Stevenson College in Santa Cruz, CA,
recently sponsored a Science-Fiction event, called “Intergalactic Night.” At
the event a buffet of Mexican food was available for the students. Soon after,
the president of the college issued a heartfelt apology because this event was —
wait for it — racist.
Wait. What?! The event was racist? How
so? Were organizers insensitive to green Martians or non-human flying saucer
pilots from galaxies far, far away? (But that would be specie-ist, not racist,
right?) Well, here’s what happened: Intergalactic Night featured space aliens,
and Mexican food might remind someone, especially in California, of
undocumented people from Mexico, often labeled as “illegal aliens.”
Wow, a science fiction theme + a
popular style of food = racism! That’s a two-step offense. You have to be in
college just to follow the flow chart.
The college president, Dr. Carolyn
Golz, wrote a letter to the entire student body, and explained that the event
organizers did not in any way intend to make the connection between space
aliens and illegal aliens. However, “our College Night appeared to do exactly
that.” (Appeared to who? Someone with an advanced degree in professional
victimhood?) Then Golz promised the college “will require cultural competence
training for Programs staff, in addition to implementing mechanisms for future
program planning that will ensure college programs are culturally sensitive and
inclusive.”
Holy moly. Are these people for real? Are
college student truly this fragile? What’s next, fainting couches?
Here’s a little prediction: this
episode will terrify college event organizers all over the country. As a
result, they will avoid serving Mexican food ever again. And soon after, these
same event organizers will be labeled as racists, who are prejudiced toward
Mexican culture because of the absence of Mexican cuisine. Just wait for it.
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