SEVERAL OF the administrators at the University are often the subject of controversy and sometimes even public outcry. Daisy Rodriguez, who works as an Assistant Dean of Students for Asian-Pacific-American affairs is no exception. Rodriguez is the administrator who recently called a "non-optional" meeting with the creators of two facebook groups to whose content several students took offense. Many of her words and actions in the past few weeks, including the facebook fiasco, have been filled with hypocrisy and misguided logic.
At the first annual State of Asian-Pacific-American Awareness address on April 19, Rodriguez noted that a survey indicated over 90 percent of APA students are not involved with "mainstream" groups like Student Council and the Honor Committee. It's unfortunate that Rodriguez characterizes some groups as mainstream, thereby implicitly stating that some groups are "not mainstream." Additionally, if 90 percent of APA students are not in mainstream groups, then Rodriguez is implicitly stating they are instead members of non-mainstream groups. Rodriguez defended herself in an interview by stating that the issue was more a lack of representation in groups like Student Council.
Rodriguez is marching down a dangerous road, however, by stating that "mainstream" groups do not have enough APA representation. There's really no good way to measure the minority representation in a group without looking bigoted, and for good reason -- we shouldn't be doing it. Imagine a dean showing up at a Student Council meeting with a paper and pen and checking off whether a student was white, black or Asian, or going through a roster of Student Council representatives and determining a student's ethnicity based on their last name.
Rodriguez espouses a view that APA students should be comfortable with their Asian identity as well a desire to seemingly rehabilitate Asian students who think they're white. Saying that students should embrace their Asian identity and then saying that 90 percent of APA students are not in mainstream (read: white) groups doesn't make any sense. Rodriguez was quick to point out in the interview that APA students should be part of mainstream organizations and culturally-oriented organizations. But following her misguided logic, it would seem as though an APA student would have to alter their identity and act "more white" in order to fit in with a mainstream group. This is extremely problematic at a University that should strive for the universal acceptance and inclusion regardless of immutable characteristics like race.
The hypocrisy of Dean Rodriguez is evident in her dealings with the two facebook groups. Facebook groups are essentially student-generated electronic clubs. Rodriguez, both in her speech last week stressed that the University should be a climate where students feel safe and comfortable. But it's hard to see how compelling students to appear in front of a University official creates a comfortable environment. Apparently, the safe and comfortable environment Rodriguez preaches doesn't apply to all students.
One interesting question that arises from the facebook incident is whether or not Rodriguez will follow a similar controversial course of action if another complaint crops up. There are certainly other "potentially offensive" facebook groups; a cursory search reveals two such groups: "MOVE NI**A!!....But Before You Do, Could You Tap That White Boy For Me?" and "Excuse Me My Beautiful Back [sic] Queen...Can You Tap That White Gurl For Me!" When presented with a scenario in which a student came to Rodriguez with a complaint about another facebook group, Rodriguez noted she would do the same thing she did last time.
Rodriguez's standard for calling more students in for facebook investigations is "if a student's learning environment is affected." Rodriguez clarified this in the interview by stating an affected student is one who hypothetically sees a facebook group's language or depiction of people and consequently cannot focus on classes or study because he or she is so distraught. But it's difficult to envision how a student's academic life would be significantly affected by a facebook group. The Web site even has a disclaimer that reads: "Groups that attack a specific person or group of people (e.g. racial) will not be tolerated." Deans should instead worry about students who can't focus because they lost a relative or were sexually assaulted, not because they couldn't handle a joke.
Students should have the freedom to create whatever facebook groups they want without fear of a figurative "knock on the door in the middle of the night" from the administration. Just like people who bemoan the rise of sex and violence on television, viewing the Web site is not forced upon anyone; if something offends you on the facebook, then avoid it altogether. Dean Rodriguez should have concentrated more on counseling the offended students rather than going after the creators of the "offensive" groups.
Joe Schilling's column usually appears Tuesdays in The Cavalier Daily. He can be reached at jschilling@cavalierdaily.com.
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