Diversity and Inclusion Are Too Important to Be Trivialized

Chantal Cheung / Political Science and Economics 2021

On August 20, University of Southern California (USC) business professor Greg Patton lectured to his Communication for Management class on presenting information effectively.[1] He explained that filler words are culturally specific and based on one’s native language, saying, "In China, the common word was ‘that, that that that that,’ so in China it might be ‘那个, 那个 那个 那个.’”[2]

The next day, a group of students who identified themselves as “Black MBA Candidates c/o 2020” emailed the USC administration stating that Patton offended the class’s Black members through his use of “that” in Mandarin Chinese. [3] Pronounced “nàh-guh” or “nàe-guh” depending on one’s accent, the term can sound like the English n-word. In response, USC removed Patton from the course.

USC’s response was inappropriate, especially given the complaint’s flaws. National Review and CNN claim to have a copy of the email, though neither could verify who wrote it.[4][5] The students claimed that their Chinese classmates confirmed that Patton mispronounced the phrase and that the word commonly has a pause between its syllables. The students added that they lived in China and have taken Chinese at several colleges.[6] To them, the phrase is “always identified as a phonetic homonym and a racial derogatory term” and thus should be used carefully. The students also claimed that Patton would stop the Zoom recording before saying 那个 and resume it afterward, an allegation later disproved by a video of the incident.[7][8]

It’s understandable why these students were taken aback. While Patton explained beforehand that the phrase was a common Chinese filler word, he did not specify that it may sound like the n-word, especially to those unfamiliar with the language.[9] Perhaps he could have avoided the backlash by doing so.

Patton included the Chinese word—mentioned to him by several international students throughout the years—to be more inclusive.[10][11] He aimed to showcase many diverse leadership examples to “enhance communication and interpersonal skill in our global workplace.” He was also partially inspired by his own experience working in Shanghai.[12]

This isn’t the first time that this sort of misunderstanding has happened. In 2016, a Black man slapped a Chinese man in Guangzhou after mistaking 那个 for the n-word in passing.[13] This April, two men in Taiwan nearly fought outside of a restaurant due to this misunderstanding. [14] Chinese basketball star Yao Ming noted that the phrase nearly got his interpreter in trouble with Yao’s American teammates when the interpreter uttered it to him in the locker room.[15]

That said, there is no pause between the syllables for “that.” As a Mandarin Chinese speaker, I can confirm that accent greatly determines the phrase’s pronunciation. Because I learned Mandarin from my studies in Shanghai and from conversing with my mother—a Shanghai native—I pronounce the phrase as “nàh-guh,” as do many Mandarin speakers from Southern China. Those in Northern China often pronounce it “nàe-guh,” which is closer to Patton’s pronunciation. Yale professor Taisu Zhang confirmed that Patton pronounced it correctly, as did nearly one hundred alumni of

USC Marshall School of Business, most of whom hail from Chinese-speaking regions.[16][17]

Student outrage against Patton assumes that speakers of Mandarin Chinese or any other language should watch what they say, lest they accidentally insult someone who speaks only English. This assumption wrongly asserts the superiority of English.

Patton is not the only person condemned for speaking a different language. US radio staboy band BTS’s 2018 song “Fake Love” because the pronunciation of “I” ga,” respectively.[18][19] They 2NE1’s 2014 song “I Am the Best” for the same reason. While it’s understandable that US radio stations licenses—this censorship misleads the public into believing that Korean pop groups feature racial slurs in their songs.[20]

This conflation is also present in the allegations against Patton. The students irrationally claim that because there are over ten thousand characters in written Chinese, using 那个—“a clear synonym with this derogatory N-Word term”—is hurtful and intolerable to the USC Marshall community.[21] To them, Patton’s use of the word indicated his negligence and disregard for his Black students. 那个 is not synonymous with the n-word; different languages do not share the same slurs. Furthermore, words or phrases in a language are not always interchangeable. Patton was correct when he stated that filler words are culturally specific—people who speak English tend to use “um” or “like,” while those who speak Spanish may use “como” or “este.” It just so happens that Mandarin speakers use “that.”

One would think that business students— who may deal with business partners who speak different languages—would be more understanding of foreign languages and their differences. As UCLA professor Eugene Volokh argues, students must control their impulses to censor if they wish to shape this diverse world.[22] Universities must encourage this maturation.

USC’s response was even more excessive than the student outrage. In an email to students, Dean Geoff Garrett stated, “Professor Greg Patton repeated several times a Chinese word that sounds very similar to a vile racial slur in English . . . It is simply unacceptable for faculty to use words in class that can marginalize, hurt, and harm the psychological safety of our students. We must and we will do better.”[23] Garrett reassured the students that Patton had been removed from the course, effectively suspending him.

