How is rounding up illegal immigrants racist? I don't understand. I'm not sure I agree with these students' stance on illegal immigration, but I also don't understand why it's racist. They're rounding up people who have broken the law. That is not racist. That's what police do every day. Protesters confront UT conservative group Mock roundup of illegal immigrants doesn't materialize Advertisement Sung Park/AMERICAN-STATESMAN By Juan Castillo AMERICAN-STATESMAN STAFF Thursday, March 03, 2005 On Tuesday, a flurry of e-mails emanating from the University of Texas warned that a conservative student group planned a mock roundup of "illegal immigrants" the following day in a demonstration against illegal immigration. The mock roundup, similar to one in January at the University of North Texas in which students were encouraged to capture people posing as illegal immigrants, never materialized. On Wednesday, the conservative student group, the UT chapter of Young Conservatives of Texas, held a modest observance of Texas Independence Day, saying that was its plan all along and that the reports of an illegal immigrant roundup were the product of misinformation spread, among other ways, in cyberspace. Behind two tables, about a handful of students offered cake, cookies and candy. They were soon met by an impassioned crowd of about 250 to 300 students protesting what they claimed were the group's original plans for an "illegal immigrant hunt" like the one at North Texas that stirred outrage among students and civil rights groups. The protesters maintained the conservative group scuttled the plans after word of the immigrant hunt leaked out, a charge the conservative students denied. Young Conservatives officers at UT told the American-Statesman that while they had once considered staging an illegal immigration demonstration similar to the one at the University of North Texas, they ultimately decided it would be a bad idea. "We looked at the event (the University of North Texas chapter) had, and while we agree with their political position, perhaps their tactics would not be appropriate," said Lauren Conner, chairwoman of the UT chapter of the Young Conservatives of Texas. "We decided that ultimately it would not be in our best interests or we wouldn't get our point across accurately," said Amy Larcade, the group's historian. Ben Fizzell with the conservative group said the organization has been sponsoring a Texas Independence Day celebration for years. "We're here to raise awareness," he said. Wednesday's events exposed tensions at the university, which has acknowledged a need to improve racial and ethnic harmony on campus. University students have the right to be able to express their opinions on campus, but "the prospect (of an illegal immigrant hunt) creates a hostile environment," said Teresa Brett, associate vice president for student affairs and dean of students, who watched Wednesday's demonstration. "It makes our campus less inclusive for students of color here." Protesters gathered on the West Mall, less than a hundred yards from the Flawn building where the conservative group had set up its tables. Many demonstrators carried signs that read "Hate is not Activism." About a hundred participated in a silent demonstration, some with cloths or bandannas covering their mouths. Others chanted "YCT, come get me," a reference to "Capture an Illegal Immigrant Day" at the University of North Texas, where students were encouraged to capture people posing as illegal immigrants and offered a candy bar as reward. That demonstration provoked an outcry among students who charged it was offensive and racially motivated. The North Texas conservative group said the demonstration merely intended to call for tougher enforcement of the nation's immigration laws and had nothing to do with race. Photos of the North Texas demonstration could be found on the statewide organization's Web site late Wednesday. In Austin, protesters said they wanted to hold the UT conservative group accountable for the North Texas chapter's actions. "We found this event to be both racist and dehumanizing," said Felipe Aramburu, a Latin American studies and economics senior who is from Peru. "We're here to get answers from them and to show we're not going to tolerate this kind of bigotry and racism." Earlier, students had confronted Conner, demanding to know whether the UT chapter supported the North Texas chapter's actions. "Our opinion is that while we agree with them in principle, we may have not used the same tactics that they have," Conner replied, declining to elaborate. Later Wednesday, asked by the American-Statesman if she agreed with protesters that the North Texas demonstration had been dehumanizing, Conner replied in an e-mail: "I would have to ask in what way was the event dehumanizing. As far as I can see, the UNT event was simply trying to display their political view of the immigration issue. "What occurred today was a very disruptive display of intolerance, paranoia, and idiocy on the part of the protesters," she wrote. "The protesters thought that we were having an event regarding immigration, which we weren't." She said the protesters destroyed the group's property, "threw food at us, cursed, name called, screamed, yelled and threw temper tantrums. YCT will not respond now or ever to that type of behavior." http://www.statesman.com/metrostate/content/metro/stories/03/3tension.html
Judging by the article, it seems the conservatives were strong-armed by the very large, "impassioned" mob of protestors. This mob was saying things like the possible "immigrant roundup" was creating a hostile environment for students of color. One protestor claimed that the rumored event was racist. It sounds to me like the conservatives are the ones being victimized here. I don't understand how the rumored immigrant roundup was racist. That's a pretty strong statement to make, and it needs to be defended.
