| posted
01 May 2000
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
CONTACT: Suparna Paul, spaul@wam.umd.edu/aasu-eboard@umail.umd.edu,
(301) 314-7121
April 20, 2000
SEE Productions' sponsoring offensive Bloodhound Gang for Art Attack
COLLEGE PARK, MD-The Asian American Student Union (AASU), is
concerned that Student Entertainment Enterprises (SEE) is sponsoring The
Bloodhound Gang to perform on campus. They are scheduled to perform during Art
Attack, an annual campus event, on May 5, 2000.
The lyrics of their songs perpetuate harmful stereotypes and this is
ironic when this institution is attempting to foster a "warmer climate," for it's diverse student body. The Bloodhound Gang sings
the song "Yellow Fever" with lyrics that include "Cause I ride my slant
eyed slope like a brand new Kawasaki.. She's like an oriental rug cause I
lay her where I please." Another song, "I wish I was a queer so I could
get chicks," includes lyrics such as "Hang out with my mom's hair stylist
his name is Kip he's got a lisp he talks like this. And wear my
mother's lingerie learn the songs of Broadway."
On Thursday, April 13, SEE co-sponsored Racism Awareness Day, where shirts
with the slogan "Stamp Out Hatred" were worn to raise awareness of and
about different types of covert and overt racism. SEE is an arm of
the Student Government Association, which is funded $280,000 this year
from Student Activities Fees. As a group, which uses funds provided by all
students, SEE has a responsibility to represent and bring entertainment to
all students. The Bloodhound Gang's lyrics are offensive to Asians/Asian
Americans, women, people of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender community, and those who are physically and mentally challenged,
among others.
We are asking SEE to set a higher precedence when deciding which entertainment to bring to our campus. We were unaware of the
offensive lyrics until today and although students had the opportunity to give
suggestions for who we would like to see perform, we do not have the
power to make the decision as to who will finally come based on the suggestions. Now that this issue has been brought to light what is
SEE going to do? Why are students paying to bring a band to campus that
is so offensive to them?
Bloodhound Gang may be nationally recognized and they maybe ranked 25
on Pollstar's top 50 national concert tour list, and SEE may have spent
a lot of money on bringing them to the campus, but what is more important?
How can so many different populations on campus be asked to compromise
their integrity and dignity over the perceived popularity of a band or
SEE's financial losses? Art Attack is one of the biggest events on campus,
an event which draws the community together. It will be such a disappointment to see a
unifying annual event shatter its ultimate goal of togetherness.
The Asian American Student Union, along with other concerned students
is attempting to address this issue with SEE.
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