sorority at Baruch, have felt that the school is eliminating all Greek organizations. She also noted that when she joined her sorority in her first year, there were more than 20 members, and now, there are fewer than five. There have been efforts to educate people about hazing, including National Hazing Prevention Week which took place during September 21-25 this year. According to hazingprevention.org, its goal is “to raise awareness about the problem of hazing, [educate] others about hazing, and promote the prevention of hazing.” There are even flyers and resource guides available to bring further awareness to this serious issue. National Hazing Prevention Week is a good approach to educate people about the harms of hazing, but it is not enough. It is not a topic that should be discussed for a mere week. Universities should make sure that they have ongoing conversations with Greek organizations about hazing and have stricter oversight of the pledging process. The death of a student should not have been necessary to bring this issue to the surface. Sources: http://www.nytimes.com/2013/12/12/nyregion/baruch-college-student-dies-in-fraternity-pledge-ritual-in-poconos.html?ref=topics http://www.nytimes.com/2015/09/15/nyregion/5-from-baruch-college-face-murder-charges-in-2013-fraternity-hazing.html http://www.nytimes.com/2015/09/16/nyregion/baruch-college-fraternity-hazing-death-case.html http://www.nytimes.com/2015/09/24/nyregion/baruchs-greek-organizations-say-ban-on-pledging-effectively-shuts-them-down.html http://www.nytimes.com/2015/10/13/nyregion/hazing-and-drinking-deaths-at-asian-american-fraternities-raise-concerns.html?_r=2 http://hazingprevention.org/home/prevention/national-hazing-prevention-week/ http://www.pideltapsi.com/ http://www.syracuse.com/crime/index.ssf/2015/03/syracuse_university_fraternity_pledges_punished_with_exercises_3_times_a_day_for.html http://www.cnn.com/2015/10/22/us/pi-delta-psi-michael-deng-death/
Vol. XXIX, Issue 1
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Starting with a By Lily Kuong
W
Chicken
hen we arrived at their place, the sun had
already fallen from its pedestal and the moon began to climb quickly to take its place. Moments earlier, we were pushed forward into an unknown abyss, the Guangzhou Baiyun Airport. I clung on tightly to my mom’s hand as the giants hurried their big feet to the luggage area. Strangers approached us with open arms and smiles across their faces. My mom opened her hand, letting go of mine, to return the exchange. I quickly grabbed onto my sister’s arm to prevent myself from being pushed into the crowd. These strangers were my aunt and my uncle. Their home was inside an eight story, clay-like building with gray steps and it was located behind a bus terminal. I turned to my mom and asked, “Where’s the elevator?” My aunt giggled as if I was joking. Her eyes squished into each other and her mouth opened ever so slightly to let out a chuckle. “This isn’t America. There’s no elevator here. You can only crawl up the stairs,” she said. It’s probably a couple of floors up. No one would create a tall building without elevators, right? We ascended like the moon had, as my mom, aunt, and uncle began to make a verbal Venn diagram of China and America. It had been 15 years since my mom returned home, and this time, she dragged her children along for the journey. “Lily looks very plump now compared to the pictures of her you sent us in May,” my aunt said, placing emphasis on the word plump. “Yeah, she’s been eating too much meat lately. She gained ten pounds since then,” my mom replied, her voice dipping low. Why do they think I’m fat? My shoulders were bigger than that of most girls and my belly was a little rounder, but that’s normal in America, isn’t it? Three stories later, my lungs and calves began to squeeze together. “Mom, are we almost there? This suitcase is heavy,” I said, huffing and puffing. My hands started shaking as we reached the fourth floor. “Don’t worry Lily. We’re almost there,” my mom replied.
