Gates’ Unfinished Business: Racism at Texas A&M

Racism was clearly a problem at A&M before Gates arrived. More distressing to me is that the President selected a man known to have manipulated intelligence, lied to Congress, and sold weapons to both Iran and Sadaam Hussein (including chemical weapons and cluster bombs).
We need someone in this position who has the good sense to make decisions based upon the facts, and in the best interests of the United States. This nomination is absolutely unacceptable.

Isn’t George Bush from Texas? It must be his fault.

Once an Aggie – Always an Aggie

Mike Jones’ comment is just idiotic!! The school did not find out about the “Blackface” video until Monday – - one day before the election!! The sad truth is that in the President’s home state this type of nonsense is still going on. The Democrats will make change, but Texas is still RED.

mike jones – it is the people of Texas A&M that are complaining about Gates leaving unfinished business, not your boogeyman “democrats.” do us all a favor and crawl back under your rock with your heroes Rush and Hannity for another 10 years. America doesn’t need your divisive rhetoric anymore.

This is disgusting. Can’t blame Jackie Sheryll for this one he left Texas A&M years ago. I believe Charlie Rangel and Nancy Pelosi must get their act together and get down to Texas with some solutions before this kind of act becomes part a wider epidemic. This Congress must be proactive in stopping bias on our university campuses. I am disappointed that this has already happened on their watch. I voted for you and I expect results yesterday.

Mr. Jones did you make that tape?
It did happen while republican were in office.

As a student at Texas A&M, I can tell you that this video is just the tip of the iceberg. Over the past 18 months, numerous international students have been physically assaulted by white supremacists. Black, Hispanic, and Asian students all report racist treatment from professors and students, ranging from public racist epithets and mockery to various forms of intimidation.
What is the most frustrating is that the University has consistently done little to nothing to improve the climate here.
Concerned student and faculty organizations have repeatedly presented the administration with actionable steps they could take to correct the obviously racially problematic culture here. Each time, the administration (often in concert with the police department) has done as little as possible.
Texas A&M University’s hesitations and refusals to act decisively can only be understood as tacit, or even overt, support for the racist ideology expressed in the recent blackface video.

As a student of A&M, I can tell you that the students in the video have been identified and expelled. There was plenty of outrage on campus, however there is no “systematic racism” on this campus. The sociology profs that are continuously quoted in articles have an agenda and are seizing on an opportunity.

Since when are you Lib’s going to let the facts get in the way of the truth. Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid have been elected and are the Leaders (elect) in charge of the House and Senate and “Look what is going on in Texas” I need to get on the phone with Michael Moore and Cindy Sheehan. I am hoping He will make a movie about this terrible racist tragedy and maybe she will come and state a protest about this bigotry.

Um, . . . Republicans are still in control of congress nubcake.

I am sure that when the makers of the video are questioned about it their response will be something akin to “we were just playing!”
Unfortunately slavery may be a terrible memory but its ramifications are not. There is nothing humorous or funny about the video (I should add that I have not seen it myself) and Texas A&M should respond quickly and appropiately.
I attended a junior high school that had about 3 other black students. Another class was putting on a Thanksgiving play that involved historical figures and time travel. Rather than leave out George Washington Carver, they put black shoe polish on a white kid! It wasn’t funny then and its not funny now.

As a student at Texas A&M, hearing about the video’s existence was utterly appauling. This is not just an isolated incident however, as racism and acts of bigotry have existed for years on this campus, making this video a catalyst for change. Many students support Dr. Gate’s nomination as the Secretary of Defense and feel honored to have had him serve as our president. However, the person who is going to fill his shoes is going to have a lot of pressure put on him to make sure that this isn’t just pushed under the rug and that true means for change occurs.

“hippocracy” – rule by horses, ala Swift’s hounyhnhnm. the word you were looking for is “hypocrisy.”
our inability as a nation to communicate is bearing its just fruits in the caliber of politicians on both sides of the aisles.

Again, why does this story need to be made political? This is an issue for the A&M community, not Republicans and Democrats. The comments about this being related to just Texas and Bush’s home state are nonsense. This deep-rooted cultural behavior exists everywhere in this country. That’s the sad part.

