I feel like one of the largest problems I've had with USC (and don't get me wrong I love it here, New York is 45 degrees and pouring right now) is that I feel like it's a campus too caught up on appearances and not enough on authenticity. Although we've implemented an amazing visions and voices program to bring culture and arts to the students and faculty of USC, Roski is one of the most underfunded schools within the university (legit, it's two ancient buildings and the flags along the pathway of it say Viterbi on them). Though we have our good neighbors and friends community service program set up to serve the children of our surrounding mostly Hispanic immigrant community, they still felt the need to pick up myself and eleven of my other Posse members to bring more diversity to the campus because in reality the only people on this campus from the surrounding neighborhood are the kids they're serving and the workers they have cleaning up after the people that walk by them like they don't exist. And despite the fact that we may be known as one of the most accepting LGBT campuses in the nation, we still foster an environment where people feel so disconnected to others and find it so impossible to relate their struggles to their peers that a student who is most likely of a foreign background themselves can't see the equal level of importance LGBT issues hold to that of immigration.
In reality we can get all fire and brimmstone over the injustice of comments and opinions such as these and we really REALLY should but like, what after? Sweep it under the rug and remind everyone of that time we got upset over something someone said to prove that we care about our community while completely forgetting that it's not about yelling at someone when they're wrong but educating them to be right as an institution of learning should? I certainly hope not but hey, it gets better, right?
--Jheanelle Garriques
Love it.
ReplyDeleteI totally agree!
ReplyDeleteHow did this article get published?? I mean...I'm all for free speech...but I feel like this articles is a really bad representation of our school. This being said, I also agree with you when you say that it is more important to educate people who are this ignorant rather than simply rebuke them.
I agree with Jheanelle's points on our responses toward the ignorance of the op-ed article. Derailing the author's piece does not bring equality, and in some sense, the legislation may not change people's acceptance of the transgendered community overnight. Only understanding and compassion will unite us.
ReplyDeleteI must admit, in the first few weeks of this course, I was frustrated with how we only discussed the gender conflicts, albeit that was expected, we never delved into solutions and how we could become ally's for those marginalized by the binary gender system. However, gradually, I realized that by reading and learning about the issues faced by those that don't conform to societal expectations of gender and sexuality and alternative theories of sexuality, such as the queer theory, I began to see society in a different perspective, one that transcended the social constructs of gender. Now, I am partly gender blind, and do not directly assume characteristics of people based on their behavior and appearance.
Thus, understanding should be what we strive for. But not just of the marginalization of the outliers, but also of our own privilege, whether it be our hetero-sexuality, cisgender, or wealth. Through this understanding, we will grow to see from new perspectives, which will develop our compassion for others.
So while we need to address and inform the author of her privilege, we also need to create understanding.
@AndySu This is reaaally good: "Thus, understanding should be what we strive for. But not just of the marginalization of the outliers, but also of our own privilege, whether it be our hetero-sexuality, cisgender, or wealth. Through this understanding, we will grow to see from new perspectives, which will develop our compassion for others."
ReplyDeleteI would just be careful with the word "compassion", which is an easy one to use with good intention, BUT seems to inevitably place "us" (whoever uses the word) in a position of power or superiority as if pitying the unfortunate? "Compassion" can imply a sense of noble "activity" from "our" part and a passivity from the Other, who is defenseless and needs our help.