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ASIAN OUTLOOK
Seven flights later, I slammed the suitcase down in front of the silver gated door. My arms shook with relief and all my muscles from my arms to my legs were sore and tense. “Mom, why didn’t you tell me it was on the seventh floor?” I asked, trying to catch my breath. “If I told you, you would have given up on the third floor. This is why you need to get more exercise and stop eating so much,” she replied, repeating the same line that she had used for the past three years. I shook my head and rolled my eyes at her like I had always done. The next day, my mom shook me awake as I pulled the blanket up higher and higher, not wanting to be disturbed. I opened one eye unwillingly, and saw the tomato clock that hung on the wall. The short hand was almost at seven and the other on eleven. “Let’s go get some food before your sister wakes up,” my mom suggested as I struggled to release myself from the comfort of the pink Hello Kitty blanket. I rolled over and watched my sister sleep silently and peacefully. I wanted to bang pots together near her ear just to wake her up. Moments later, we stood in front of the building by a small shack about the size of our bathroom at home. My aunt took out her silver keys and began to open the door. Squinting at the sun that shone brightly into my face, I still wished that I were lying under that Hello Kitty blanket. Then, the shack started to make a clucking sound. When the door opened, three live chickens stood bunched together in the corner. I had never seen a live chicken before. They reminded me of the ones in the kindergarten animal books, except less cartoonish. “Are we taking them out for a walk?” I asked, as my aunt grabbed one of the chickens by the legs. She untied the string from the pole and looped it around its legs. The other chickens squawked as the door closed on them, bringing darkness into their lives. We got into a red cab. The string was strapped to my aunt’s wrist and the chicken’s feet were in her hands. It wiggled around, trying to get out of her grip. The market air smelled like fish. My feet were wet from the concrete floor, soaked by the melting ice that kept the fish from spoiling. Inside the wooden crates, carcasses laid on top
with a red number sign, popping out just like they did back home on Eighth Avenue. On the other side of the market, there were street vendors selling their piles of carrots, lettuce, and cabbage grown from a local farm. A cardboard sign stuck out saying two for five. As we walked down the concrete roads, girls about my age ran up and down the street in their “I love V Prince” t-shirts. They had small frames and their bellies weren’t as round as mine. I pulled my pants up and my shirt down to hide my curves, and distracted my eyes with all the piles of food. “Mom, what’s that? It looks like a green cantaloupe,” I said as I pointed my finger. “That’s a watermelon.” “Aren’t watermelons supposed to be bigger?” I spread out my tiny hands indicating the round oval shape of a watermelon I was used to seeing back in New York City. “This is how it’s naturally supposed to look. They don’t inject steroids to make watermelons bigger here,” she replied. At the end of the market, everywhere I looked, I saw slabs of meat with their heads still attached to their bodies, like in the windows of the Chinese restaurants back at home. There were also a lot of bunnies, ducks and chickens in cages. They were like prisoners—unable to escape. A gloomy cloud swept over me; they would be chopped up and sold to someone within the day, just like the ones in the stores on Eighth Avenue. A woman in her forties with a wart on her face sat in front of a big empty tub with a cloth-covered lid on top of it. My aunt held her hand out to Wart Face and she grabbed the chicken. The chicken screamed for mercy, but was only heard by those that had the same destiny. With the other hand, Wart Face held the cloth-wrapped lid open. Immediately, the steam began to escape into the air, as if the souls of the others had finally escaped. She quickly threw the chicken in and closed the lid, preventing the water from cooling. “Come back in 15 minutes,” Wart Face told my aunt. My hand laid on my mouth and my eyes widened as I stared at the pot. I felt a tug and changed my focus to my mom. It was time to go
our separate ways. My mom and aunt shopped around, but all I could think about was that stupid bird. Maybe the chicken likes a warm bath, I tried to reason. We caught Wart Face taking it out with a pair of long tongs and began plucking its feathers, throwing them into the big empty tub that stood in front. The chicken only looked halfcooked because it was still pink, but it was dead for sure. I remembered that when I was younger, my mom told me that it was part of our culture to not kill the bird by breaking its neck or chopping off its head. It is considered a delicacy. Wart Face handed my aunt the naked, dead chicken in a clear bag as a couple of bills were extended to her. We parted ways and returned home. When we went inside the building, I bolted up the stairs to avoid eye contact with the clear plastic bag. My mom rooted me on and probably thought I listened to her advice to exercise more. For lunch, dishes sat in a circle with a bowl of rice and chopsticks in front of each person. We all began picking what we wanted to eat. Starved, I leaned over to grab the vegetables that we had bought earlier today, along with some longevity noodles that are supposed to make you live longer. “Lily, here’s some chicken,” my mom said as she reached out with her chopsticks, skillfully grabbing a piece and proceeding closer to my bowl. “No! I don’t want,” I replied quickly, pulling my bowl closer to me. The chicken’s head laid in my direction, staring at me. Its head had been separated from the body and its neck fanned out in pieces around the head. “Are you sure? You love chicken. We can’t eat all of it by ourselves. You normally eat like five pieces,” my mom said. “Yeah, I know. But I don’t want any today.” As I returned to my food, my sister and mom stared at me. They probably thought I was trying to lose weight or be healthy, but I knew I couldn’t eat that chicken. The chicken had no eyes, yet it stared at me. I looked back down into my bowl and continued to eat my rice and vegetables, not looking up until the meal was done.
