Spartan Daily - Serving San Jose State University since 1934

i smell envy and jealousy in the air.

anonymous, Student
San Jose State

How do you know her life was an easy one? Maybe she did struggle but didn't want to get stereotyped as the minority that overcame obstacle after obstacle. Isn't the first/second generation son/daughter who overcomes a lack a wealth a stereotype too?

Would you rather have seen a caucasian with fewer accomplishments receive the distinction?

tt, student

aren't YOU the one who's stereotyping? You personally don't know this girl yet you seem to have 'figured' her and her 'kind' out... and all this revelation just by reading the Argus? Isn't that how stereotypes happen, when you form preconceived opinions about someone you've never met? Maybe you should go to Berkley's graduation, shake the girl's hand, congratulate her, ask her out for coffee, and get to know her first...

dc

I think you're all missing the point of the article. Has anyone of you first ever taken an Asian American Studies class at all? Maybe you did but you didn't grasp the point of it. For me I think this author is trying to convey the problem of the model minority stereotype that race isn't a factor in one's struggle and the Argus article does exactly that because it doesn't mention race as a factor at all. It's as if model minority reflects the successful Asian American and that race wasn't a barrier to getting up there.

Race Matters, and if you don't think so try reading Cornel West's book.

The reality is so what if this student at UC Berkeley is going to be a lawyer, is she going to be the kind of lawyer defending racist policies like Prop 54 or lobbying against that? Why can't we see more Asian Americans especially Asian American womyn become supporters of the community? It's one thing to work with underrepresented communities, but it's another to stand in SOLIDARITY with them.

You're all missing the point of model minority and how the Argue article attempts to pigeonhole Asian Americans as the model minority so subtly. Furthermore, what I think all the previous arguments are lacking is that this society wants to paint Asian Americans as successful to say Asian Americans are doing so well they don't need affirmative action, they don't neet outreach, when Asian American isn't just Chinese. Asian American speaks to Chinese, Japanese, Vietnamese, Hmong, and more. Asian Americans are diverse and the fact that we only see East Asians tends to reaffirm that all Asians are Chinese.

The point is this student at UCB doesn't have to be out there fighting against the policy, she can do whatever the heck she wants to do, but you can't ignore how an article like the Argus has notions of model minority in it. What's funny is that they don't even talk about her own background, whether she had any struggles because living in Fremont and going to a school like MSJ is very elitist and privileged. And some people can't admit it because they're too stuck in their own world.

Personally the issue can be debated both ways and there's no right answer but at the same time there's nothing wrong with a contradictory argument either.

JP, student
UCD

don't judge someone from what you read about her. get your facts straight before you openly bash someone. don't be so critical of someone you don't even know. first of all, she's not petite, she's 5'5" which is taller than you if i remember correctly from high school. she deserves both her valedictorian status from high school as well as the university medal. she worked her butt off and she should definitely get props for that. and she did not participate in extra-curriculars just to build on her resume. she played guitar in high school just for fun and she ran track because she loved it, was good at it, and it was something she could do with her friends. even if you love journalism, it doesn't hurt your resume at all that you're writing for the spartan now does it? did you ever think that maybe she didn't mention any hardships or struggles because people didn't ask about them? you can't just assume that she didn't go through tough times because they're not listed. sure she succeeded in college, but it has nothing to do with her ethnicity. she's good at school, excels in all subjects and is just an all around great person but that has nothing to do with her being chinese. and just for your information, she's studying abroad this summer in italy with this drama program (so there's acting for you) and even though she was a molecular bio/econ major, she's going to apply to law school this fall. how many lawyers on tv are asian? none. aren't asians stereotyped as being shy, timid and softspoken? you can't really be those things if you want to argue cases in a court of law now can you? i suggest before you blindly lash out at someone and accuse her of reinforcing stereotypes, get your facts straight and know who you're writing about.

ac, student
los angeles

Janet, are you still bitter that UC Berkeley rejected you.

That's okay, we need to have balance in this world anyway. For every one "model minority" Asian who becomes academically successful and goes on to have a great career as a doctor, lawyer, or engineer, we have bitter Asians who FAILED in life and blame it on the pressures of the model minority stereotype.

It's disgusting that there are Asians out there who refuse to work hard in school and take responsibility for making sure she has a good career and is making good money. These Asians rather whine about the model minority stereotype and the pressures of having to live up to their Asians peers who actually do achieve something meaningful.

Try growing up in POVERTY. Try growing up with parents who were DRUG ADDICTS. Try growing up in a BROKEN HOME. I grew up with all those things, and I STILL GRADUATED from UC Berkeley.

I wish some Asians out there grow some balls and take responsibility. Instead of whining about the "pressures" of living up to the model minority stereotype, why don't you see your Asian peers who ARE high achievers as a role model and inspiration.

Believe me, being a Black guy who grew up in povery and still managing to graduate from UC Berkeley, I OVERCAME THE ODDS.

And look at all the stereotypes that Blacks have endured. We're lazy criminals, violent thugs. I WISH THAT BLACKS WERE SEEN AS INTELLIGENT AND GOOD AT MATH AND SCIENCE. I WISH THAT BLACKS WERE PORTRAYED AS WEALTHY AND SMART.

I also WISH that the only problems I had in life were living up to high expectations.