Ellipses are first!

thirsty

FIRST to say this guy is a douche

Good for him.

uh, why take a swipe at George W? diversion only works for Bill Clinton, jackass.

Why is he a douche? Assuming the facts are correct:

1) He did it by membership, not race
2) There was limited room
3) He was not aware of policy (which he should have been)

Then he seems like a decent guy that took responsibility for a screwup.

Public figure now - why no name?

Public figure now - why no name?

Everyone is a little bit racist.

The war in Iraq started after months of deliberation and after the AUMF passed Congress. In other words, neither hastily nor unilaterally by George W.

well, at least he takes what he said seriously. oh wait.

Let's just thank god we can finally put this ugly incident behind us and move on as a nation.

"Additionally, exclusion, though wrong, was made on the basis of membership, not skin color."

That statement says it all. If the Chicago law review holds an event is it required to allow non-law review members to attend? If the answer is yes, then the school has a terrible rule that should be changed. If the answer is no, then there is no reason for the apology.

The kids i went to high school with used to issue apologies after racist conduct all the time, it was no big deal.

"Additionally, exclusion, though wrong, was made on the basis of membership, not skin color."

That statement says it all. If the Chicago law review holds an event is it required to allow non-law review members to attend? If the answer is yes, then the school has a terrible rule that should be changed. If the answer is no, then there is no reason for the apology.

MysTTTal

This guy is a total tool. Taking a swipe at Bush? For what reason? Bush, whether you like it or not, is the PRESIDENT of the UNITED STATES and you are a racist BLSA leader in law school. Even comparing your racist actions to someone who was defending your own freedom to be a racist jerk is just ridiculous.

This guy is not funny one bit and, although I do appreciate his owning up to his actions, I do not appreciate his ntended humorous remarks to a serious issue.

The BLSA president is a "she".

He should be expelled from the school. Or UChicago has become a TTT.

Were he white, he'd already be up on Code of Conduct charges, the BSA would be marching the campus shouting "NO JUSTICE NO PEACE," and he'd be vilified and persecuted until he left school and disappeared into obscurity.

7, the contention that the decision was based on membership and not on race is pretty contested considering he made a racist comment to majority people trying to enter the event. Pretty damn direct evidence of pretext.

15/17, while the intended exclusion may have been based only on membership, the actual "unfortunate remark" uttered by this person was based on color, not BLSA membership.

ELI GET YOUR REPORTING RIGHT; THIS STUDENT HAD ALREADY STEPPED DOWN FROM THE PRESIDENCY WHEN THE EVENT HAPPENED BECAUSE THIS STUDENT WITHDREW FROM SCHOOL

I hate white people. They should have been excluded.

- Self-Hating White Person

....and now for your Black-U-weather Forecast....

"Its GUNNA RAIN!!"

Thank you, BLSA.

Uh oh...here comes the attack of the 1L con law students in the comments...

Good to hear from a jerk (giving me greater empathy for Laura Bush).

"Way to step up to the plate and accept responsibility."

Jesus Elie, please cut your Bill O'Reilly talking points crap at the end of your posts.

Isn't the organization itself racist and exclusive by its own name? (BLACK Law Students Association). No white person could ever get away with "White Law Students Association" so why is it okay for the BLSA?

best mea culpa ever. and perfectly believable that it was a joke. the real question is, when someone makes an un-PC joke, who's the jackass who complains to the dean about it?

ELI GET YOUR REPORTING RIGHT; THIS STUDENT HAD ALREADY STEPPED DOWN FROM THE PRESIDENCY WHEN THE EVENT HAPPENED BECAUSE THIS STUDENT WITHDREW FROM SCHOOL

so what was the comment/joke by the BLSA President?

21 has it right

very well played #26

What's con law?

