Letters to the Editor

Column 'over the top'

Regarding 'Princeton University is racist against me' (Wednesday, Jan. 17, 2007):

We know joke issues are for fun and intended to poke fun at people, but Wednesday's joke column by 'Lian Ji' was over the top ... by a long shot. A joke article regarding an individual complaining about rejection could have been done much better had it not clubbed the reader over the head with every single Asian stereotype there is.

Racism is alive and well in this country. Remember the former presidential candidate from Virginia's 'macaca' comment just a few months ago?

We're not saying that those who actually wrote the piece are racist against Asians. We even hear it was written by two Asians. What we are saying, though, is that the piece took a step toward propagating acceptance of the stereotypes and, in turn, racism. The reader doesn't know who actually wrote the article. And who wrote it doesn't matter regarding who can be hurt by such things.

We have loved everything the 'Prince' has given us in the past, but we feel it has let down many people with this joke article and hope that an apology toward those offended will be written.

Austin Starkweather '04, Weili Shaw '04, Silla Brush '04, Molly Gulland '04, Kathleen Liu '04, Andrew Robinton '04 and Kate Mulry '04 Members of the 127th managing board of The Daily Princetonian

Article went too far and was not funny

Regarding 'Princeton University is racist against me' (Wednesday, Jan. 17, 2007):

I understand that this issue is purely for laughs while covering an array of recent topics, and the jokes may get crude sometimes, but this time it was taken a little too far. Racial stereotyping is a legitimate issue that should not be employed in any publication that is carried with the Princeton name. Yes, maybe the kid suing the school for getting a rejection letter is going out on a limb, but that does not change the fact that he is addressing a serious concern. Asian exclusion from "disadvantaged groups" in college admissions is highly controversial, and judging from the Wall Street Journal's article, highly debatable. How does it reflect on the rest of the campus when applicants, including Jian Li, read this insensitive mockery? Maybe these concerns warrant some deliberation before you publish an article that isn't even that funny.

Amy Maletz '08

Asians stereotypes were offensive

Regarding 'Princeton University is racist against me' (Wednesday, Jan. 17, 2007):

As the satirical voice of Jian Li, the author of this piece had a great opportunity to humorously outline the race-relation problems on campus (eg. legacy admissions, lack of minority students in campus life, etc.) that Li supposedly wants to fight against. However, the stereotypical references and poor English used in the recent oped article by "Lian Ji" were unnecessarily offensive to Asian American students. An Op-Ed article such as this, joke or not, reflects poorly on Princeton's reputation as a diverse and informed university by ignoring the real issues that Li brings to the table. The author strayed from satirizing Jian Li's beef against Princeton, and instead settled into the unoriginal jokes that generally earn a cheap laugh.

Board of the Asian American Students Association

'Real bad call'

Regarding 'Princeton University is racist against me' (Wednesday, Jan. 17, 2007):

Many angry Asian-American alums are circulating this article like wildfire. I consider myself an easygoing person, but guys — this article doesn't even try to use humor to hide the underlying hate. Real bad call. Hope you are prepared for the fallout, because this is pretty bad. What puzzles me the most is, why would you guys risk the reputation of The 'Prince' for some kind of sad attempt at humor? Humor is not a significant part of The Prince's main mission or focus?

Anyways, thanks for making me feel a little less proud to be a Princetonian.