Vol. XXIX, Issue 1
17
ELLEN PAO: THE VOICE OF By Brian Kang
S
Valley is a hub of activity for the technology industry, a sector that is continually innovating and expanding. A home to both well-established and emerging companies, Silicon Valley has also emerged to become one of the world’s greatest sources of wealth. However, hidden under this world of invention lies a much darker aspect of the technology workforce, where issues ranging from excruciating work hours to a lack of racial diversity run rampant. Perhaps one of the preeminent problems in the workplace is gender bias. Ellen Pao, an employee in Silicon Valley, had been stuck in a legal battle with Kleiner Perkins Caufield &Byers regarding this issue. Beginning in May 2012, Pao filed a lawsuit against Kleiner Perkins on the basis that she had been passed over for a promotion due to gender discrimination. The firm had allegedly “retaliated against her” when she outed a junior partner that had coerced her to having sexual relations with him on numerous occasions. Kleiner Perkins denied these allegations and insisted that Pao’s inability to move into the inner circle was due to the inadequacy of her
teamwork and leadership skills. Though Pao continued to argue on this basis, some speculated that she had an ulterior motive. Pao is the wife to one of Wall Street’s latest prodigies that made a rapid rise to the top, Alphonese “Buddy” Fletcher Jr. Fletcher filed for bankruptcy when investors withdrew from his fund, Fletcher International Ltd. As a result, pension funds began to sue Fletcher for a total of around $140 million. Coincidentally, Pao filed the lawsuit against Kleiner Perkins the very same month and sought legal compensation of $16 million. This resulted in many believing that she had filed her lawsuit to pay for her husband’s legal expenses; a logical conclusion considering the circumstances. On March 27 of this year a verdict was reached in the Pao v. Kleiner Perkins case. A civil jury that consisted of six men and six women found Kleiner Perkins innocent of gender discrimination and Pao was forced to pay $276,000 in legal damages. In November 2014, Pao became the interim CEO of the
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Ellen Pao filed a lawsuit against Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers .
ilicon
ASIAN OUTLOOK
WOMEN IN SILICON VALLEY “pao is assuredly one of the many women who face this gender bias and harassment on a daily basis. Through her struggles, Pao has brought the world’s attention to the gender gap in Silicon Valley and paves the way towards a gender neutral workforce. “
popular social media website – Reddit – after being fired from Kleiner Perkins in Oct. 2012. During her relatively short time as CEO – which lasted nine months – Pao attempted to introduce several reforms to eliminate the discrepancy in salary between employees at the same level and to prevent harassment in the workplace. In addition, Pao also oversaw the removal of ‘sub-reddits’ – sections of Reddit pertaining to a certain topic – which she considered to foster online harassment. Already disliked because of her actions, Pao’s reputation was further sullied when one of Reddit’s most well-known employees, Victoria Taylor, was fired. Redditors took to social media to express their displeasure, and site moderators shut down large swaths of the site in protest. Pao was constantly harassed by individuals who were angered by her actions. Some of the comments that were made took a highly misogynistic stance and were racist. Eventually, on July 10 of this year, Pao resigned as CEO of Reddit. She addressed the media, thanked those who had supported her and hoped that the “trolls” that had tormented her would be overcome by humanity. For some individuals, Ellen Pao is a martyr for women in Silicon Valley, while for others she is an opportunist; a woman who jumps at the opportunity to make a profit. Pao’s case, though having a seemingly weak basis, did much more than its intended effect. Her legal battle with
Kleiner Perkins offered a rare glimpse into the real world of Silicon Valley. A world not only where women are often treated with considerably less respect compared to their male counterparts but also where only 4.2 percent of the senior venture capitalists are women. The Pao v. Kleiner Perkins case provided a spotlight for gender inequality. Though Pao lost her case against Kleiner Perkins, the fact remains that she is a victim of gender discrimination. Both her experiences as CEO of Reddit and her position as junior partner at Kleiner Perkins shed light on the real technology industry. The industry that not only has a significantly lower percentage of women in the workforce, but also where women are disregarded and often harassed. In a male dominated workforce, it is easy to bury issues like these. Pao is assuredly one of the many women who face this gender bias and harassment on a daily basis. Through her struggles, Pao has brought the world’s attention to the gender gap in Silicon Valley and paves the way towards a gender neutral workforce. Sources: http://gawker.com/the-rise-and-fall-of-reddits-ellen-pao-timeline-ofa-t-1717201369 http://gawker.com/a-guide-to-the-sex-discrimination-lawsuit-thatsroiling-1689849734 http://fortune.com/2014/02/06/venture-capitals-stunning-lack-offemale-decision-makers/
Vol. XXIX, Issue 1
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How Ahmed Mohamed and His Clock Brought Awareness to Social Injustice in Schools By Angela Wu
Would Mohamed still face the same social injustice if he was white instead of Sudanese?