ELI GET YOUR REPORTING RIGHT; THIS STUDENT HAD ALREADY STEPPED DOWN FROM THE PRESIDENCY WHEN THE EVENT HAPPENED BECAUSE THIS STUDENT WITHDREW FROM SCHOOL

7, the contention that the decision was based on membership and not on race is pretty contested considering he made a racist comment to majority people trying to enter the event. Pretty damn direct evidence of pretext.

I think Elie has taught us another valuable lesson today.

Uh, isn't BLSA membership a proxy for race? So excluding people based thereon is kinda the same thing as race-based exclusion. That's like Hillel saying that exclusion from their hanukkah dinner was not on the basis of religion; it was only open to members of their organization.

Isn't the name of the organization itself racist and exclusive? You don't see white students forming the "WLSA."

Isn't the name of the organization itself racist and exclusive? You don't see white students forming the "WLSA."

Isn't the name of the organization itself racist and exclusive? You don't see white students forming the "WLSA."

"though wrong, was made on the basis of membership, not skin color."

That statement seems incredibly tongue-in-cheek. Do you really think he stood by the door and require that everyone pull out their membership cards as people entered the room? You gotta be kidding me.

I wasn't there, but the way he "checked for membership" most likely was to look into people's face, plain and simple.

I blame all of this on Plaxico Burress. It is clearly his fault and maybe some gay peoples to be mentioned at a later date.

I'll summarize the joke for you:

"So a cracker, a honky, and those white students who want to get into this meeting walk into a bar..."

We Blacks no longer chant "No Justice; No Peace" We now say "Yes We Can." Did you miss the last year?????

Uh, isn't BLSA membership a proxy for race? So excluding people based thereon is kinda the same thing as race-based exclusion. That's like Hillel saying that exclusion from their hanukkah dinner was not on the basis of religion; it was only open to members of their organization.

11 - Thanks for your analysis of the entrance into the Iraq War. We are now dumber for having read your post. Face facts - "W" is an idiot and will be the butt of jokes for centuries.

Decision was based on membership...membership in the Black Law Student's Association. I wonder how many non-black people belong to that organization...

ELI GET YOUR REPORTING RIGHT; THIS STUDENT HAD ALREADY STEPPED DOWN FROM THE PRESIDENCY WHEN THE EVENT HAPPENED BECAUSE THIS STUDENT WITHDREW FROM SCHOOL

Decision was based on membership...membership in the Black Law Student's Association. I wonder how many non-black people belong to that organization...

PEANUTS and CHEESE up in here!
PEANUTS and CHEESE up in here!
PEANUTS and CHEESE up in here!
PEANUTS and CHEESE up in here!
PEANUTS and CHEESE up in here!
PEANUTS and CHEESE up in here!
PEANUTS and CHEESE up in here!
PEANUTS and CHEESE up in here!
PEANUTS and CHEESE up in here!
PEANUTS and CHEESE up in here!

That's a very elegant way of saying "it was a joke, and I have a job....so yall can go to hell."

44: i'm sure he knew who the members were b/c the members attend blsa events on a regular basis without outside student (probably because the food is not usually has good, or is better hidden then at the particular event in question.)

Uh, isn't BLSA membership a proxy for race? So excluding people based thereon is the same thing as race-based exclusion.

42/43 - The Federalist Society beat them to it...

do you take responsibility for your missteps, elie? because i haven't read any apology anywhere in these pages yet for subjecting us to your retarded writing

do you take responsibility for your missteps, elie? because i haven't read any apology anywhere in these pages yet for subjecting us to your retarded writing

21 has it right...See Duke circa 2.5 years ago (if the girl was white and the men were black, as had happened a few years earlier, nothing would have been made of it)

What a racist affirmative action beneficiary who still finds a need to make a swipe at Bush to try to instill humor into a very un-funny situation

do you take responsibility for your missteps, elie? because i haven't read any apology anywhere in these pages yet for subjecting us to your retarded writing

First?

Charlton Heston says "Damn you, you damn dirty apes!"

I think he is racist. Maybe he just hates the zoo. I don't know. Now I'm thirsty.

