Oklahoma University Students Mount Protest Over ‘Otherization,’ Use of Gender Pronouns

[Teh One Who Knocks]

Heat Street Staff


http://i.imgur.com/86zENjPl.jpg

Students at Oklahoma University have taken to Twitter to share what they are describing as incidents of discrimination and harassment and draw attention to the university’s failed efforts to promote diversity and inclusion.

Using the hashtag #yOUrbad, students have been sharing stories about microagressions they face, the hostile climate on campus for People of Color, and other such violations of the norms of inclusion and tolerance.

The originator of the effort, management information systems senior Emily Pham, tells the OU Daily student newspaper that she was angered that the university recently received an award for its efforts to promote diversity and inclusion on campus.

“I think (OU President David Boren) is only pleased to be recognized for a goal that the university has yet to attain,” she said. “If it’s a goal that you don’t follow through on and you don’t commit your efforts to building an inclusive experience for people of color, women, people with disabilities, LGBTQIA and other groups at OU, then your diversity numbers are worth nothing.”

By Thursday morning, dozens of students had complained about a number of problems still faced by the university. Among them:

Transphobia:
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Same prof consistently used gender as example of dichotomous variable b/c &quot;it&#39;s easy, there&#39;s only two options.&quot; Transphobia much? <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/yOUrbad?src=hash">#yOUrbad</a></p>&mdash; Lena Tenney (@Lena10E) <a href="https://twitter.com/Lena10E/status/773593554807582721">September 7, 2016</a></blockquote>
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Otherization:
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">When undocumented folx are called &quot;illegal aliens&quot; in lecture, its easy to understand their otherization in the university <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/yOUrbad?src=hash">#yOUrbad</a></p>&mdash; champagnepupi (@wtftsanch) <a href="https://twitter.com/wtftsanch/status/773189927727009792">September 6, 2016</a></blockquote>
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Inappropriate jokes:
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">When faculty members openly joke about microaggressions at a meeting to discuss campus climate. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/yOUrbad?src=hash">#yOUrbad</a></p>&mdash; Shane R. Brady (@Dr_Pracademic) <a href="https://twitter.com/Dr_Pracademic/status/773861657319645186">September 8, 2016</a></blockquote>
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Erasing statements:
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">OU President David Boren makes extremely harmful and erasing statements without flinching. Gets awarded. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/yOUrbad?src=hash">#yOUrbad</a> <a href="https://t.co/6ldGFlmqZK">https://t.co/6ldGFlmqZK</a></p>&mdash; Indigenize OU (@IndigenizeOU) <a href="https://twitter.com/IndigenizeOU/status/773235434310602752">September 6, 2016</a></blockquote>
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Improper gender usage:
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">when your WGS professor uses the terms female and woman interchangeably <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/yOUrbad?src=hash">#yOUrbad</a></p>&mdash; emily rose (@zuzuzuspetals) <a href="https://twitter.com/zuzuzuspetals/status/773271910238924802">September 6, 2016</a></blockquote>
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Latinx racism:
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Having Greek life that uses caricatures of Latinx populations for parties and furthering anti-Latinx racism <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/yOUrbad?src=hash">#yOUrbad</a></p>&mdash; Nicolas Juarez (@nijuarez) <a href="https://twitter.com/nijuarez/status/773561963322363906">September 7, 2016</a></blockquote>
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Most of the tweets are so far in support of the maligned students, but there are a few voices of dissent:


#yOUrbad I've never seen so many self entitled BS opinions from SJW special snowflakes in one place. You all make me ashamed to attend OU.