A month later, Garrett confirmed that Patton did not violate university policy, further illuminating how rash and ill-judged the suspension ished Patton without investigating his actions. It treated him as though he had attacked his speak another language.

There is nothing inherently hurtful about the Chinese language, but USC’s statement implies otherwise. The Chinese language exists on its own, independent of English—it’s illogical to judge Mandarin by English rules. Unlike people. Censoring languages marginalizes the people who speak them. USC has made its position clear—the feelings of English speakers matter more than the feelings of Mandarin speakers.

After this incident, USC also stated its commitment to “a culture of respect and dignity where all members of our community can feel safe, supported and can thrive.”[25] But that contradicts the university’s disregard for Mandarin and its community members who speak it. Suspension should be used only for serious threats, and Patton’s actions did not present any danger to students.

Removing a professor from a course—effectively suspending them, though some universities argue otherwise—implies severe negative judgment and harms their standing.[26] It can create a disproportionately prejudicial atmosphere, one that is undeserved given the professor’s record. USC’s hasty decision resulted in an unfair punishment and could negatively impact anyone who speaks a foreign language, as it shows that they cannot be safe and supported.

USC’s reaction also cheapens the discussion around real challenges to diversity and inclusion on college campuses. USC faces numerous complaints about racism on campus, many of which are institutional problems that require meaningful work to dismantle.[27] But rather than investigate those, USC chose to suspend Patton, using him as a symbol of its commitment toward anti-racism.

At best, USC’s response is perform-

ative. At worst, it’s downright racist. The uni-

versity singled out Mandarin as an inappropri-

ate language to use on campus. This reaction was.[24] The university condemned and pun-

can legitimize the Sinophobia that has already increased on campuses due to COVID-19.[28]

USC’s response does not resolve any actual complaint about racism on campus. Instead, it actively drives a wedge between two minority

tions censored Korean (내가) and informal “you” (니가) is “ne-ga” and “nigroups—akin to how the

“Censoring languages marginalizes the people who speak them. USC has made its position clear—the feelings of English speakers matter more than the feelings

model minority myth pits Asians against other racial minorities.[29] This wedge allows White Americans to avoid responsibility for the damage that institutionalized racism inflicts. USC is

censored Korean girl group of Mandarin speakers. pitting Chinese students

feared backlash—which could endanger their students with the n-word when all he did was against Black students by is inherently racist about Mandarin; through this “us versus them” mentality, it absolves itself of responsibility. “

implying that something

Instead of cherry-picking complaints that are easy to resolve and feigning solidarity, USC and other universities need to create concrete issues.[30][31] Without clear policies on what is

the n-word, 那个 does not exist to oppress Black

plans on how to address racism and free speech and isn’t appropriate behavior, universities have a hard time remaining firm on their positions. They need to determine how they want to balance the fine line between “freedom from” and “freedom to” by determining how much freedom of speech is allowed on campus. If foreign phrases that sound like English slurs are banned on campus, does the same apply to English phrases that sound offensive in other languages?

Actual slurs are racist; foreign words that sound like slurs are not. USC should address other complaints of racism on campus instead. Multiple students have used the n-word to describe their Black peers with no repercussions.[32][33][34] Black students have complained that academic advisors, who enthusiastically advise White students on law school and scholarships, discourage Black students with similar specifications from applying to these programs. [35][36] They have also complained about racial profiling, as USC’s Department of Public Safety often assumes Black students do not attend the school; as such, Black students must show ID more often than non-Black students.[37][38] And these are just the tip of the iceberg regarding Black students’ grievances against USC.

USC professor Ruben Davila argues that there are two conflicting principles in Patton’s case: academic freedom versus diversity and inclusion.[39] And “in this particular circumstance, there is no academic principle at stake important enough to suppress the importance of diversity and inclusion.”

But I disagree.

This isn’t a matter of academic freedom versus diversity and inclusion. It’s about who universities choose to include in their mission for diversity. When Patton was suspended, whose concerns were included? Whose were excluded?

Davila states that we must acknowledge everyone in the community, give them a voice, hear their opinions, and value their thoughts.[40] He’s right, but USC’s response did not follow this principle; it showed that the administration does not value everyone in the community. It’s not diversity and inclusion if universities actively exclude one minority— and their language and culture—for the sake of another.

I don’t know how to solve racism on college campuses, but I do know that USC went too far in Patton’s case. Patton should never have been removed from the classroom and his actions should not have been denounced in an email to the student body. In a poor attempt to protect and include

one minority population on campus, USC

excluded another.

This isn’t a matter of academic freedom versus diversity and inclusion. It’s about who universities choose to include in their mission for diversity.