Uh, isn't BLSA membership a proxy for race? So excluding people based thereon is the same thing as race-based exclusion.

This guy is a total tool. Taking a swipe at Bush? For what reason? Bush, whether you like it or not, is the PRESIDENT of the UNITED STATES and you are a racist BLSA leader in law school. Even comparing your racist actions to someone who was defending your own freedom to be a racist jerk is just ridiculous.

This guy is not funny one bit and, although I do appreciate his owning up to his actions, I do not appreciate his ntended humorous remarks to a serious issue.

Thanks, Bush!

I have a similar sense of humor, so I understand where the former prez is coming from. I usually stand outside my club meetings and yell "NO NIGGERS ALLOWED!" I just happen to be both audacious and a diehard fan of irreverent comedy.

At our school we call WLSA the Federalist Society. You should petition your school to start a chapter if it hasn't already.

this is an absolute non-event and non of you should give the slightest flying f*&k about it.

BLSA membership a proxy for race. So excluding people based thereon is the same thing as race-based exclusion. The "mea culpa" is BS.

What did he say?

This douche should be kicked out of school if he/she has not already withdrawn. I don't want to paint the whole school and its alumni with this statement, but I have yet to meet a well rounded normal person from UChicago Law. I somehow have met a bunch of nerdy, maladjusted jackasses.

Go Northwestern!

I hope that subprime mortgage lenders learn a thing or two from the Chicago faculty about how to react when a subprime borrower attempts to exclude them from foreclosed houses.

"Additionally, exclusion, though wrong, was made on the basis of membership, not skin color."

Oh yeah, I'll believe that when I see some proof.

ONCE A RACIST, always as racist. This wasn't a "mistake" any more than torching a cross in someone's yard is a "mistake."

NOW, it's time to CLOSE DOWN BLSA -- a racial-separatist hate group.

Is "un-politically correct" the same as "politically incorrect"?

68, there are no Asians or Hispanics in your Federalist Society? I somehow doubt it.

Only blacks are stupid enough to have no diversity of political opinion, by calling any dissenter an "Uncle Tom."

MysTTTal anti-reporting for doody.

No wonder everyone was looking at me funny when I showed up early and sat down.

Two comments:

1. It wasn't just non-members that were excluded, but those that weren't "on the listserve." Isn't being on the listserve a proxy for race? After all, you don't have to actually be a member, they just send you emails.

2. I'm not sure that "my racist joke wasn't meant to insult, it was only irreverent comedy" is a convincing defense.

3. If people actually feel racially antagonized, then the perception is neither false nor artificial.

BALSA is bad news at every law school.

-T4 2L

Does it bother anyone else that the UChicago banner says "THE University of Chicago THE Law School"? It bothers me.

70- has it occurred to you that some non members of BLSA could be black?

I don't know. According to this, the President is the "official voice" of the organization.

http://blsa.uchicago.edu/bylaws.html

11 - Thanks for your analysis of the entrance into the Iraq War. We are now dumber for having read your post. Face facts - "W" is an idiot and will be the butt of jokes for centuries.

No one cares about this. Today, Indiana University School of Law got renamed to Michael "Mickey" Maurer School of Law. Now that's news.

Re the comments such as "you don't see WSLA" or "Isn't the organization itself racist and exclusive by its own name? (BLACK Law Students Association). No white person could ever get away with "White Law Students Association" so why is it okay for the BLSA?" Well, it is ok, because they face different struggles. Were white people ever enslaved? Black people used to be freaking slaves in this country, shame on them if they want to start an organization that allows them to find strength in numbers.

And, no, I am not black, I just have a sense of compassion and am not a total jackass who has no sense of history and the struggles that black people face.

S&C? $190K? Between this and the Mumbai article it feels like you guys are taking your eyes off the ball here. No offense to #11.

24 et. al. = CORRECT!

Elie - get your facts right before you report "news" to thousands of ppl who actually care about this stuff, however stupid it seems.