I wonder if perhaps Mike Jones has made his ridiculous baseless statement out of the simple desire for people to pay attention to him. Unbelievable, but more so sad that one would need to sink to this level of rhetoric for attention, even if it’s negative.

I graduated from A&M in 2003, and it is such a shame that this video came from such a wonderful university. Texas A&M is such a unique institution, and I can assure everyone here reading this story that this is such an extremely isolated incident. Texas A&M should be known for events such as Muster, the Big Event, Silver Taps, and a host of other programs and activites that brighten the landscape of the Brazos Valley, Texas, and the United States. It is so sad that few bad apples have ruined it for all of us. I personally hope these young men are kicked out of the University and are the first individuals ever officially recognized as “Ex-Aggies”.

First, those that made this racist video should be punished to the extent possible.
Second, quit politicizing this issue. These people are representative of what is wrong in society, not Texas A&M University. I graduated from Texas A&M, and while there, I was not aware of any institutional policies or organizations that condoned racism.
Unfortunately, there will always be people that are ignorant and fearful of others of different races and religions.
To cast Texas A&M as an overtly racist school would be like saying ABC is a conservative news station, because Sean Hannity was on Good Morning America.

Wow. Racism at a 40,000 student univerity. What are the odds? I bet it doesnt happen at any other school.
Also, isnt it convenient that an A&M towel happens to be hanging from the guys pocket? Someone wanted this to reflect badly on A&M and the media and every politician is falling into the trap.
DANCE PUPPETS, DANCE!!!

Why was this not in the headlines of ABC, racism is racism no matter that you think. It is not just at Texas A&M or UT and it needs to be stopped. See article below:
AUSTIN, Texas A group of first-year law students at the University of Texas at Austin has been chided by the dean for participating in a “Ghetto Fabulous”-themed costume party and posting pictures from it online.

Please do not judge all Aggies by this video. This is a very hateful act that could have happened anywhere, and the rest of us Aggies are as upset as everyone else about it. And, don’t blame it on Dr. Gates. What could he have done to prevent this. All we can do is encourage him to give these guys the deserved punishment.

The University of Texas has an annual (for years) “dress up as a black” party. Don’t blame one college; blame the stupidity of a few people.
Derrell

I just want to say that I attend Texas A&M University, I am Hispanic, racism exists here, but if you know the background to this story a lot of people commenting on here are just incorrect in their accusations and need to get their facts straight. This has nothing to do with politics, and ya’ll DON’T know when this video was made, so leave it be and let us handle our own affairs. We are trying to change some policies, create some new ones and make a change.

Ron Sonnier, anyone with a brain hin their head knows that the Democarts don’t take over until next year. This happened under Republican watch. Let’s send Marines down to Texas. Lol.

This is a despicable act. It is not however up to the congress or senate to fix. It is up to the people. Quit talking and do something. Taxes, regulations and rhetoric do little. We have plenty of all of them. Social change comes about by actions of the people.

As a current student at Texas A&M, I know for a fact this is an isolated incident. The students here as a whole do not tolerate this kind of crude behavior. I am angered that ABC would turn this political…..the students involved should be kicked out of this school to show that we do not tolerate this kind of behavior. Zero tolerance.

Keep in mind the full story not being told here is that these students were ostensibly making the video to portray racism at A&M. The video makers are not Klansmen; they’re incredibly misguided idiots who have hand delivered a grossly and easily distorted view of a school that I know for a fact is not what it’s being made out to be. Neither should you paint the entire state of Texas with one brush unless you want people to start posting all of the racist incidences, remarks, etc. that have come from all of the “more accepting and tolerant” liberal schools and states.
Treat it for what it is…. stupid kids that deserve to be punished….. not a major political event or a condemnation of an entire school or state. Would this have even been news if not for the nomination of Dr. Gates to the Bush Cabinet?

Some of you need to turn on your sarcasim meter….

I’m sure that there are alot of whites that feel that way and they are just as bad or even worst without the black face.