— BoomerSooner! (@NickoliLion) September 8, 2016
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="und" dir="ltr"><a href="https://twitter.com/yourbadOU">@yourbadOU</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/yOUrbad?src=hash">#yOUrbad</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/yOUrWhining?src=hash">#yOUrWhining</a> <a href="https://t.co/wErzM0k02m">pic.twitter.com/wErzM0k02m</a></p>&mdash; Zack Butler (@EngineerZack) <a href="https://twitter.com/EngineerZack/status/773735865356996608">September 8, 2016</a></blockquote>
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[deebakes]

:suicide:

[RBP]

Ugh

[Teh One Who Knocks]

http://i.imgur.com/yRo4BDO.jpg

[RBP]

Ugh (2)

[deebakes]

:suicide2:

[Godfather]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="und" dir="ltr"><a href="https://twitter.com/yourbadOU">@yourbadOU</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/yOUrbad?src=hash">#yOUrbad</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/yOUrWhining?src=hash">#yOUrWhining</a> <a href="https://t.co/wErzM0k02m">pic.twitter.com/wErzM0k02m</a></p>— Zack Butler (@EngineerZack) <a href="https://twitter.com/EngineerZack/status/773735865356996608">September 8, 2016</a></blockquote>
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Sure, just don't let them catch a black guy drinking out of their water fountain or they'll throw a fucking fit :lol:

I'm teasing of course... not defending this soft ass bullshit... but it's apples and oranges in some ways.

[RBP]

Sure, just don't let them catch a black guy drinking out of their water fountain or they'll throw a fucking fit :lol:

I'm teasing of course... not defending this soft ass bullshit... but it's apples and oranges in some ways.

What are you referring to as "apples and oranges"?

[Godfather]

Literal apples and oranges, one is a citrus and one is a pomaceous fruit. Do I have to explain everything?

[Godfather]

What are you referring to as "apples and oranges"?

I really just mean that even the 'Greatest Generation' had communist movements in their colleges (I think they peaked in 1942)... the 60's and 70's had hardcore hippies, the 1980's and 1990's had moral crusaders too... a simple image with two lines of text comparing the brave men on D-Day with SJW's as if that's truly an equal comparison of one generation to the next isn't fair. How many kids went straight into the military from college or high school after 9/11? Leftists vs. the majority who 'do the right thing' are not being contrasted. So to elaborate more than necessary, these examples are apples and oranges IMO. Just shitty facebook bait your grumpy old uncle would post :lol:

[RBP]

I really just mean that even the 'Greatest Generation' had communist movements in their colleges (I think they peaked in 1942)... the 60's and 70's had hardcore hippies, the 1980's and 1990's had moral crusaders too... a simple image with two lines of text comparing the brave men on D-Day with SJW's as if that's truly an equal comparison of one generation to the next isn't fair. How many kids went straight into the military from college or high school after 9/11? Leftists vs. the majority who 'do the right thing' are not being contrasted. So to elaborate more than necessary, these examples are apples and oranges IMO. Just shitty facebook bait your grumpy old uncle would post :lol:

I'd concede the 60's as valid. I also think it's accurate to characterize this as whiny bullshit from bored Americans. I find it hilariously ironic that, in a global sense, you need enormous privilege to be bothered to bitch about privilege.

But I guess that beats the hell out of "do you think the rice will arrive today"?

We (Average Joe Americans) feel no pain from war now. That, in my mind, is a massive miscalculation. If you go to war, the entire population should be impacted. I imagine there would be less war as a result.

[RBP]

Literal apples and oranges, one is a citrus and one is a pomaceous fruit. Do I have to explain everything?

:+1:

[Godfather]

I'd concede the 60's as valid. I also think it's accurate to characterize this as whiny bullshit from bored Americans. I find it hilariously ironic that, in a global sense, you need enormous privilege to be bothered to bitch about privilege.

But I guess that beats the hell out of "do you think the rice will arrive today"?

We (Average Joe Americans) feel no pain from war now. That, in my mind, is a massive miscalculation. If you go to war, the entire population should be impacted. I imagine there would be less war as a result.

Truth.

Boredom breeds lots of things... one of them is definitely political extremism like this stupid shit.

It'd be nice if you could just force kids to study STEM at post-secondary if they really belong there but I guess that isn't really realistic :lol: