Seattle Times: Anger, apology over "Condoleezza" quiz

[Newsjock]

By Rachel Tuinstra
Seattle Times Eastside bureau

Bellevue Community College President Jean Floten apologized Wednesday at an emotional open-campus meeting called after students complained about what they said was a racially offensive math question used on a practice test.

... The hour-and-a-half meeting, attended by more than 150 people, opened an important dialog, but more needs to be done, said Chelsey Richardson, one of the students who brought the issue to college officials

... Richardson, 25, said she found the question on a practice test for a math final she was studying for in March. The question read, "Condoleezza holds a watermelon just over the edge of the roof of the 300-foot Federal Building, and tosses it up with a velocity of 20 feet per second." The question went on to ask when the watermelon will hit the ground, based on a formula provided. The question propagates a racial stereotype and denigrates Secretary of State Rice, said Perryman. While Rice's last name wasn't mentioned, the reference was clear, he said.

"How many Condoleezzas spell their name that way and how many Condoleezzas are associated with a federal building? It doesn't take much to connect the dotted lines," he said.

[Cessna Invesco Palin]

1. How about this:

Condoleezza holds her credibility just over the edge of the roof of the 300-foot Federal Building, and tosses it up with a velocity of 20 feet per second.

[billybob537]

5. Correct answer

Correct answer Condelleeza never ever had any credibility it was all a hoax perpetrated by Rove.

[mnmoderatedem]

16. so the correct answer is infinity

300 ft / 0 credibility....

[Canuckistanian]

2. Fire them both

Jean Floten AND Condoleezza Rice. It's the only solution.

[Vinnie From Indy]

3. Condoleeza holds a smirking monkey's balls over the floor...

eom

[Hobarticus]

4. Better question: "Condoleeza sees mushroom clouds in her head...

What is the statistical probability that Condoleeza will actually see a mushroom cloud in her lifetime?"

[cali]

6. I find racist stereotypes disgusting

whether they come from the left or the right. Pathetic to see no one on this thread condemning it in this case.

[goclark]

11. Agree

[zbdent]

7. They probably mollified the protests

by changing the name to Mrs. McKinney . . .

[cali]

8. Pathetic.

This thread is really pissing me off. It's providing more evidence that DUers engage in situational racism by ignoring racism when it comes from anywhere but the right.

[onenote]

9. Sadly, I'm in agreement with you

Too often behavior that would draw instant condemnation if it was engaged in by the right gets a free pass when it comes from the left

onenote

[cali]

10. Glad you showed up on this thread,

onenote. Sorry more haven't joined us.

[NYCGirl]

12. I'll join you. She should apologize; the question was offensive. NT

[Kailassa]

18. But when a black congresswoman is insulted,

isn't it customary in America now that she should be the one to apologize?

Or does that ony apply if they are Democrats?

[VelmaD]

13. You're absolutely correct...

and it ain't just racism that gets a pass...you should see some of the misogynistic names she gets called on occasion.

But she's EEEEEEEVIL so that makes it all ok. :eyes:

[gatorboy]

14. And you think this came from someone on the left?

Granted, there's no way for us to know unless someone digs deeper. And, yes, she's not held in high regard around here, but it's premature to assume this was done by a progressive. Believe me, there are still quite a few racists on the right that love their Bush but detest that he gave such a high ranking job to a black woman.

[cali]

15. Yes, I think it probably was from the left

I read wingnut sites pretty frequently, and though there is lots of racism, it's of a different flavor than it used to be, and I've never seen a negative remark about Rice. What's more, this was at a University. No, I'm not saying that everyone at a University is a liberal, but I find it difficult to believe that a repub would phrase a question this way.

[VelmaD]

17. I'm not talking about the quiz...

I'm talking about how DUers respond (or don't respond) to the story. Read in context please.