The Justice

Of course the African club is differnt from Brandeis Black Student Organization. Africans have their own culture and blacks in general have many differnt cultures based on where he or she comes from. If you really care about the differnce you should go to a BBSO meeting and see for yourselves. Everyone needs to get over this "how could there be racism at Brandeis" nonesense and open your eyes and live in the real world.

"Lee wrote that the African Club cannot be incorporated into BBSO because African American culture is very different from African, or black, culture."

So only blacks live in Africa now? I have to think the 7 million White Africans would have a very big problem with that statement.

Kamarin Lee's comment was, without a doubt, disgusting bigotry that should not be quickly forgotten with a quick apology. Not only does Lee impugn Tanenbaum for his religious and socio-economic standing, but he unfairly labels an entire group. By stating, "[it] sounds like something that would come from a White, Jewish Middle-Class Conservative," Lee is broadly and unfairly characterizing this entire demographic. It seems pretty clear that Lee believes all white Jews in the middle class are racist. The fact that Lee immediately jumps to this remark after disagreeing with Tanenbaum's honest assessment of two similar groups--after all, it's his job as senator--shows that it is Lee, not Tanenbaum and the entire Jewish middle class, who is the racist.
Imagine if a white person had said something like, "this sounds like something that would come out of the mouth of a black person." A quick apology like Lee made would surely not wipe out that controversy--think of the Gravity Magazine scandal, whose shocks are still felt today, despite apology after apology. While at least Gravity was attempting to be humorous and satirical, Lee's comment was maliciously racist. More attention should be paid to Lee's comment and, in general, this type of reverse racism that is often glossed over.

First of all, the quote attributed to Lee I believe was either misquoted or a statement of what the Senator of '08 was arguing. What Asher might have seen, taken from the purpose of BBSO:
"In addition to coordinating creative and relevant programs and educating the campus about the rich diversity of international Africana cultures, its goal is to contribute to the academic and political issues that impact people of African descent around the world."

So you see, there clearly was overlap. While BBSO is perhaps more known as a African American organization, there are elements of African culture. The 2006-2007 Senate actually found it necessary for HELP, a club about general health, to change its purpose before they chartered PERC, a club about responsible alcohol and drug choices. In this former senator's opinion, Asher was never implying that only blacks live in Africa or that Africans and African Americans are the same thing, but merely doing his job by upholding the standard of duality of purpose for club charter. I thank Asher for diligently doing the type of work that all senators ought to be doing.

Here are the two e-mails that sparked this controversy:

On Nov 1, 2007, at 10:53 PM, Asher Tanenbaum wrote:

During the Ways and Means meeting tonight we went over the clubs that are
coming to us this Sunday and for the African Club, we found some potential
dualities of purpose with the Brandeis Black Student Organization. Here is
the purpose for BBSO:

As the first cultural club on the Brandeis campus with a legacy that
predates the Intercultural Center, the Brandeis Black Student Organization
has a powerful history of facilitating cultural awareness and dialogues in
social responsibility. In addition to coordinating creative and relevant
programs educating the campus about the rich diversity of international
Africana cultures, the mission of BBSO is to create a safe space to promote
friendship and solidarity among Black students. Also its goal is contribute
to the academic and political issues that impact people of African descent
around the world and ultimately to bridge gaps between communities.

And here is the purpose of the African Club:
The African Club at Brandeis University seeks to culturally empower African
students and the student body at large to become socially, politically, and
critically aware of African Cultures. A goal is to enter the complexities of
Africa as a continent by looking at the diversity of each country, and to
understand these diversities through a sociopolitical and sociocultural
lens. Through the use of discussions among members, intercultural events,
and interactive workshops myths can be dispelled and dynamic understandings
will be revealed. Africa is Uganda, Kenya, Ghana, Congo, Rwanda, Nigeria,
Mali, as well as the many countries that constitute her very essence.
Despite the overarching goal, even if this club leaves some with only a
glimpse of Africa- the food, the music, a language-, at least students will
have gotten a salient and actual insight into a continent of many but a
place of one.

There are many similar elements in both, particularly in cultural awareness
and activities. Additionally, they seem to have a vague description of
membership that should probably be changed, as it doesn't specify specific
criteria that membership requires.

Please discuss over the Senate listserv.
Asher


Kamarin's reponse:

Hi Guys,

I am sorry to say that I find Asher's e-mail both offensive and inappropriate. Asher's idea of the African Club is full of ignorance by believing racial stereotypes. and sounds like something that would come from a White, Jewish Middle-Class Conservative. I am not the only one who believes this idea is inappropriate and offensive.

It's so stupid and upsetting that he would say the African Club has a direct has a relation with BBSO, being that BBSO mainly incorporates "Black Culture" on campus, meaning that any "African culture" would be incorporated as well. Asher is wrong. "African American culture" in America is very much different from that of any "African culture." Personally, I feel very offended by Asher's remarks in saying that both of these club's inner elements are basically the same, and that all "Africans" and "African American's" are the same, regardless of where they came from. He seems to categorize both of these distinctive groups into one single group. This does not make any sense.

Please feel welcome to express how you feel.

Best Regards,

Kamarin Lee

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Without knowing the titles of the clubs, these purposes are basically the same. What the Senate needs to base their votes on is the written purpose and not what club leaders say their club does that another existing club does not. There is very clear overlap in both and to say that someone pointing this out is only doing so because he is "White, Jewish Middle-Class Conservative" is non-sensical and bigoted and reads racism into something where there is absolutely none but simply telling senators to look closely. In Tanenbaum's email there was never a mention of Africans and African Americans being the same nor their cultures or traditions.

It seems clear that based on past precedent set on this campus the senate needs to pass a resolution against this type of racism, Kamarin Lee needs to resign his position on the senate, Lee needs to get sensitivity training and find some way to make ammends to the many people his words hurt...and that's just for starters. People should also consider USBC sanctions against Lee.

Sure! And I'm for one who would say that we all go as a mob in Senate with pitchforks and torches and a noose and hang the guy, and burn him to death for a simple honest mistake!

Lee did apologize, and Tanenbaum accepted. I don't see there being anymore problems here! EVERYONE HAS MOVED ON! Being a junior at this school, I just don't understand why people just stop and move on?!

Get over yourselves. Lee got away with it, and there's nothing we can do unless we take it upon ourselves to stroll into Senate, complain and demand a censure or impeachment.

Things just doesn't happen on it's own people! If not that, we should all shut up and close the book on this issue. It will not do anything!

Josh,
Chill...it was sarcasm...I don't really think we should do any of what I said in the last post, but rather was saterizing the reaction to similar incidents in the past when the shoe was on the other foot and the people that are on the defensive now were put on the offensive. Anyway...can't you tell that Brandeis misses presidents like you from reading all the articles on petty politics in the union while the union caves on the important issues to the administration?

But back to the over reaction...Gravity (and others before them) also said they were sorry and that did them little good cause those that are appologizing now were too good to accept the sorry and were out for blood so to speak.

What can I say? Tattenbaum is a complete BLOKE. How can you tell someone that their beliefs are completely unnecessary? How can you tell the TYP Senator and others that they cannot feel the way they do? How dare you! You should definitely seek a reality check, because what has been going on isn't the real world, but just some conservative outlook inside of this bubble we are all in. Get a life. Don't you ever say such a thing again.