People need to get a life… Why isn’t anyone outraged by racist comments from Chris Rock or Def Comedy Jam?
When people start preaching “tolerance” it needs to extend both ways. These are college kids obviously in some type of prank – and if you think this type of thing does not happen at schools across the country then you are naive.
A&M is a good school and one that I would be proud for any of my kids to attend – and I’m a Longhorn….
Our leaders have a lot more to worry about than a dumb video prank.

These individuals are not reflective of Republicans, Democrats, Texans, or Texas A&M University. No segment of society is without its leaders and its dregs. To stamp a racist brand on A&M because of the actions of 3 horribly insensitive and ignorant students would be as logical as labeling every individual in the US armed forces as a murderer based on the action of one soldier, or to label the US Senate as a bunch of sexual deviants based on the actions of one congressman. More important than what these students did is how the rest of the A&M Community and Society respond to it. No one could be more disgusted than those students and faculty of A&M whom are unfairly represented by this video as belonging to and cultivating a racist culture. Also, I find it disgusting that of all things the media can focus on revolving Robert Gates is the actions of three ‘moronic’ students. There are far loftier aspects of Mr. Gates career and experiences that have more bearing of his qualifications as Secretary of Defense.

Mike jones:
This video was made about 2 years ago. Sorry to burst your bubble.

I believe mike jones’ comments were bathed in a bit of sarcasm. The video was a few people being complete jerks. It has nothing to do with Texas A&M University. If you people think that racism only exists in Texas then you all have the IQ of a box of rocks.

Any person that jumps to the conclusion that this video is a true representation of the beliefs of Texas A&M as a whole is a fool. We have all experienced a minority(referring to #s, not race) ruining the reputation of a majority. This is yet another example. Three dumb students tarnishing 50,000.

I agree with most of you. I live in the great state of Texas. I must say that this is more the norm than the abnormal. this type of behavior is accepted as their just having fun. As an African American I’m less offended because it only solitifies the fact that this country as a whole is racist and we shouldn’t act surprised that this crap still happens.
Now as for the appointment of Mr. Gates. As the President of the University, he’s responsible for what comes out of there. If there aren’t suspentions handed down then that means the he and the university condone these actions. Putting the I’m disgusted spin will not work. We will nolonger accept your outrage as genuine.

What is happening @ Texas A@M in Texas is setting our culture back, and showing some upbringing of our Texas youth of today, and why is the school’s administration allowing this to happen? If the school president can’t resolve this how can he be placed i n charge of the largest military in the free world??? Hopefully the democrats will not allow this to take place, please! There must be other qualified people for the position of Secretary of Defense.
Gary
Washington State

All these comments on politics and this racial embarrasement is bogus. This was done by some dumb kids that is brain washed by their dumb parents. I can’t believe that people is racist. This has to stop one day. That is one reason America is screwed up. I mean here it 2006 and you still don’t the people who helped build this country. You talk bad and don’t want to give jobs to the people who really won the civil war. If it wasn’t for the brain washing of blackmen by the politics of America, you might see more succesfull ones. This is crazy. PEOPLE PLEASE LIVE TOGETHER AND NOT APART. I love living in Texas but, being a black you still have to watch your step cause of Racism. America killed BLACK PANTHERS and all they want was equall rights. KKK want to kill blacks and mexicans and still run an operation. YOU FIGURE IT OUT!!!

There is racism in Texas? Im shocked.
Penn State had a mandatory requirement that students take a class in diversity. Many of the classes had small groups that would talk about racial issues where the T.A.’s would play devils advocate.
Im not saying this is a solution to racism but it is something that colleges can do to break down stereotypes and ignite change and discussion.

I am currently a hispanic student at Texas A&M. I have yet to experience any of kind of ‘racial hatred’ toward myself or anyone I know. These views are not mine or many of the students at Texas A&M. So please, when you speak of how ‘culturally setback’ people in Texas are, remember that it is just those few. Not us all.