This site is starting to make me sick w all the factual and grammatical errors.

One plausible scenario is that it was meant as a joke, and as it was conveyed from person to person, the fact of the poor joke was lost. The dean made matters worse, if this was the case, by not mentioning that it was a joke.

Shouldn't we whites be embracing black people who dig non-PC humor? I do.

Who will respond to 53? He/she clearly raises the critical issue here.

1. Privacy Act - Student not a public figure.
2. He's a law student, not a lawyer, yet. Cut him a break.
3. A mea culpa, which is much more than W has done.

How about recruitng events for "students of color." What a joke. Would there be outrcry if a recruiting event was held for "students without color?"

Racism in all its forms should not be tolerated.

BLSA adds nothing but security to the beneficiaries of AA. I'm curious if BLSA members ever wonder why none of them ever make law review. I mean, very rare Obama-type outliers aside, do BLSA'ers even wonder why they all have to hang out in the BLSA office but none of them ever have a desk in the law review office? And then wonder how they all end up at the best firms? Do they realize that white people not on law review don't end up at those firms?

87, yes white people were "ever enslaved". Do you know why the words "Slav" and "slave" look so similar?
Also look up the history of Irish slaves in America.

Someone is a "jackass with no sense of history" and it's not me.

I reject this thread as a total cyber-lynching. (not my word; comes from our dearly beloved Justice Thomas)

NEW BLSA talking points:

There's a law that prevents me from keeping all blacks out of my restaurant?

My bad; that was just "my lack of familiarity with this policy."

Listservs are racist.

48: You're an idiot. At my school, we have whites in BLSA, christians in JLSA, and indians in APALSA. I doubt it is/was any different at your school.

Why don't we have a WLSA? Perhaps because whites are still a heavy majority in this country, and there would be no purpose. You would have to break it down into R(ussian)LSA, I(rish)LSA, G(erman)LSA, etc., in order for people to have some interest in joining the group. A WLSA would just end up being either an anti-affirmative action group or a group for (surprise) students with white supremacist tendencies. In this country, whites are simply too diverse a group to make use of some sort of WLSA group. BLSA, by contrast, is directed towards the interests of a smaller group with more common issues and interests they can work towards.

Anyways, Elie, why the hell are you still allowing comments on this story? Unfamiliar with the concept of race-baiting, eh? I like to think that at least Lat would have had the sense to closely monitor comments on a topic like this.

60 - while I agree completely with the sentiment of your post, there actually was no "reverse" incident at Duke a few years before the Lacrosse incident. Did you make that up?

There was, however, a reverse incident (black frat guys raped white girl) a year later, and nothing happened - no professors protesting or banging pots and pans, etc.

I call shenanigans on this student.

He allowed only BLSA members and those who showed interest in joining? How does he know who was interested in joining? Because they showed up . . . no, that' can't be it. Let's see, how could he possibly have figured out who he "thought" was interested in joining. Anyone?

He's a racist, even if the rest of the organization isn't.

You're a towel!

Guys, he's talkin' 'bout George W. Smith.

From city council.

He ran in '93, out in Oakland.

You probably didn't hear about it.

BLSA membership a proxy for race. So excluding people based thereon is the same thing as race-based exclusion. The "mea culpa" is BS.

67 - that's good stuff

I am a UChicago student and well-acquainted with the president. She is a great person and meant no harm by what happened. This incident is a result of people having no sense of humor or common sense that this event was limited to BLSA membership. Keep in mind, I am white. The way she is being portrayed is an outrage. She is a phenomenal individual and I stand by her 100%.

I always find it funny that Howard University has a BLSA group.

http://www.law.howard.edu/256

shouldn't it be "politically incorrect", rather than un-politically correct???

How people feel it irrelevant. People's subjective feelings should have nothing to do with a school's actions. If something is objectively offensive, punishment is warranted. If not, suck it up and stop whining.

I feel enslaved.

