Asian groups, officials react to web posting

Two days after comments concerning Asian-American self-segregation — which some Asian students found offensive — appeared on the gank.princeton.edu website, administrators and students are searching for the appropriate response.

The message, which included the last names of several Asian students drawing into Spelman Hall, was posted to the website Tuesday evening and removed later that night.

Niraj Bhatt '03, the site's administrator and a minority affairs adviser in Butler College, issued an apology on the website Wednesday.

'Constructive'

More than 50 students crowded into the International Center last night for a forum sponsored by the Asian American Student Association on the controversy. Bhatt repeatedly apologized to the group, saying, "The way I posed this was terrible, but I'm thankful something constructive came out of this."

Students at the forum discussed campus sensitivity to racial issues and pledged to continue dialogue.

In response to questions about why the comments were offensive, Erin Seo '04, whose last name was posted on the website, said, "Now people perceive me in a certain way. They say, 'she self-segregates,' without knowing who I am."

Meanwhile, Butler College master Ted Champlin sent an email to college residents yesterday addressing the matter.

"[Butler College] cannot tolerate this sort of insensitivity in a diverse community that prides itself on civility and understanding," he wrote.

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"We on the College staff are working to decide as soon as we can what would be the most constructive response to the offense rightly felt by many people, and what Niraj's role will be," Champlin wrote.

Champlin declined to comment on whether Bhatt would keep his MAA position.

"We are looking into the matter with Niraj's cooperation," he said.

"Our MAAs know better than that, but they're also human," said Denise Dutton, interim assistant dean of undergraduate students, who coordinates the RA and MAA training program.

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"The University insists that all students uphold the community standards of respect," Dutton said. "But we also want students to grapple with these thought-filled issues.

"Part of that grappling means, when we put our foot in our mouth, that we make that into a learning experience, even if it ends up being a painful one," she said.

The Butler College office will make any decisions regarding Bhatt's status as an MAA, Dutton said.

Meanwhile, reaction from the Asian-American community on campus was varied.

"I think he was definitely somewhat irritated at the situation and he wanted to bring awareness to it," said Ed Tsui '04, president of the Asian American Students Association. "[He did so] in a rather provocative manner, and he brought a lot of anger to the Asian community."

Tsui, who knows Bhatt personally, added, "I do not think he meant any ill will, but he should have shown better judgment in terms of sensitivity."

At a meeting Wednesday night, the Chinese Students Association decided not to take any formal action in response to the incident. Co-president Peter Du '06 said CSA felt Bhatt had good intentions in posting the comments and made an honest mistake.

"I applaud him for being concerned with this issue, but I did not appreciate it being publicized on Gank," Du said. Bhatt "presented articles that offered both sides of the view on the self-segregation debate," he added.