What was Gates thinking?! I guess he didnt make his rounds to babysit every student that night and tuck them all into bed. Slacker. Those who preach tolerance, acceptance, and understanding should know that one incident does not an epidemic make. There are murderers on other college campuses across the country, so those institutions must be full of homicidal maniacs. It is not Gates’ job to parent these ADULTS. They are grown men and should be the only ones responsible for their actions. For every idiot like these, there are 1,000 who are the stark opposite.

To Kyle who said that a Texas A&M is a school for wannabees..this school was founded as a military academy and to this day more Aggies have been and are in the armed forces than any other American Institution, women were admitted into the college under our President Rudder. Bush and Texas have nothing to do with this matter nor does TAMU, 3 idiots did this and they have been punished for it, our university is going through a change in regard to race and diveristy because of President Gates. His leadership at this institution has been nothing more than wonderful. If you don’t know about A&M don’t condemn us because there are racist people every where you go.

Dave Chapelle and other races of comedians say crap all the time. I don’t see the media jumping their as* and people crying over it.

I personally warned Gates by email of the racism on his campus two weeks ago, when a student dressed as a Klansman for Halloween yelled “White power!” at my girlfriend, who is a member of a minority group, and was cheered on by his peers. Gates did not respond. This is NOT an isolated incident, though Gates (in his email) insists on treating it as one.

Of Course my comments were meant to be sarcastic. I was just trying to rattle all the thin skinned Lib’s that “lurk in the dark” on this website. You should read all of the hate mail I have received in the past 2 hours. I would forward all of their so called “Hate speach” to their priests and preachers, oop’s I almost forgot, most of them do not believe in God, so that would not do any good.

Don’t forget, international students are regularly attacked just off campus, this Halloween a student work klansman robes and felt free to walk around the community without penalty, there was an anti-affirmative action bake-sale, and bars just off campus were accused by the students of enforcing dress codes and charging different cover charges if patrons were ethnic or racial minorities.

A&M has a current enrollment of over 45,000 students of which over 35,000 – 37,000 live off campus. I guess Dr. Gates is supposed to watch over everyone to know who is naughty and nice. He must be the cousin of Santa Claus.
Everyone who has responded to this situation that blames Dr. Gates or Texas A&M or the State of Texas or some other institution as being responsible for this need to look in a mirror. You are ones condoning the real problem. The individuals need to be held accountable. Institutions aren’t responsible for an individual’s behavior. The individual is. Quit giving individuals an excuse. Hold them responsible. If someone, who happened to be a student at a particular university or claimed membership of a particular political party or lived in a particular State murdered your loved one, who would you want held responsible? The university, the political party, the State or the individual?
This isn’t political and has nothing to do with Dr. Gates other than these 3 insignificant fish in a huge pond at one of the largest universities in the country. Gates likely never even met them, much less knew who in the hell they are.
This is irresponsible reporting on the part of ABC trying to politicize this as evident by the multiple reponses on this thread that blame the President, a State, and a University for actions of these individuals. By the way, according to a news release from Texas A&M, these three students are no longer enrolled in school. The university has no further course of action they can take.
For those politicizing this who are also ridiculing Mike Jones for his comments, you are the kettle.

Once an Aggie, always an Aggie…
But an Aggie does not lie, cheat or steal nor tolerate those who do.
These people stole dignity – from themselves and from a specific group of people.
They are not and never will be Ags.
Furthermore, it’s up to the rest of us to not TOLERATE hate like this.

To AJ or whomever, Unless you haven’t heard or read NY is the safest big city in the country. Do we have issues you damn skippy however, there is a hell of a lot more CULTURE and DIVERSITY there. The problem with Texans is they can not see for the borders. It’s great to think that you live in a great place but see it for the good and the bad too and by the way it was 41 shots thank you very much!

A&M is not anymore racist than any other University in the country and it is ridiculous to say it is based on what two idiots have done. The people coming on here and saying that it is racist have an agenda and can pretty much claim anything they want and other people(ie Liberals) that WANT to believe it will. I am not sure why these punks did this, but I am sure it was meant to put A&M in a negative light and they accomplished there goals. Thanks ALOT!