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ASIAN OUTLOOK
T
he idea of social justice in schools is a relevant concept in the 21st century. Social justice is a term that describes how people should be treated fairly
when it comes to social rights and opportunities.
This includes issues in racism, poverty and gender. In the case of Ahmed Mohamed, also known as the “clock kid,” his situation typified an act of social injustice. Mohamed, a 14-year-old high school student, was arrested earlier in September for bringing in a homemade clock that was allegedly mistaken for a bomb. The situation started when Mohamed, a freshman in MacArthur High School in Irving, Texas, brought his digital clock to school in order to show his technology teacher his homemade creation. In a display of passion for the sciences, Mohamed wanted to see his teacher’s thoughts and reactions to his clock. However, the teacher’s reaction was one of caution, rather than interest, and she told Mohamed to not be conspicuous about the clock. During a class later in the day, things went awry when Mohamed’s clock’s alarm sounded; he had to open his backpack to turn it off. This happened to bring his homemade
Ahmed Mohamed and his clock that led to his unjust arrest.
clock to the teacher’s notice, who, finding the clock suspicious-looking, went on to report the device. When Mohamed was called into a room for questioning, the police asked him questions that assumed his clock creation was actually a bomb. In response, Mohamed repeated several times that the device was just a clock. Without parental acknowledgement or any concrete evidence as to whether the device was a bomb, the police arrested Mohamed. Many people have brought up the role that race and religion play in this situation. Ahmed Mohamed is in fact Sudanese, a country in Northeastern Africa, and, like 97 percent of Sudanese, is a Muslim. This particular example of racial profiling and wrongful accusations of terrorist intent makes me wonder: would Mohamed still face the same social injustice if he was white instead of Sudanese? How about if he was not Muslim? One of the factors behind his wrongful arrest was most likely due to the common misconception that “people think Muslims are terrorists,” as stated by Mtohamed’s father; moreover, many people think that Muslims are solely from the Middle East. Despite Ahmed Mohamed’s continuous denial of the claim that the device was a
bomb, police ignored what he had to say and continued with his arrest. They did not even give Mohamed a chance to call his parents before he was taken into custody. Mohamed’s father only became aware of events when he was notified through email and a phone call from a school administrator, where he was told that his son was not only arrested, but also suspended from school for three days. Although the charges were eventually dropped after further examination that the clock, through which it was determined that the device, did not pose a threat, Mohamed never received an apology from the school district regarding their false assumptions. I understand the importance of school security and how teachers are encouraged to report suspicious activity, a policy epitomized by the zero tolerance policy. For example, in a middle school I volunteer at close to Binghamton University, I happened to witness a 7th grade Caucasian female be reprimanded just for taking out a PEZ dispenser and playing with the head of the dispenser by twisting and sliding out the candy cartridge. She was subsequently accused of using the PEZ dispenser as a weapon to make contact with someone sitting next to her. However, I saw no such
Vol. XXIX, Issue 1
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thing, and told the lunch monitor she was just playing with it and not bothering anyone. To this, the monitor responded with a stern face and told the 7th grader to put the dispenser away. In this particular situation, the student received a verbal warning, even though the child was unfairly treated due to a misunderstanding. I could not help but think that if the child was a minority race, she might have been treated even worse. This stems from research that says, “Relatively well-behaved students of color are more likely to be arrested and imprisoned than white students who make trouble frequently.” This idea of social injustice relating to racial inequality was evident in the way the school reacted to the clock by assuming the worst case scenario. Mohamed was falsely accused of making a bomb and arrested before anyone was able to confirm these assumptions. As many critics of the school’s response have pointed out, if the school really thought the device was a bomb and wanted to protect the children, they would have evacuated the students from the school before arresting Mohammed, but this did not happen. Many personalities on social media reacted to the ridiculousness of this situation by giving words of support to Mohamed, encouraging him to keep up his interest in science and technology. Most famously, President Obama tweeted “Cool clock, Ahmed. Want to bring it to the White House? We