USC should have used this opportunity to open a dialogue between students and professors. Instead, it stifled the discussion by showing that even imagined slights will result in harsh consequences. Chinese students—and by extension any student who speaks a foreign language—now know that their language is at

the mercy of the administration. This hasn’t improved the lives of Black students; it will only hinder the acceptance of foreign languages and the people who speak them, challenging any progress toward diversity and inclusion.

[1] Grzeszczak, Jocelyn. “Alum, Peers Question Whether USC Professor Deserves Pressure over Chinese Word That Sounds like Racial Slur.” Newsweek. Newsweek, September 8, 2020. https://www.newsweek.com/usc-professors-dismissal-over-chinese-word-that-sounds-like-racial-slur-questioned-alum-peers-1529887. [2] Phillips, Cabot. Twitter, September 3, 2020. https://twitter.com/cabot_phillips/status/1301516424276578305. [3] Bernstein, Brittany. “USC Professor Placed on Leave after Black Students Complained His Pronunciation of a Chinese Word Affected Their Mental Health.” National Review. National Review, September 3, 2020. https://www.nationalreview.com/news/usc-professor-placedon-leave-after-black-students-complained-his-pronunciation-of-a-chinese-word-affected-their-mental-health/. [4] “USC Professor Placed on Leave after Black Students Complained His Pronunciation of a Chinese Word Affected Their Mental Health.” [5] Yeung, Jessie. “USC Professor under Fire after Using Chinese Expression Students Allege Sounds like English Slur.” CNN. Cable News Network, September 10, 2020. https://www.cnn.com/2020/09/10/us/usc-chinese-professor-racism-intl-hnk-scli/index.html. [6] Bernstein, Brittany. “USC Professor Placed on Leave after Black Students Complained His Pronunciation of a Chinese Word Affected Their Mental Health.” National Review. National Review, September 3, 2020. https://www.nationalreview.com/news/usc-professor-placed-on-leave-after-black-students-complained-his-pronunciation-of-a-chinese-word-affected-their-mental-health/. [7] Friedersdorf, Conor. “The Fight Against Words That Sound Like, but Are Not, Slurs.” The Atlantic. Atlantic Media Company, September 21, 2020. https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2020/09/fight-against-words-sound-like-are-not-slurs/616404/. [8] Posner, Milton. “Greg Patton Video.” Posted on October 25, 2020. YouTube video, 0:38. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VE6H8LtQmi8. [9] Ivy-Wavy Academy. “EXTENDED VIDEO: USC Greg Patton used the Chinese word "nage" (那 個) + OFFICIAL school email responses.” Posted on September 7, 2020. YouTube video, 1:42. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=24JhHLpgjXI. [10] Flaherty, Colleen. “Professor suspended for saying Chinese word that sounds like an English slur.” Inside Higher Ed, September 8, 2020. https://www.insidehighered.com/news/2020/09/08/professor-suspended-saying-chinese-word-sounds-english-slur. [11] Yeung, Jessie. “USC Professor under Fire after Using Chinese Expression Students Allege Sounds like English Slur.” CNN. Cable News Network, September 10, 2020. https://www.cnn.com/2020/09/10/us/usc-chinese-professor-racism-intl-hnk-scli/index.html. [12] Flaherty, Colleen. “Professor suspended for saying Chinese word that sounds like an English slur.” Inside Higher Ed, September 8, 2020. https://www.insidehighered.com/news/2020/09/08/professor-suspended-saying-chinese-word-sounds-english-slur. [13] Li, Xueying, and Zheng Ai. “网传广州男子地铁侮辱黑人遭掌掴 警方介入调查 [Internet Reports That Guangzhou Man Was Slapped for Insulting Blacks on Subway].” Beijing News, July 27, 2016. http://www.bjnews.com.cn/news/2016/07/27/411429. html. [14] “台人在餐廳口頭禪連發 被黑人誤會歧視差點挨揍 [Taiwanese people in the restaurant make repeated mantras, and they were misunderstood by blacks and almost beaten].” United News Network, April 11, 2020. https://udn.com/ news/story/7320/4484233. [15] Bensinger, Graham. “Yao Ming: Racial slur locker room mix up.” Posted on October 5, 2016. YouTube video, 3:24. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lXJ3d53MeKs. [16] Zhang, Taisu. Twitter, September 5, 2020.https://twitter.com/ZhangTaisu/status/1301939146676744193. [17] Yeung, Jessie. “USC Professor under Fire after Using Chinese Expression Students Allege Sounds like English Slur.” CNN. Cable News Network, September 10, 2020. https://www.cnn.com/2020/09/10/us/usc-chinese-professor-racism-intl-hnk-scli/index.html. [18] Kelly, Emma. “Here's Why BTS's Fake Love Is Being Censored on US Radio.” Metro. Metro.co.uk, May 22, 2018. https://metro.co. uk/2018/05/22/btss-fake-love-censored-us-radio-7568200/. [19] Talk To Me In Korean. “Korean Q&A - 니가 [ni-ga] vs. 