It is understood that the "Suburban Express" mainly operates buses from universities such as Illinois and Idaho to downtown Chicago. This email advertisement is to promote the winter vacation route. However, in his advertisement, in addition to introducing "no baggage charge", "refund four hours before departure" and "experienced driver", the above remarks also appeared as selling points.
This obviously discriminatory remark instantly aroused the dissatisfaction of international students in China. According to CNN, the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign * * has a total of 44,000 students, of whom 5,900 are international students from China, accounting for 13% of the whole school. The student affairs office of the school immediately issued a strongly worded statement. They think that such discriminatory remarks not only attack China and other Asian students in the school, but also insult the whole school, and strongly condemn it.
Subsequently, the company sent a second email called "Apology Letter", but it did not show any apology.
The letter of apology first mentioned that the company's remarks were "based on the fact that all students from China went to their competitors to take buses". Later, it was pointed out that "the University of Illinois is a public university sponsored by taxpayers", but "20% of its students come from China, and such a high proportion of foreign English speakers have caused various burdens to local students". At the end of the article, the company even said, "In any case, we don't intend to offend half the population on this planet", once again speaking for the huge population of China.
On February 4th, 65438, local time, Lisa Madigan, the state attorney general, issued a summons to the bus company, arguing that the advertisement recently released by the company might damage the civil rights. The state attorney general also pointed out that companies should not refuse to provide services because of the age, race, color, sex, belief, ancestral home, sexual orientation and gender identity of individuals or groups.
In fact, incidents of discrimination against students in China and even Asia are common. In April this year, the University of Texas at Austin held a "Moral Course for China Students", and before that, a famous brand was torn up in Columbia University-someone tore up a famous brand with the characteristics of "Chinese name" posted on the door.
So how can China students safeguard the interests and dignity of groups and individuals in the face of discrimination?
First of all, international students should fully understand which behaviors are discrimination. Some words that obviously insult Asians and China people are easy to identify, because it is like referring to African-Americans with niggers. But in addition, we should pay attention to whether you are easily labeled by others just because you are from China. It is obviously discrimination to treat you differently just because you are from China.
Second, we should keep valid evidence. In the case of ensuring personal safety, you can take photos and videos with your mobile phone and keep discriminatory posters and certificates. Every university has institutions dealing with similar affairs, and each school has different office names, such as International Student Center, Multicultural Office and Student Affairs Office. Students can go to the corresponding institutions to complain and report and ask the school to investigate. The mail in this incident is undoubtedly important evidence.
Third, seek the China or Asian student organizations of our school. Larger institutions generally have China Students and Scholars Association. If not, you can also directly ask the Student Union for help, and ask the China Student Union or the school-level student union to conduct an investigation.
Fourth, call for attention. Not only schools should pay enough attention to discrimination, but also students should pay attention to it. On different platforms, we call on the society to pay attention to the discrimination of China people and China students, so that people who didn't know that similar behavior was discrimination can re-understand the problem.
For example, Yan, a sophomore at Columbia University, posted a video of "Say My Name" on social media after the famous brand tearing incident at Columbia University. In the video, Asian groups told their names and the meanings and stories behind them, which caused great influence and took an important step in demanding equal rights and anti-discrimination.
Finally, we must protect ourselves. Some incidents of discrimination are not as simple as shouting discriminatory words at students and posting some notes in China. Because of the Asian face, some people were thrown debris, some were entangled, and some were bullied. Once a similar incident happens, you must protect yourself first and call the police quickly.
There are many reasons for discrimination. Some people don't understand China's national conditions and blindly label it just because of the cultural gap between the East and the West. Some people are easily incited by social emotions, while others are simply stupid. But no reason can be the reason why discrimination is ignored and tolerated. In the face of discrimination, patience is not a virtue, but tolerance; Silence is not gold, but connivance. Election discrimination is not out of passion, but for equal treatment for yourself and the Chinese community, that's all.