If this thing went off as planned, I bet I can tell you how they would have executed it. The YCT's posing as illegals would dress as the stereotypical mexican, like Speedy Gonzalez, and then offer people candy bars if they can lasso one of the "illegals".
Actually that was a school official, not a protestor, that said that a roundup would have created a hostile environment. This was a very calculated remark by the administration. This sends out the message to those watching at the Department of Education that UT will not tolerate actions that will create a "hostile environment that is not conducive to learning". In other words, the University of Texas will not tolerate acts that could any way be construed as a violation of Title IX. That official is putting out a fire before it starts.
While I don't agree with the sentiments of YCT and think their illegal immigrant round up is offensive I think in many cases school administrations have gone too far in limiting free speech. Colleges should be the crucibles of free speech even if that speech is offensive to many. This may lead to riots on campuses but many of the greatest moments of intellectual and artistic ferment on campuses is accompanied by riots. It beats a riot over winning the big game.
Come on, protestors that work for the GOP get paid to assemble all the time. Remember after the 2000 elections?
It reminds me of the uproar made by white guys when the "White men can't jump" movie came out. Some found the title offensive. And that was only a movie. Not an agenda or political belief. If they really want to do something about illegal immigration why don't they donate their summer's to border duty along the rio grande.
The continued conservative shrieks of victimization at the college level make me giggle. I'll trade you a majority in academia for control of Congress and the White House.
Shouldn't you be able to go to school for an education without fear of getting caught up in a riot? I'm not sure I agree that letting things that lead to riots run rampant on campus is a good idea. Any peaceful protest with any peaceful response is fine, but if you do things that encourage violence, you lose all Free Speech protection.
texxx, you seem rather infatuated with the events of the University of Texas, both academic, athletic and otherwise, and your name is not "bigriceee", is there something we need to know about?
Here in Minnesota we've got a real problem with those wetback Canucks swimming across Lake Superior. You find them taking jobs like sharpening skates and carving duck decoys away from real Americans. Thanks to their socialized medicine they'll work for less driving down wages for all of us. On top of that if they can't find real work they'll peddle prescription drugs to our vulnerable elderly. I tell you its so bad in some neighborhoods that all you hear is "Eh Hoser.." and "I'm going oot n aboot." What happened to speaking English in this country.
Actually I heard a lot of Asians were mad at it also. I heard part of the event was having people round up those wearing brown shirts (latinos) and Yellow shirts (asians) and getting candy bar as prizes.
Supermac; You raise a good point and I'm not advocating violence but accepting that historically passionate debate on campuses have sometimes resulted in riots. This need not always be the case but I think universities have gotten to the point that they use the fear of a riot to clamp down on legitimate speech. The point of having free speech is to allow speech that many will not agree with or find offensive. If it was just to have speech that made everyone feel good their wouldn't be free speech. Colleges can do more to teach students civility and respect so they don't come to blows and torch property, whether its in regard to immigration policies or the big rivalry game, without clamping down on speech.
The problem with that is that you allow unpopular viewpoints to be shouted down (by threat of riot) by majorities or pluralities. There are groups that would love to be able to encourage authorities to shut down public displays by political opponents in the name of "preserving the peace". You could pretty easily end up with a situation where anytime Political Organization A announces a public demonstration, Political Opposition Organization B declares it will riot in order to pre-emptively shut down Organization A's demonstration. You end up with an asymmetry of access to public discourse in that event-- or, worse, Organization A adopts the same topics and no one ever gets to speak publicly. The phenomenon of constant attacks on freedom of speech and political expression on college campuses is one of the most depressing things I've experienced. I think it was Aaron Brown, the CNN anchor, who asked (and I am paraphrasing) "When did so many of us start thinking the world would be a better place if only people we agreed with were allowed to speak?" To which my answer would probably be, "When did Rush Limbaugh's program debut?" But I digress. The fact is that shouting down your opponent is absolute anathema to the principles that make this country great. It is absolutely anti-American no matter who it comes from.
Bigtexx, it must be quite shocking to see political passion and some liberals after the cocoon at Rice U. Cheerup, Bigtexx, you'll probably have a chance to engage in a similiar anti-immigrant action in the future with the YCT.