Kunta Kinte

Taking responsibility for your actions is allowing agents of the Chinese government to torture you for 20 months without saying a word. This is just cute.

Can't we focus on news that mattes, like "The Republican National Committee will report Thursday that it spent about another $30,000 on clothes and accessories for Sarah Palin during her vice presidential bid."

shouldn't it be "politically incorrect", rather than un-politically correct???

Aren't the majority of you scheduled to be protesting the fact that Obama hasn't personally shown you his birth certificate yet??????????

HOLY SHIT!!! one of the spurned white students made a video about it :

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-4257463704009676059

Come on everyone, give the girl a break, she's black.

UChicago certainly did when they let her in.

for the folks asking about the lack of a WLSA, i'm pretty sure white students are not in the minority at any t-10 law school and minority status (racial, religious, gender etc) is usually the rationale behind an affinity group.

as to how did the president know who was a member: there are 40 black students out of 607 students in the total student body (assuming the majority of the membership is black). http://webcast-law.uchicago.edu/2008/viewbook/AdmissionsProfileCard08-09final.pdf

115 here,

here is the full version : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TXb6bjCCtuY

101 is a tool. It's called a listserv membership list. Easily verifiable with that wonder of inventions, the sign-in sheet. Duh.

Black people are racist? No! Say it ain't so!? Whatever....who cares?

120 comments to this story say its time for a new one.

Membership in a minority student organization (BLSA, NALSA, CLLSA, ALSA) is not a proxy for race. Anyone can join, and in my law school, most minority students were members of most of the other minority groups (sort of a solidarity type thing). So, exclusion based on membership is different from membership based on race.

1. The BLSA president is not a "he."

2. This was a total non-event. Nobody other than Elie cares.

3. The individual stepped down because they had already planned to withdraw from the school for other reasons.

Get your facts straight or fuck off.

-116

oh snap!

Reverse RacisTTT

Blah, blah, blah. Life would be so much easier if we could just go back to the way things were in the first half of the twentieth century.

To those who assert that BLSA is an inherently racist organization because of its name, please become informed.

The "Black" in BLSA refers to individuals of African descent, or individuals who have an interest in the issues and causes of such people. It is analogous to the "Jewish" in JLSA, the "Latino" in LLSA, etc. "Black" [Americans], as of late, tend to prefer the term "Black" as opposed to "African-American." The term "Black" in this context refers to ethnicity rather than race.

"White" people are more than welcome to join BLSA and are valued when they do. White people generally have not created organizations called White [Input Description of Organization] because they have, until recently, predominantly occupied most organizations that aren't tailored to a specific ethnic group. In addition "White" encompasses such a large group of ethnicities that the interests of its members may be so divergent.

Creating an Irish, Italian, British, or even European Law Student Association would not be considered racist, so long as the organization welcomes people of any ethnicity or race who are interested in such issues.

87 - Lets turn the question around. Were any of the members of the BLSA ever enslaved? Exactly. Please think before you comment.

Can anyone imagine what would happen if a white person had made a joke like this? Forget being posted all over ATL, the national media would have a field day and the student would be crucified.

123 is entirely correct.

123,

no call to identify people's gender and make it easier for people to figure out who they are. be more careful.

If you are at all involved in BLSA --particularly as an officer, you tend to know which students are members at your school. Thus, the comments about the President looking at the faces of the students to determine membership is unwarranted.

Additionally, there is a need for BLSA, especially if you come from a family where you are the first to go to college and law school. It boils down to support from those that you can identify with, on a level beyond just being in law school.

I've read some of these comments, and it's sad how racist some people can be, especially behind a wall of anonymity. No one should be regarded as a "porch monkey" as one commenter put it in the initial article post. And it's comments like those, and people that make them, that continue to give BLSA relevance in this crazy legal world.

--former National BLSA Executive Member

If you are at all involved in BLSA --particularly as an officer, you tend to know which students are members at your school. Thus, the comments about the President looking at the faces of the students to determine membership is unwarranted.