The article strikes home.
I was a senior financial analyst at Direct Energy in Houston this summer. Two ex-Aggies (A and M graduates) came into the cubicle I was working in and started making very disparaging remarks about gays. I said nothing the first time this happened. The second time it happened I filed a complaint with the Houston HR Office, that did NOTHING, and with Direct Energy’s corporate office in Toronto.
The two A and M graduates have since left the company…but as straight and gay friends of mine responded…what planet are these people on? The Houston Department HR Department bears some responsibility for not proactively preventing this…instead when I came to work, the HR head was no where to be found…(I emailed my complaint before going to work that day)…instead I unloaded on the Director of Accounting, a Pakistani National, who said to me: Jim, I know exactly how you feel. Everytime I go into an airport, I’m pulled aside and interrogate as a possible terrorist. He was great. But he was the ONLY ONE in the HOuston Office who could handle a difficult situation especially when a male gay employee complained to him about discrimination due to his Muslim religion and his gender. He was terrific. But I have nothing good to say about my financial reporting manager who I included in my complaint since he just sat there laughing at the antigay joking.

More children raised by racsists parents, blame those that raised these kids…. they’re probably little puppets of their narrow minded parents, shame on all of them….wake up people, America is a very diverse nation where all deserve respect and old behavior needs updating.

HELLO…are you STUPID. Do you honestly think IF they were from A & M that they would have that towel in their back pocket???

The real news is that people are SHOCKED that racism still exists. This kind of thing is happening EVERYWHERE ALL-THE-TIME.
Realize that this isn’t an isolated incident. We treat this and other blatantly racist acts as anomalies, raise an eye brow when it’s thrown in our faces, wag our disapproving index fingers, then go about our lives like it just another kernel of mindless entertainment.
Wake up and do something about it.

Howdy!
I am a member of a minority group at Texas A&M University and I have never been in a situation that has involved racism to this day. These guys are a few bad apples, and I’m not just trying to save my university’s behind. This issue is not political and it definitely is not restrained to Texas A&M or Texas. It is not President Gates’ fault and it in no way shows how Gates will lead as Secretary of Defense. Do not portray our wonderful university in a horrible picture because you will find these things EVERYWHERE you go.
Gig ‘Em Gates!
-Leo P. ’09

Typical Aggies.

First of all, I need to defend my professor. She told us on Thursday that a national news agency had called her and that she would probably be misquoted. As a professor of sociology, she seeks to link the individual to the institution, and since so many racist acts have happened lately, at what point do individuals start to become more than simply individuals? If she has an agenda, it is simply to help Aggies see the whole picture.
Moreover, one of the comments basically said that racism would never go away. However, race is a recent social invention, and while I am not saying that we should just ignore it because it has now seeped too far into the social conscience, racism does not have to be tolerated. People should not accept the unacceptable–that kind of thinking is the type of thing that makes racism an institutional problem, and that is how racism is an institutional problem at A&M.

This is a non-story. I used to live in Texas and now live in L.A. I’ve seen more racism in this city than i’ve ever seen in TX. Racism is all over.
Did anybody get hurt from this? Should we start legislating people’s personal views on race?
Btw, Aggies suck. Hook Em!

after about 23 seconds of showtime at the apollo or any black comedian in ‘whiteface,’ i really could care less about what some idiot college student does.
when someone starts banning the stereotypical ‘acting like whitey’ in a public forum, maybe i’ll find this type of video offensive.

Nobody dislikes A&M and its “thing” any more than I do, but I belive the vast majority of you are missing the point. For starters, these were clearly enlightened students who were trying to show that some racism still exists at their university. These are the very people who are trying to end racism on campus. 30 years ago there wouldn’t have been a single Aggie decrying racism on campus, as these two were clearly doing. Secondly, to hold an entire group of individuals responsible for the actiosn of two kids, even if you assume that they were indeed racist, is ridiculous. Why not hold all black people responsible for the Black Panthers shootings, or hold all Los Angelians responsible for the riots in Compton?
Are there some racists in Texas? Sure. Are there some in Boston? Absolutely. Are there blacks in Detroit who dislike white people when they might not know many? I bet there are.
Hold these two kids responsible for a lack of judgment, but don’t group all people (“prejudice”) from Texas or A&M and hold them morally responsible for the actions of a few 20-somethings inappropriately used a six pack of beer and a video camera.