should inspire more kids like you to like science. It’s what makes America great.” As even the president thought that Mohamed should keep sharing his inventions and showing his creativity, it is important that Mohamed not let this incident faze him or discourage him from following his dreams, like studying at MIT. Mohamed was also invited to attend Astronomy Night at the White House by President Obama, who continued to encourage him and express interest in his work. Thankfully, some good was able to stem from this situation. Recently, in October, it was announced that Mohamed had received a scholarship from the Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development, and he and his family will move to Qatar to allow Mohamed to participate in this program and develop his skills and education further. It is inspiring to see how social media and other prominent speakers were able to stand up in solidarity to support Mohamed and
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ASIAN OUTLOOK
President Obama personally sent a tweet to support Ahmed.
increase awareness of the social injustice that happens across schools in the United States. The incident also shows the kinks in school policies like the zero tolerance policy and how it furthers the racial gap despite efforts to promote equality. It is very difficult to be objective about these instances because they cannot be viewed and defined as simply as black and white. Sources: http://www.cnn.com/2015/09/16/us/texas-student-ahmed-muslimclock-bomb/ http://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/ahmed-mohamed-boyarrested-over-homemade-clock-withdraws-texas-school-n431671 https://encounteringislam.org/misconceptions https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/style/clock-kid-ahmedmohamed-and-his-family-will-move-to-qatar/2015/10/20/a95ed2967762-11e5-b9c1-f03c48c96ac2_story.html http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2015/09/17/ why-some-muslims-dont-want-ahmed-mohameds-blackness-to-beignored/ http://www.pri.org/stories/2015-09 -18/ahmed-mohamed-andlingering-effects-racial-profiling
A
fter six years of publication as a web comic, an anime adaptation for “One-Punch Man” has finally been created! Published by an author under the pseudonym of ONE, “One-Punch Man” originally started off as a crudely-drawn web comic in 2009. The series quickly went viral as it garnered over 10 million hits, and in 2012, a manga adaption was made with Yusuke Murata as illustrator. In March 2015, an announcement was made in the 15th issue of Weekly Young Jump magazine that an anime adaptation will be made by animation studio, Madhouse. On October 5, the first episode, “The Strongest Man,” aired.
“One-Punch Man” tells the story of a protagonist named Saitama, the most powerful hero alive. Despite his bald and average-looking appearance, Saitama proves to be anything but ordinary. He easily defeats his opponents with a single punch, hence the name “One-Punch Man.” Because of his strength, he has grown bored and frustrated from the lack of challenging opponents – he no longer gains any thrill from his battles. He is too easygoing and claims to be a “hero for fun” who leaves many characters and readers in awe. I enjoy this concept because as someone who enjoys humor, this leaves room for so much comedic content in the scenes. The character’s reactions
when they see Saitama in action are hilarious. When Saitama revealed the secret to his immense strength, I was laughing so hard thanks to the other characters’ incredulity. Although Saitama’s ability to defeat opponents with a single punch is anti-climactic to some, ONE is able to make the story compelling with new and eccentric heroes from the Hero Association and villains. A huge difference in the aesthetics can be seen between the web comic and manga when reading both adaptations. Ever since Murata joined the series, the artwork has improved significantly, giving “One-Punch Man” a more “traditional” manga feel. His attention to detail makes the
By Dale Gao
The punch you will never forget backgrounds and characters stand out to convey ONE’s story. I read through the manga in one night after I found out about “One-Punch Man” from my roommates. Wanting to read more, I found out that the web comic was the source material for the manga and had more chapters, which meant more storyline development. I was a bit hesitant at first glance because there was a notable difference in the artwork between the two, but ONE proves that a good storyline does not need to have good artwork – if you keep reading, you will get used to the
drawings. The combination of action and comedy is nicely balanced out by ONE, who left me wanting more at every page. “One-Punch Man” will give readers laughter, shock, and enlightenment on what it truly means to be a hero. Due to its success, “One-Punch Man” finally received its own anime adaption. I have so much praise for Madhouse Inc. – their animation is crisp, which lends itself to the quality of the anime’s fight and actionscenes. The characters look great and the story holds true to its manga adaptation.
