Transparency in Investigation of Racism on USC Campus
The Issue
*For all Trojans signing, please leave a comment specifying your graduation year and why this matters to you.
On Sunday, March 6, 2016, Ivan Tsang, a sophomore at the University of Southern California (USC), was studying on the plaza level of campus housing when a student from an apartment above yelled racial epithets, ching chong'ed, and threw eggs at him over a span of twenty minutes. Campus police eventually arrived, and students have assisted in identifying the culprit.
Given the egregious nature of this conduct coupled with the fact that this wasn't limited to verbal attacks but actual physical assaults, we - current students and alumni of USC - demand transparency in the manner in which this investigation is handled and the disciplinary procedures imposed.
Everyone knows the N-word is offensive, but "Ching Chong Chinaman" hurled as an insult against Asian folks in the U.S. also stretches back all the way to the 19th Century, where it shows up in children's playground taunts. (NPR, July 14, 2014: How 'Ching Chong' Became The Go-To Slur For Mocking East Asians). It is just as hurtful, offensive, ignorant and unacceptable. Those of us who have been on the receiving end of such slurs have experienced feelings of being flawed, unworthy, bad, and insignificant. No student should be made to feel this way on our campus.
The transparency we envision entails:
- Monthly updates by email to both the student body and alumni about the status of the investigation
- If the charges are found true, a written announcement by email to the student body and alumni of the disciplinary action to be taken, along with any basis for leniency if anything short of expulsion is given.
We've always been proud members of the Trojan family. Please handle this investigation with transparency and keep USC a safe and nurturing place for our students. #FightOn.
Petition Closed
The Issue
*For all Trojans signing, please leave a comment specifying your graduation year and why this matters to you.
On Sunday, March 6, 2016, Ivan Tsang, a sophomore at the University of Southern California (USC), was studying on the plaza level of campus housing when a student from an apartment above yelled racial epithets, ching chong'ed, and threw eggs at him over a span of twenty minutes. Campus police eventually arrived, and students have assisted in identifying the culprit.
Given the egregious nature of this conduct coupled with the fact that this wasn't limited to verbal attacks but actual physical assaults, we - current students and alumni of USC - demand transparency in the manner in which this investigation is handled and the disciplinary procedures imposed.
Everyone knows the N-word is offensive, but "Ching Chong Chinaman" hurled as an insult against Asian folks in the U.S. also stretches back all the way to the 19th Century, where it shows up in children's playground taunts. (NPR, July 14, 2014: How 'Ching Chong' Became The Go-To Slur For Mocking East Asians). It is just as hurtful, offensive, ignorant and unacceptable. Those of us who have been on the receiving end of such slurs have experienced feelings of being flawed, unworthy, bad, and insignificant. No student should be made to feel this way on our campus.
The transparency we envision entails:
- Monthly updates by email to both the student body and alumni about the status of the investigation
- If the charges are found true, a written announcement by email to the student body and alumni of the disciplinary action to be taken, along with any basis for leniency if anything short of expulsion is given.
We've always been proud members of the Trojan family. Please handle this investigation with transparency and keep USC a safe and nurturing place for our students. #FightOn.
The Decision Makers
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Petition created on March 7, 2016