I am disappointed with the behavior of certain members of the student body in the political discussions surrounding the student elections. Their actions poison the atmosphere of rational discourse. Take the inauguration of the new AS government for example. The chaos and disorganization was absolutely insulting.
What I have to say has nothing to do with my personal preference for either slate; this is about common courtesy and proper human behavior. I found it appalling that Unified Student Movement was trying to disturb President Corrigan's speech, the swearing-in process of the new officers and the new AS president address.
Once Kenyan McCarthy began to speak, Troy Buckner-Nkrumah started announcing he was the AS president, and that McCarthy, "an Uncle Tom," was appointed. I was quite frustrated as I could not make sense of anything either one of them was saying and I certainly had not attended the function to hear Buckner-Nkrumah. When I asked Buckner-Nkrumah to sit down, he publicly and loudly said, "I'm not talking to you bitch."
I have news for him. Since I was a member of the audience he was addressing, he was talking to me. How dare he call me a bitch.
This was my first encounter with Buckner-Nkrumah. I had never met or spoken to him before. His foul and sexually harassing language upset me. So, as he was going back to join his peers, I stood up and told him, "Don't you dare call me a bitch ever again."He replied, "What are you gonna do, bitch?"
I responded, "You have no class. I have nothing to say to you."
He replied, "Your momma is a bitch too."
Calling me names is one thing, but my family? That's a low blow. I told him to fuck-off.
Then he decided to attack me on a racial level and called me a "white oppressor." I proceeded to inform him that I am a minority.
He retorted, "Minority my ass."
I asked him to get his facts on ethnicity and race right before calling me names.
He reacted, "I'm not capable of being racist, but your daddy obviously was." Another low-blow from a position of weakness.
While I regret that I momentarily stooped to his level, I admit that the temptation to respond in kind was great. Those who initiate such a discourse poison the atmosphere even for those of us who have no desire to proceed in this hate-filled manner.
I am an Iranian woman which makes me no less Middle Eastern and no more white than the Palestinians on his slate. I'm proud of being what I am -- like he should be -- instead of being angry about it. I wouldn't have had a problem listening to what he had to say, if he had done it properly. He could have held an independent function to make his case instead of yelling over others and disconnecting their microphones in order to be heard.
His behavior is unacceptable and intolerable in an adult academic environment. The name-calling and disturbing of the ceremony only shows how damaging this behavior is, particularly since it stemmed from a weak factual and intellectual position in the first place. His behavior not only showed a lack of understanding about the need for civility in any dialogue, but it also showed a lack of respect for anyone who believes in fairness and rational discussion.
Troy Buckner-Nkrumah, I invite you to join me and many others in the call for civility on campus.
Shadi Zokaei is an international relations senior.