Howdy my name is Betty. I’m a senior civil engineering major from Corpus Christi, Texas, but most importantly I’m the PROUDEST member of the fightin’ Texas Aggie class of 2006. WHOOP!!!
I am disgusted by the fact that this incident has caused so much hatred toward Texas A&M University. Texas A&M had no affiliation with what went on in that video and also, how in the hell has this become a political issue. Texas A&M University should not be condemned for a couple of bad seeds. Yes, racism needs to be stopped, but Texas A&M is not to blame. Why aren’t we blaming these student’s parents. Where are they? Why hasn’t ABC News interviewed the parents asking why they brought up their sons in this manner? You cannot tell me that these students were not racist before they were enrolled at A&M.
It also irritates me that Dr. Gates is being scrutinized over this. He has done everything in his power to make this a more diverse institution. Racist incidents, rape, assult, and other such incidents happen all over the world, not just at A&M. So why has A&M made headline news? Could it be that Dr. Gates is in the spotlight for being nominated for Secretary of Defense??? We need to look at the big picture before we start putting the blame on just one person, one institution, or one state. People are ready to blame others before they look into their own mirror.

Lets face it most Americans and Europeans are still racists. In fact some think that being black is equivalent to stupidity or low IQ. There is no way racism will end when racist parents are teaching their kids to be racists.

This is really amazing and the funny thing is it has nothing to do with democrats or republicans. Is there anybody out there but starry eyed peaceniks and our permanent victim class that think that this kind of behavior is abnormal? Use your mind and try thinking about this rationally for a moment if you can. Take a glance back at recorded history. What do you see? Unless you’ve missed it I’ll tell you what you see. Conflict. Conflict and hatred between and among humankind is as perenial as the rising sun. You’re not suprised when the sun rises are you? This doesn’t mean that it should be condoned. It is simply a fact of life. It isn’t the institutions fault. It’s not structural. That’s the same old card the victim class plays everytime something like this happens. The victim class and the media are always at the ready to tell us how bad the white people are. Interesting… We never hear about racism or hate crimes associated with anyone other than white people.

What happens in Texas stays in Texas!
* Actually this was a black american in make-up as a white american in make-up as a black american.
This is hardly a big deal. Really folks think “perspective”

On behalf of the sociologists previously mentioned, I would like to point out that yes, there is an agenda. The agenda is to bring attention to a problem in society and in this University. The comments given by the Sociologists are value laden; this value is that of progressive social change.
Further, this video is only an extreme and overt example of the more subtle occurrences of racism/prejudices felt on Texas A&M campus.

Jessica Olivares Wrote:
3 pillars of the Liberal Dem’s Base. Use emotion rather than fact, forget the rules or law’s (especially if it feels good)
and if all else fails, call all the Repubans’s Nazi’s.
Marques Garcia Responds:
Mija, I’ll see your 3 pillars, and raise you the following 3 of the Right Wing GOP (“GOOD ‘OL PENDEJOS”) Base: Use fear to distort fact, ignore the rules and break the laws (because it makes you feel good and powerful), and despite all things failing while in your hands, keep your Gays and bigots in the closet and call the Democrats Tax-happy Communists.

Looks like these guys may have a future in the democrat party. I bet this is Senator Byrd’s last term, so they need to start campaigning!

What is right or wrong in todays society is decided by the press. There are so many things that go on in our society and the press simply plays it up or plays it down. It acts as if it’s important or unimportant and that’s what becomes important to most of you.

“I attended a junior high school that had about 3 other black students. Another class was putting on a Thanksgiving play that involved historical figures and time travel. Rather than leave out George Washington Carver, they put black shoe polish on a white kid! It wasn’t funny then and its not funny now”
Maybe they weren’t trying to be funny but just trying to include a black man that is a part of history. I see nothing wrong with making a white person look black if they are doing it for a legitimate reason.