네가 [ne-ga] - How are they different?” Posted on July 17, 2017. YouTube video, 9:23. https://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=4UKD_JGk04w. [20] Kelly, Emma. “Here's Why BTS's Fake Love Is Being Censored on US Radio.” Metro. Metro.co.uk, May 22, 2018. https://metro.co.uk/2018/05/22/btss-fake-love-censored-us-radio-7568200/. [21] Flaherty, Colleen. “Professor suspended for saying Chinese word that sounds like an English slur.” Inside Higher Ed, September 8, 2020. https://www.insidehighered.com/news/2020/09/08/professor-suspended-saying-chinese-word-sounds-english-slur. [22] Volokh, Eugene. “USC Communications Professor ‘on a Short-Term Break’ for Giving Chinese Word ‘Neige’ as Example ...” Reason.com. Reason, September 3, 2020. https://reason.com/volokh/2020/09/03/usc-communications-professor-on-a-short-term-break-for-giving-chinese-word-neige-as-example/. [23] Yeung, Jessie. “USC Professor under Fire after Using Chinese Expression Students Allege Sounds like English Slur.” CNN. Cable News Network, September 10, 2020. https://www.cnn.com/2020/09/10/us/usc-chinese-professor-racism-intl-hnk-scli/index.html. [24] Volokh, Eugene. “USC Communications Professor ‘on a Short-Term Break’ for Giving Chinese Word ‘Neige’ as Example ...” Reason.com. Reason, September 3, 2020. https://reason.com/volokh/2020/09/03/usc-communications-professor-on-a-short-term-break-for-giving-chinese-word-neige-as-example/. [25] Flaherty, Colleen. “Professor suspended for saying Chinese word that sounds like an English slur.” Inside Higher Ed, September 8, 2020. https://www.insidehighered.com/news/2020/09/08/professor-suspended-saying-chinese-word-sounds-english-slur. [26] “The Use and Abuse of Faculty Suspensions.” American Association of University Professors. AAUP, August 2008. https://www.aaup.org/report/use-and-abuse-faculty-suspensions. [27] Black at USC (@black_at_usc). Instagram. https://www.instagram.com/black_at_usc/. [28] Balingit, Moriah, and Nick Anderson. “On America's College Campuses, the Coronavirus Delivers a Chill.” The Washington Post. WP Company, February 9, 2020. https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/ education/on-americas-college-campuses-the-coronavirus-delivers-a-chill/2020/02/08/c90a1c50-49e4-11ea-9164-d3154ad8a5cd_story.html. [29] Kuran, Elena. “Anti-Blackness in Asian and Asian-American Communities.” Northeastern University Political Review, March 24, 2018. https://www.nupoliticalreview.com/2018/03/24/anti-blackness-in-asian-and-asian-american-communities/. [30] Speier, Mia. “382 Faculty Draft Letter Demanding USC's Commitment to Concrete Plans Addressing Racial Inequality.” Daily Trojan, July 9, 2020. https://dailytrojan.com/2020/07/09/382-faculty-draft-letter-demanding-uscs-commitment-to-concrete-plans-addressing-racial-inequality/. [31] Collymore, Kevin V. “Colleges Must Confront Structural Racism.” The Chronicle, July 1, 2020. https://www.chronicle.com/article/colleges-must-confront-structural-racism?bc_nonce=g94cxtp0sir4nt4t6osiik. [32] Black at USC (@black_at_usc). 2020. Instagram photo, July 12, 2020. https://www.instagram.com/p/CCg5andlOix. [33] Black at USC (@black_at_usc). 2020. Instagram photo, July 15, 2020. https://www.instagram.com/p/CCo-RqTFbgq. [34] Black at USC (@black_at_usc). 2020. Instagram photo, July 16, 2020. https://www.instagram.com/p/CCr3obYj_bP. [35] Black at USC (@black_at_usc). 2020. Instagram photo, July 20, 2020. https://www.instagram.com/p/CC2N8VTlE99. [36] Black at USC (@black_at_usc). 2020. Instagram photo, July 21, 2020. https://www.instagram.com/p/CC4NxxbFqla. [37] Black at USC (@black_at_usc). 2020. Instagram photo, July 18, 2020. https://www.instagram.com/p/CCwvt3rjG1I. [38] Black at USC (@black_at_usc). 2020. Instagram photo, July 18, 2020. https://www.instagram.com/p/CCwvM7iDtiR. [39] Friedersdorf, Conor. “The Fight Against Words That Sound Like, but Are Not, Slurs.” The Atlantic. Atlantic Media Company, September 21, 2020. https:// www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2020/09/fight-against-words-sound-like-are-not-slurs/616404/. [40] “The Fight Against Words That Sound Like, but Are Not, Slurs.”