Additionally, there is a need for BLSA, especially if you come from a family where you are the first to go to college and law school. It boils down to support from those that you can identify with, on a level beyond just being in law school.

I've read some of these comments, and it's sad how racist some people can be, especially behind a wall of anonymity. No one should be regarded as a "porch monkey" as one commenter put it in the initial article post. And it's comments like those, and people that make them, that continue to give BLSA relevance in this crazy legal world.

--former National BLSA Executive Member

Isn't the organization itself racist and exclusive by its own name? (BLACK Law Students Association). No white person could ever get away with "White Law Students Association" so why is it okay for the BLSA?

Nope, almost all of the other student organizations are in fact WHITE organizations. Since white people are the "default," the supposed "norm," there is no need to call it WHITE, everyone knows what it is.... Just like there are no organizations for MEN, because MEN always were and always will be welcomed with open arms into any and all organizations...

and shame on you Elie for always supplying the bait for the racists

85! Holy $hit

"No one cares about this. Today, Indiana University School of Law got renamed to Michael "Mickey" Maurer School of Law. Now that's news."

99 and 127- I don't understand, whites are diverse and black aren't, so blacks can be grouped and whites can't? Sounds kinda of racist.

If you are at all involved in BLSA --particularly as an officer, you tend to know which students are members at your school. Thus, the comments about the President looking at the faces of the students to determine membership is unwarranted.

Additionally, there is a need for BLSA, especially if you come from a family where you are the first to go to college and law school. It boils down to support from those that you can identify with, on a level beyond just being in law school.

I've read some of these comments, and it's sad how racist some people can be, especially behind a wall of anonymity. No one should be regarded as a "porch monkey" as one commenter put it in the initial article post. And it's comments like those, and people that make them, that continue to give BLSA relevance in this crazy legal world.

--former National BLSA Executive Member

I find jokes about whites, blacks, jews, goys, gays and the elderly amusing and am in no way a racist. Deal with it. Can we have such nuance in life -- YES WE CAN!!!!!!

If you are at all involved in BLSA --particularly as an officer, you tend to know which students are members at your school. Thus, the comments about the President looking at the faces of the students to determine membership is unwarranted.

Additionally, there is a need for BLSA, especially if you come from a family where you are the first to go to college and law school. It boils down to support from those that you can identify with, on a level beyond just being in law school.

I've read some of these comments, and it's sad how racist some people can be, especially behind a wall of anonymity. No one should be regarded as a "porch monkey" as one commenter put it in the initial article post. And it's comments like those, and people that make them, that continue to give BLSA relevance in this crazy legal world.

--former National BLSA Executive Member

I find jokes about whites, blacks, jews, goys, gays and the elderly amusing and am in no way a racist. Deal with it. Can we have such nuance in life -- YES WE CAN!!!!!!

I find jokes about whites, blacks, jews, goys, gays and the elderly amusing and am in no way a racist. Deal with it. Can we have such nuance in life -- YES WE CAN!!!!!!

I find jokes about whites, blacks, jews, goys, gays and the elderly amusing and am in no way a racist. Deal with it. Can we have such nuance in life -- YES WE CAN!!!!!!

I find jokes about whites, blacks, jews, goys, gays and the elderly amusing and am in no way a racist. Deal with it. Can we have such nuance in life -- YES WE CAN!!!!!!

I find jokes about whites, blacks, jews, goys, gays and the elderly amusing and am in no way a racist. Deal with it. Can we have such nuance in life -- YES WE CAN!!!!!!

99 and 127- I don't understand, whites are diverse and black aren't, so blacks can be grouped and whites can't? Sounds kinda of racist.

The only sensible comment on here is from number 21.

Read number 21. You know its true.

And here is the what he said in jest that caused so much anger:

"Fo shizzle, my nizzle, unless you be packing meat this long [exposes his 9 inch black penis] y'all ain't welcome here. And that means, no crackers, case y'all didn't know that the only thing white and 9 inches long is a Jew's nose."