PAY CLOSE ATTENTION TO THIS POST AND READ MY LIPS. I am a student at Texas A&M and let me tell you that while we have a few in the closet racists, I have not met one person on this campus who was not upset about this video. This is happening because we live in the South and there are JUST A FEW leftover hotheads from the civil rights days. Gates has done what he can to stop this stuff and some other problems that have been happening around campus. But Gates can’t totally control what people with wrong attitudes do in their rooms and the videos they make. And Bush certainly has no control over that either.

These comments are instructive on both sides. Who can validate them? Anyone can claim to be a staunch supporter of Gates and know that A&M is OK, but then again, anyone can claim to be a student who has seen the abuses. This is BS all together. I find it strange that yet once again, whatever side you may find yourself on, there is another provocative story that has been released right after a political appointment. I’m beginning to wonder who has to profit from this. The politicians, or actually the media who releases this garbage? Who gets the advertising dollars? Follow the money. That will tell you the tale.

I’m currently a student at Texas A&M and I’m very proud of my school and my fellow peers. Of course there are going to be incidents of racism; they can happen anywhere in this nation or in the world for that matter depending on different circumstances.
There is a comment about the sociologist professors and their “agenda”. First of all, I am currently in a class of Professor Valdez and she told us that she was asked to comment about this situation. She went on to state that she was worried about being misquoted. I don’t know what all she said in that interview as I am not privy to 100% of what she said. However, that being said, it would be a far stretch to say that she has ever let any personal views, whatever they may be, to slip into her teaching. This is because I can’t be sure what personal, sociological, or political views she possesses because she values the importance of remaining neutral in the classroom in order to best pass on the teachings.
As to one student’s comments that there is no systematic racism on campus… Well, to put it frankly, I’m White, have been White all my life, and it appears that I will remain White the rest of my life until I die. It sounded like it’s a good chance that this fellow student of mine could fall under the same category as I do. If that is the case, I have no idea how they would know whether or not there is systematic racism present on campus or not. There have been repeated assaults on international (non-White) students in a particular area just off campus over the past year and a half and the College Station police department has been alerted to these problems. It is their job, not the jobs of the Texas A&M administration, to see that these acts are punished and they have alerted the student body of these incidents and assured us that these acts are being thoroughly investigated. These acts sound to me as possibly a case of systematic racism, though one would have trouble connecting them to the institution of Texas A&M.

The Texas A&M “racist” video was not made by racist students.
It was a video intended to expose the cruelty and stupidity of racism.
I”m surprised and appalled that a member of the Texas A&M faculty is
allowing us to be misrepresented here.
That video is not an accurate representation of our culture’s views.
Please exercise balanced journalism by running a story featuring Dr.
Gate’s diversity initiatives.
The present story is misleading and disgusting.
Thank you for your time.

Is Donna Shalala to blame for Bryan Pata getting shot?

We both know the answer to that question, VA man….she got a D by her name, therefore she clearly thinks the right way and is well-intentioned!! Others, those with an R next to their names, are clearly not well-intentioned and don’t think the right way….therefore the Rs, unlike the Ds, may be held accountable for everything that has gone wrong since the invention of sliced bread!!!

The Aggies who have posted here should take the time to use their spell checking programs. The grammar is rather horrible as well. Is our children learning?

LMAO at you people! I’ve never seen so much carrying on about something so blatantly stupid. Instead of pointing fingers (sarcastically or otherwise), let’s work together to make the world a better place. That doesn’t happen by tirading in endless comments, but by BEING the people you want others to be – show someone you care, open a door for a stranger, be a friend to those in need, and quit your belly-aching about political inferences from this incident. Sheesh!!!

Right down route 6 at Baylor University, some students dressed up as a pregnant nun and took a photograph with Baylor’s president, John Lilley. This student was allowed to march in a Baylor-sponsored parade. And the law school’s alumni magazine published an article praising this group that sponsored this anti-Catholic bigotry, the Noze Brothers. Yet, the national media did nothing. Why? Because, in the words of historian Phil Jenkins, anti-Catholicism is the last acceptable prejudice.
At Penn, the president was photographed with someone dressed up as a terrorist. No problem. She apologizes; it’s over.

