Guest Column
“South of the Border” Party Changes Latina’s View of University
- “South of the Border” Party Changes Latina’s View of University
- By Victoria Duran
- Silicon Valley DeBug
- Mar 07, 2007
SANTA CLARA CA. -- A few weeks ago I saw a number of photos from a
party at my school, Santa Clara University (SCU). The photos were of a
race-themed party called “South of the Border.” These photos captured
Santa Clara University students dressed as domestic service workers,
janitors, cholos and cholas (Mexican American gangsters), along with other
stereotypical images of Latinos.
The moment I saw these images I was sick to my stomach. There are no words
to describe what I felt, but surely it was not a surprise. Approaching the
final quarter of my senior year, I have seen racism on the SCU campus, but
in this case, students were publicly displaying a lack of respect for the
Latino community.
The “South of the Border” theme has not been the only racist party that
has been organized by students here. The individuals who have coordinated
the parties have primarily been student athletes and from privileged,
upper class backgrounds. The list of parties includes: Tall tees and 40s,
Thug Mansion – both riffing off of African American stereotypes – and
Fresh Off the Boat (FOB), referring to recently arrived immigrants. All of
these parties have targeted specific ethnic groups and mocked us by
portraying such stereotypical images. Interestingly, not one of these
parties invited or included members of the communities that they were
portraying. Who knows what may have happened if real thugs attended the
“Thug Mansion” or if real cholas attended the “South of the Border” party.
Back in 2003, when I graduated from Silver Creek High School, my goal was
to attend Santa Clara University. As a first generation, college bound
Latina from the Eastside of San Jose, I was overcome with such joy when I
received the acceptance letter to attend the university of my dreams. This
was such a major milestone in my life that school was something I really
wanted to share with my family and community, those who have supported me
to attain my goal.
When I saw the images from the “South of the Border” party for the first
time, I felt disgusted and speechless. I felt like what I had worked so
hard for – the opportunity to attend a university that would respect me,
my people and our contributions – was no longer valid.
Many students have provided their personal opinions regarding the theme
parties across campus, verbally and through discussion boards on-line, and
an overwhelming response has come to the defense of the parties. Much of
the popular opinion across the campus is that minority students are
overreacting to a simple party where no malicious intent was present.
I've heard fellow students say the party is an act of their freedom of
speech. Discussion boards online (TheSantaClara.com) included postings
from individuals who felt that the “trash” (Latino students) should be
sent back to where they came from. And actually, the postings reveal a lot
of other sentiments towards minorities on campus, saying that groups such
as MEChA-El Frente, the Latino student organization, should not exist.
Some even went so far as to say these groups are a terrorist organization
conspiring terrorist acts against the government.
Santa Clara University is California’s oldest institution of higher
education. The current demographics of the university are as follows: 59
percent Caucasian, 17 percent Asian/Pacific Islander, 11 percent
Hispanic/Latino, 2.6 percent African American and 9 percent other. The
students, faculty and staff pride themselves on the strong SCU community
that supports the philosophy of educating men and women for the “three Cs”
– competence, conscience, and compassion – the Jesuit values of our
University.
Yet, after over 150 years of providing such a prestigious educational
experience to students, our demographics do not reflect the much needed
diversity and cultural awareness that one assumes would be appreciated at
such a value driven institution in the heart of the Silicon Valley.
For a party like “South of the Border” to strike at school in the Bay Area
known for its relatively high percentage of Latinos – especially in San
Jose, which has a Latino population of 30 percent – shows that Latinos are
still not welcome nor respected in a community in which they built and
work in. Imagine how the Latino service workers felt when they saw images
of the students they see on a daily basis – students that they clean up
after, serve food to and keep grounds for – mocking them?
Shortly after I saw the photos and read the comments on the discussion
boards, I walked outside to attend my class and experienced something a
new feeling. For the first time on campus, I experienced a feeling of “me”
versus “them.” There was me, pursuing a higher education for my future and
for my family, while others – or “them” – continue to see me as a Chola or
domestic service worker.
After four years of schooling, these pictures point out to me that we are
not the united community we claim to be. Students do not equally welcome
their peers who also earned admission into Santa Clara University.
Instead, we are a divided campus of the privileged and underprivileged,
those who can victimize another group for their mere entertainment and
those of us who must live with the consequences.
(In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, this material is distributed by HispanicVista.com (www.hispanicvista.com) without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for research and educational purposes.)