Teh One Who Knocks
09-29-2015, 11:39 AM
The Telegraph
http://i.imgur.com/0CiBcaA.jpg
A university's students union has banned students from getting free sombreros claiming they are "racist".
Students were being given free sombreros by a local Tex-Mex restaurant in a bid to drum up business with a smile, before uni chiefs ordered them to stop - because it violates strict cultural appropriation rules.
The University of East Anglia student union officials even took the big floppy hats from students at the Freshers' Fair, because non-Mexicans wearing the traditional item of headwear could be seen as offensive, according to a new initiative.
The Union has stated that the handing out of sombreros breached a key advertising policy which was sent to all stallholders before the event, prohibiting any use of stereotypical imagery in advertising.
It read: "Discriminatory or stereotypical language or imagery aimed towards to any group or individual based on characteristics will not be permitted as part of our advertising."
The policy specifies 15 types of discrimination, some of which include colour, ethnic origin, and nationality.
The sombreros were seen as racist and a form of cultural appropriation, despite the fact that the restaurant's website says it offers a "Tex-Mex experience."
When Pedros were asked to stop handing out the sombreros they were amicable in doing so, although some students were less impressed.
Speaking to student newspaper The Tab, one first year who asked not to be named, said: "It's ridiculous - it's a comedy hat, not some sort of sacred religious dress.
"Who is going to get offended? Speedy Gonzales?"
http://i.imgur.com/U8I5OVE.jpg
Rafel Spilman added: "What utter b*****ks."
But the Union defended their madcap stance on the floppy hat.
Campaigns and Democracy officer Chris Jarvis said: "We know that when it comes to cultural appropriation the issues can sometimes be difficult to understand and many don't realise that they may be about to cause offence or break a policy.
"So we're discussing internally how we can improve our briefing to both external organisations and our own members so that people aren't caught out at the last minute."
He added: "At the SU we want all members feel safe and accepted, so at all events we try to ensure that there is no behaviour, language or imagery which could be considered racist, sexist, homophobic, transphobic or ableist."
The offending sombreros were being handed out at the University of East Anglia freshers' fair in Norwich last week.
Pedros Tex-Mex Cantina is an independent, family-owned restaurant that opened in 1991 in Norwich.
The restaurant is highly rated on review site TripAdvisor and dishes up a variety of traditional Tex-Mex dishes, including nachos, chilli and tacos.
Manager Matthew Ward was unavailable to comment yesterday morning, but a worker at the restaurant said: "It's ridiculous."
The British Mexican Society backed the Tex-Mex eatery for giving away the free hats.
Chairman Richard Maudslay said: "I would applaud any business of any nationality for doing anything to try to drum up business in a legitimate way, which this seems.
"I applaud them - it's not a Mexican issue. It's a much broader issue than that.
"We are delighted to learn that there is a Mexican restaurant in Norwich and hope that they would like to join us to become members of the British Mexican Society."
The non-political charity regularly hold fundraisers for projects in Mexico, and annually offer a prize to the best PhD thesis produced at any British University, by a student of any nationality, on a topic related to the country.
Mr Maudslay added: "We would welcome the restaurant on board.
"We would welcome anyone with a contact within Mexico.
"As a society we are wasting time on things that are really not going to change the world."
http://i.imgur.com/0CiBcaA.jpg
A university's students union has banned students from getting free sombreros claiming they are "racist".
Students were being given free sombreros by a local Tex-Mex restaurant in a bid to drum up business with a smile, before uni chiefs ordered them to stop - because it violates strict cultural appropriation rules.
The University of East Anglia student union officials even took the big floppy hats from students at the Freshers' Fair, because non-Mexicans wearing the traditional item of headwear could be seen as offensive, according to a new initiative.
The Union has stated that the handing out of sombreros breached a key advertising policy which was sent to all stallholders before the event, prohibiting any use of stereotypical imagery in advertising.
It read: "Discriminatory or stereotypical language or imagery aimed towards to any group or individual based on characteristics will not be permitted as part of our advertising."
The policy specifies 15 types of discrimination, some of which include colour, ethnic origin, and nationality.
The sombreros were seen as racist and a form of cultural appropriation, despite the fact that the restaurant's website says it offers a "Tex-Mex experience."
When Pedros were asked to stop handing out the sombreros they were amicable in doing so, although some students were less impressed.
Speaking to student newspaper The Tab, one first year who asked not to be named, said: "It's ridiculous - it's a comedy hat, not some sort of sacred religious dress.
"Who is going to get offended? Speedy Gonzales?"
http://i.imgur.com/U8I5OVE.jpg
Rafel Spilman added: "What utter b*****ks."
But the Union defended their madcap stance on the floppy hat.
Campaigns and Democracy officer Chris Jarvis said: "We know that when it comes to cultural appropriation the issues can sometimes be difficult to understand and many don't realise that they may be about to cause offence or break a policy.
"So we're discussing internally how we can improve our briefing to both external organisations and our own members so that people aren't caught out at the last minute."
He added: "At the SU we want all members feel safe and accepted, so at all events we try to ensure that there is no behaviour, language or imagery which could be considered racist, sexist, homophobic, transphobic or ableist."
The offending sombreros were being handed out at the University of East Anglia freshers' fair in Norwich last week.
Pedros Tex-Mex Cantina is an independent, family-owned restaurant that opened in 1991 in Norwich.
The restaurant is highly rated on review site TripAdvisor and dishes up a variety of traditional Tex-Mex dishes, including nachos, chilli and tacos.
Manager Matthew Ward was unavailable to comment yesterday morning, but a worker at the restaurant said: "It's ridiculous."
The British Mexican Society backed the Tex-Mex eatery for giving away the free hats.
Chairman Richard Maudslay said: "I would applaud any business of any nationality for doing anything to try to drum up business in a legitimate way, which this seems.
"I applaud them - it's not a Mexican issue. It's a much broader issue than that.
"We are delighted to learn that there is a Mexican restaurant in Norwich and hope that they would like to join us to become members of the British Mexican Society."
The non-political charity regularly hold fundraisers for projects in Mexico, and annually offer a prize to the best PhD thesis produced at any British University, by a student of any nationality, on a topic related to the country.
Mr Maudslay added: "We would welcome the restaurant on board.
"We would welcome anyone with a contact within Mexico.
"As a society we are wasting time on things that are really not going to change the world."