Everyone is somewhat racist. That includes everyone(white,black,brown,purple,yellow,I mean everyone). I am tired of everyone say he she is racist just becuase you don’t agree with what they are saying or doing. I mean noone went around say the wayans went around as white blonds acting stupid well guess what it offend me. I guess that makes them racist. And don’t say this is different becuase it is slaves. When everyone feels free to say things about anything but black and only black can say any- thing offending. Well, when you have black people calling each other the n word what you think other people who listen to that music won’t say it tooo?*#

I too grew up in central Texas, and I chose to go to A&M while several of my friends went to University of Texas. However, I believe it was my friends who changed. Almost all of them are more liberal, and 3 of them came out of the closet (not that there is anything wrong with that.) Don’t blame government or politicians for you lot in life. Everyone knows Al Gore worked on his family tobacco farm groing up, so by the logic I see on this post, I will sue him when I get lung cancer. He is no more responsible for cancer than Gates or Bush or (insert any politician’s name) is responsible for racism.

Obviously, many of you who have responded here have not only never been to the campus of Texas A&M, but you have also apparently never been to Texas.
When I was at A&M many years ago there were 40,000 students. I don’t even know the numbers now. It is beyond idiotic to conclude that three morons represent the entirity of the caucasion student body of a huge university. Some of you even extrapolated that out to the entire state of Texas!! Ha!
Regarding racism…It is a hateful and ignorant prejudice that extends across all (and I do mean ALL) races. I recall clearly the t-shirts worn by some students on campus when I was there. They said, “It’s a black thang. You wouldn’t understand”. Is that racial pride or racism? I don’t know. But what I do know is the young woman wearing that t-shirt only represented herself. She did not represent the entire student body any more than those idiots in black face do.

I am amazed at the ignorance of the American society. People actually blame anyone and everything before placing the responsibility with the individuals. Many of you are right it is a conspiracy of Republicans and all 46,000 white supremists at Texas A&M. Absolutely amazing, many of you need to find a job or a life.

Why is it that Dave Chapelle can make a fortune off of witty race based skits (that do contain hateful dialog), but three students who make a video no more offending than some of Dave’s exerpts are instantly condemned. Could it be because Dave is black and these three students are white? I believe that is the case and I find it funny that so many people fight for equality between the races but as soon as the tables are turned black people receive more lenient criticism for something that ended so long ago…slavery. All I can do is sit back and laugh. Please remember that Texas A&M is comprised of roughly 45,000 students so don’t make judgement from the actions of three.

This is an embarassment to me as a graduate of Texas A&M. Maybe the churches of BCS can do som’n to slow this racism. Maybe the perpretators will be shamed when they grow up. Lots of elderly folks are too tired to stay racist.

Everybody loves the black athlete Mr. Spence. Some people here sound like one of those people who make racially insensitive comments and give the common excuse, “i have black friends or infact i grew up with black people” yeah right as if you are the only racist who ever did.

Dave #1: Did you really just call me a racist without knowing anything about me besides the fact that I attend Texas A&M University? It seems like you are the type of person that generalizes a group of people based on one common fact. I believe the same is true with racism. I am not racist and neither are any of my friends at A&M, but I really don’t need to prove that to you, you seem quite ignorant – and ignorance is bliss!
Dave #2: I’m not sure when you attended Texas A&M or if you really went here at all, but I have never heard a professor make a racist comment in the three years I’ve been here. In fact, out of my 6 professors and T.A.’s this semester, only 2 are white. And PLEASE tell me where there is racism on the bathroom walls, because I sure have yet to see it. Thanks, and Gig’ em!

Be thankful. This guy is still in school. I’ve worked with the educated elite from Texas A&M and they are far worse. It as if I was under some type of secret surviellance by the government. I know I’m not perfect, but please give me a break, ‘race’, should be the last thing anyone uses to critque someones character.

Look up A&M on Student Review. I’m glad I went to UTA. A mexican student in our class said that she didn’t get service in a restaurant. The shoe polish isn’t going to come off easily silly.