I enjoy watching Saitama’s development and I wonder if he’ll ever find an opponent who is strong enough to withstand one punch. My only complaint of the series is the rate at which the chapters are being published. Because “One-Punch Man” is self-published, ONE does a very good job in taking his time with the manga. I highly recommend the series if you want a story packed with action and humor. “One-Punch Man” is one of the best manga I have ever read, and I hope for the success of its continuation.
Sources: http://www.crunchyroll.com/anime-news/2015/03/07-1/one-punch-man-anime-greenlit http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2015-03-07/one-punch-man-manga-gets-tv-anime/.85713 http://comicsbulletin.com/one-punch-man-delivers-a-knockout-blow/
Vol. XXIX, Issue 1
23
Somewhat Larger than History, Politics, and Society
“C
hungking
Express,”
by
Wong Kar Wei,
expresses quite
An Asian Film Review By Jin Hwi Hong
different emotions compared to those films typical of
other Hong Kong directors. While many Hong Kong moviemakers from mainland China were trying to make gangster noir films, by stressing the ideas of unification and brotherhood, Wong concentrates on the unknown, on unawareness, and tries to find a better solution for social anxiety. Before a better understanding of Hong Kong films, especially those that were released during the time period around the 1980s and 1990s, can be achieved, some basic information regarding modern history is necessary. Hong Kong’s political situation at the end of the century was quite uncertain. Nothing was for sure except for the one truth that a transfer of the sovereignty of Hong Kong from the United Kingdom to China, popularly known as the “handover,” was about to come. No one could be sure whether this new turn of events would be advantageous or not. First, people feared that China would drastically curtail the rights and freedoms of Hong Kong residents. The People’s Republic of China pledged to carry out a stable transition by maintaining the “One Country, Two Systems” policy for the next 50 years. However, at the same time, the Chinese government ignored the urgent demand for democracy in the mainland, and even oppressed people and students by using tanks and weapons. The dramatic display that twas the Tiananmen Massacre, bolstered by the iconic picture of the “Tank Man,” caused massive anxiety to be felt even in Hong Kong.
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Second, citizens in Hong Kong had no idea whether or not they would be able to get along with their mainland Chinese cousins. Through their century under the influence of British culture, Hong Kong maintained its lifestyle in its own distinctive way—one that was totally different compared to communist ideology. Instead of any form of Chinese, Hong Kong used English as their first official language. However, this language difference was actually not even a big conflict at all. Through the centuries, Hong Kong became another center for the Commonwealth economy. Immigration inflows from Southwest Asia, such as from India, Bangladesh, and Pakistan, influenced Hong Kong a great deal and also added to the different colors of its culture. Hong Kong’s “China-like” color started and continued to be diluted. Moreover, the political anxiety from mainland China put a question to those residing in Hong Kong: whether they would be able to preserve the rule of capitalism—the system that brought massive wealth to the city for the past century—or not. This uncertain future, catalyzed by political anxiety, prompted many Hong
Kongers to emigrate. These pressures, coming from political and cultural anxiety, created a sense of social nihilism in Hong Kong at the end of the 20th century. This nihilism manifested itself on the mise-en-scene of Hong Kong cinema, and the film “Chungking Express” was one of those that were significant social allegories. Take, for example, the first part of the movie. The woman always wears the raincoat because she cannot be sure whether it will be raining or not. Yes; this is the typical British costume, for typical British weather. Moreover, she sells drugs. This fact brings to mind the old memories of the Opium War. By wearing a Marilyn Monroe style of blonde wig and big sunglasses, she hides her identity from the public, and she walks on the street where Indians, not Chinese, were standing. It’s clear that her situation and her circumstances directly show the anxious and complicated social status at the turn of the century, with the handheld camera movements making the whole scene vague, emphasizing the endemic social nervousness.