He was wrong, of course, as my glassy white cock is well over 9 inches long.

This guy stepped up to the plate in a big way, and took sole responsibility in the midst of a controversy. This shows integrity and courage. And I can't believe anyone would be confused as to why it is worse for white to make racist jokes than blacks, given the long history of black's oppression in our country. To put it in the simplest terms I can think of, whites making racist jokes about blacks is adding insult to injury. Blacks making racist jokes about whites is just an insult. So, while still not in good taste (as the BLSA president went out of his way to acknowledge), anti-white racist jokes are not accompanied by any type of injury. Black people do not get upset at racist jokes simply because someone is calling them names. They get upset because the name calling reminds them of discrimination that has actually occured, and is still occuring. Kindergarten explanation, I know, but that seems to be what some people need here.

And about the crack making fun of W., I found it to be funny and self-aware. It was a nice effort to lighten the mood in a situation that has gotten totally out of control, and been misintrepreted as much more serious than I'm sure it actually was.

In the wise words of the South Park episode "With Apologies To Jesse Jackson":

Stan: I get it now. I don't get it. I've been trying to say that I understand how you feel but I'll never understand. I'll never really get how it feels for a black person to have somebody use the N word. I don't get it.
Token: Now you get it, Stan.
Stan: Yeah, I totally don't get it.
Tolkein: Thanks, dude.

To all the people so willing to shoot down any criticism of BLSA-type organizations: isn't it enough that they sort on the basis of race in a way that, on the whole, makes people more pissed off at each other? How can that be a good thing?

My undergraduate school was so proud of its "diversity." Yep, there were people from all walks of life under one roof: the Asians studied on the third floor, the African-Americans on the fourth floor, and the white students on the fifth floor. What a triumph! Since we were all in the same building, we got even more exposure to the fact that nobody wanted anything to do with each other.

THE PRESIDENT-ELECT IS BLACK. These vague notions of discrimination due to past wrongs are over. Next.

150 -- you are ignorant.

I hope you really don't believe, that the election of a Black Man as President has somehow erased the ability of someone to discriminate or be racist.

If this guy had withdrawn from school, what was he doing blocking real students from attending an event at his school in the first place?

I think there would be just as much uproar if an ex-law review president excluded non-members, with some "exceptions" and said only smart people could attend. We would just be having an elitist/douche uproar.

I don't have a problem at all with an event being limited to group members. Usually firms would have targeted recruiting events off-campus (i.e. the firm-sponsored law review cocktails). This is a good reason why.

However, trying to pass off the remark as a joke is dishonest. People who say offensive things often say it was just a joke when confronted. Not really different than saying "only women with big tits are allowed." Would it make it all right if he said it was a joke?

150 - yes, of course, one black person rising to prominence means that racism is over. idiot. who are these people?

150 -- you are ignorant.

I hope you really don't believe, that the election of a Black Man as President has somehow erased the ability of someone to discriminate or be racist.

CAN BLACK PEOPLE PLEASE RELAX ON THE RACISM CHAT FOR A WHILE. EVEN SPIKE LEE HAS STOPPED COMPLAINING AND BEEN SMILING.

CAN BLACK PEOPLE PLEASE RELAX ON THE RACISM CHAT FOR A WHILE. EVEN SPIKE LEE HAS STOPPED COMPLAINING AND BEEN SMILING.

I can understand not usually reading comments, given how pointless they usually are, but I'm still confused why Elie keeps posting that the law school Dean was ever involved in this.

The Dean of STUDENTS (Michelle Richardson) has been involved, not the actual Dean (Saul Levmore).

And, as others have noted, the BLSA president had already "stepped down" before this.

George Bush doesn't care about black people.

Elie, you are terrible. I've put up with you until now, but this is getting absurd. Your grammar is middle school level, you jump to conclusions in posts (conclusions, I might add, that are mostly wrong) and you give your opinion when nobody cares.

