Now that Don Imus has managed to get himself fired from the CBS radio network and a simulcast of his radio show on MSNBC, a post mortem is probably in order. Imus’s mortal sin was to refer to the Rutgers woman’s basketball team as “nappy headed hos,” efficiently combining racial and misogynistic slurs in only three words. No one defends his statement, however, it has brought attention to the use of similar language daily in hip-hop music. If it was so wrong for Imus, why is such language somehow acceptable for hip hop artists?
Hip-hop artist Russell Simmons plausibly argues that context is everything. Imus’s remarks appear deliberately harmful and hateful. The argument by the hip-hop community is that the use of words like “hos” authentically represent some elements of the black experience in America. While it is not possible to determine with certainty the motives of others, from the outside, the pervasiveness of such language in hip-hop music undermines the self esteem of young black woman and coarsens the overall culture.
Nonetheless, it is important to recognize that context is critical in determining the appropriateness of language. Just because the argument about context is used to defend the language of hip-hop music does not mean that context is not important.
Every year groups try to remove Mark Twain’s The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn from high school curricula because of its use of the “n”-word. In contemporary America, the use of this work is almost universally considered deliberately hurtful and mean-spirited. However, Twain’s masterpiece remains indictment of slavery and the use of religion to support the institution.
Words are like guns. They are not inherently harmful. It depends on how and when they are used.
Student Privacy
Sunday, April 22nd, 2007It is not surprising that the nation is asking itself what might have prevented the massacre of 32 student and faculty and Virginia Tech. The killer (I am deliberated not according him the honor of mentioning his name) was 23-year old student who had a history of mental illness. There will be discussion about gun control laws and whether a different reporting regime would have prevented the killer from acquiring the weapons he employed. Here we address an important ancillary issue, the extent to which laws protecting student privacy prevent a healthy relationship between the university, students, and their parents.
The old tradition of universities and colleges was to manage students as parents would, the princple of in loco parentis. However, the ethos of extreme personal autonomy has spread to campuses. Students are treated as full adults, even if greater concern and care seem warranted. If as student is having academic or personal problems, parents will not be generally notified. Parents do not have right to view student grades. Parents are only notified if the policy are called or emergency medical treatment required.
In many ways this is convenient for universities. Schools still insist upon parental finanical support to the extent they practically can, but the source of funds is separated from the consumers, the students. Parents who pay for the services are more likely to confront school administrators about the quality of educational services and the manner in which they are provided.
Federal law prohibits universities from releasing student records, even grades, to anyone unless the student has granted permission. This crucial point is often time explained to parents at orientation classes for parents of prospective freshman. Don’t bother to call the school to find out how Johnny or Sally are doing, because federal law keeps the university from responding.
However, what is generally not said is that one important exception to the law is that the parents of children who are still dependents, as defined by the Internal Revenue Code, have every right to student records. This situation applies to many incoming freshman. The fact that this exception is not generally made clear to parents is an indication that universties rather not be bothered by pesky parents.
The extent that universities really care about the welfare of student is in part measured by their genuine attempts to involve parents in the education and care of student, not just fund raising and boosterism. The first step is to make sure that parents understand their rights.
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