Next, let’s look at the man, the cop known as 223. The only information we can get from him is that he is a police officer, and that he has broken up with his girlfriend. He does not know why they broke up. The empty feelings that came after the end of relationship led him to watch old films and collect canned pineapples with an expiration date of May 1. He already knows about the changes, that “a person may like pineapple today and something else tomorrow.” On the other hand, he refuses this transition. He just clings to his past, to get rid of his anxiety. He calls and tries to make conversation with his old friends. While collecting canned foods, he says, “If memories could be canned, would they also have expiry dates? If so, I hope they last for centuries.” Sadly, the man and the woman in the first part of the film cannot have a meaningful relationship. To diminish the agitation on his mind, he has to look at the future, instead of looking back to his past. The woman represents the complex inheritance of the past. The two already know that they cannot be involved in love. The only thing she can do for him is to send a birthday celebration message, and to wish him a better future. “Your friend in room 702 says, ‘Happy Birthday.’” July 2, 1997—the first day of the “returned” Hong Kong.
The woman in disguise
“If memories could be canned, would they also have expiry dates? If so, I hope they last for centuries.” Vol. XXIX, Issue 1
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While the first part of the film displays nihilism, Wong suggests a new hope in the second part. This next story, with a different man and woman, starts with brighter scenes and music. The cop 663 always visits the same store at the same time, and buys the same foods. The chef recommends different foods, but 663 is not sure whether the new choices will satisfy his girlfriend or not. Regardless, he experiences drastic changes in his life anyway. His relationship with his girlfriend finally meets its conclusion. Like the first story, he refuses the sudden alteration in his routine patterns and clings to the past by looking around his place, where he had good memories with his ex-girlfriend. Even the changes in typical home items, like soap or wet towels, depress him by stimulating nostalgia. While 663 is experiencing his infinite melancholia, the woman, who works at the restaurant, starts to like the man. After getting the letter and the apartment key from the man’s ex-girlfriend’s flight attendant, she goes to 663’s old apartment and starts to bring some change. The old memories from the past are continuously being covered and “improved” by the new decorations. Gradually, her ploys help the man to cheer up, and finally, they decide to arrange a new date for a new start, at the “California.” “California” is their Xanadu, the ideal place to restart and fulfill their dreams. But they dream of different places. While the man goes to the California Bar, located on a rainy street on Hong Kong, she goes to the real California, like many Hong Kongers did during the mid1990s. The man experiences another separation. Still, in
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a new twist, he accepts this separation and initiates some changes in his life by himself. He now reads the letter— the handwritten boarding pass—that the woman sent before her journey to the actual California. When the woman comes back to Hong Kong, she finds some small but positive changes at the old place. The man who was wearing a police uniform now wears casual clothes. The song “California Dreamin’,” by Mamas and Papas, has become the man’s favorite. The place, where the woman was always waiting for the man, has now changed into the place where the man is waiting for his woman. The man successfully accepts these changes, and tries to be optimistic for his future. And both of them know where the happiness comes from. The happiness does not come from society, or any new place like California. Instead, the happiness comes from the small, somewhat usual, things, like love. So, let’s get back to real life. Through this film, Wong describes society and its anxiousness in aesthetic allegory, with a Murakami Haruki-esque style of emotional monologues and dialogues. In addition, the film gives a message to exhausted citizens in Hong Kong: “Although the drastic changes and unsure future make us feel so anxious, we shall overcome these hardships by enjoying our normal lives.” Instead of focusing on history, politics, and society, Wong concentrates on the small happiness that comes after living a normal life, and this small happiness is actually the thing that is larger than the complicated worlds of history, politics, and society.
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AO CONSCIENCE Photo by Jason Cruz
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Friend’s House By Star Gould
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“Tibet”
By Belle Lai
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