Proofread, report the stories and shut the f*ck up. Is this really that hard??

LAT please do something...this blog is tanking worse than the economy.

Moral of the story: never mess with an entitiled kid's free lunch.

i love how some people's standard of a "non-racist" society is one where 53% of people will not ignore the fact that one presidential candidate has better policies, is more intelligent and in general a better choice simply and refuse to vote for him simply because he is black.

with the bar set that low...

73 must be Kiwi Camara.

No, this lady is trying to Damage Control what could and in my opinion should, be a reputation damaging move. This is a base and selfish ploy, an illusion with no sincerity designed to garner sympathy from those who should instead be giving condemnation.

There should be no easy way out of this. It was a decision made on the basis of race and violates school policy and trampels tolerance and unity. It was not a decision made on the basis of "membership" and no one should pretend that it was or allow this student to revise history in this fashion.

Accepting responsibility is about more than writing false apologies, it is about understanding that actions have consequences and that the consequences should be proportionate to the offense. In this case, her actions merit public criticism and her reputation should be affected.

Obama's election isn't one black person "rising to prominence." His election was the result of our country choosing him to be our president. More Americans have voted for Barack Obama than for any other candidate in a single election in U.S. history. This means that black people are not discriminated against. Period.

I note that the only response to such an obvious statement is that I'm "ignorant." Well, I've lived in three different countries, have traveled the world, and went to Harvard Law School after serving a tour in the Navy. I'm likely less "ignorant" than you.

Being black is really gay and vice versa.

david geffen

151, 153 & 154-
Don't worry. Most white people, particularly those of us intelligent enough to be in in positions of power, still feel very guilty about all that past nastyness.

Therefore we'll continue to lower all expectations for you, infantilize you, assume you cannot compete with us equally, and generally treat you like the precious little angels that you are.

So everything's ok right? Have a lolly.

Wait...the president of BLSA is black?

This behavior says something larger about society in general.

First of all, the president is a she. Second, she decided to take a leave of absence before this incident. Three, the people who complained were not the white students, but rather two 3L members of BLSA who were really upset and wanted to undermine her, just to serve their own self-serving purposes, most likely. The white students who the comment was made towards didn't complain, and they were apologized to personally and said that it was no big deal, and they understood that the comment was made in jest, though it did make them feel uncomfortable at first. You people are making much ado about nothing. And, so did the U Chicago dean.

164 - Harvard Law didnt seem to teach you how to avoid basing arguments on obvious logical flaws. The fact that Obama was elected in SPITE of his race, does not prove that racism does not exist. On the other hand, the fact that ANY percentage of the population may have been less likely to vote for obama because we was black proves that it does exist. 100% of people in a society do not have to be racist 100% of the time for racism to be a problem.

there actually are groups for irish and italian american law students at many law schools. idiots.

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla%3Aen-US%3Aofficial&hs=pV2&q=irish+law+students+association&btnG=Search

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla%3Aen-US%3Aofficial&hs=rqh&q=italian+law+students+association&btnG=Search

169 - "in spite of his race." Really? He was elected president BECAUSE OF his race.

169, the vast majority of blacks voted for Barack Obama over Hillary Clinton. You think perhaps some of those black people did not vote for Hillary because she was not a black person like Obama? Is this anti-white racism a problem?

did 171 actually get into law school?

I used to read this blog daily. Not only were the stories quirky and insightful, but they also well-written and generally previewed some really interesting/witty issues that got both intelligently and thoroughly discussed in the comments. Now, 4 out of every 5 comments are racist slurs, stupid "characters" with nothing intelligent to add beyond that (146, nervous t-10) or generic graffiti by people who just like to see their words on a screen. Lat, i'm glad you went coporate and are making bank with your stable of blogs, but Elie is failing to capture your style and the comments are becoming an unmoderated XOXOXOTH cesspool. For god's sake fix this place up or the only readers you have left will be law school bound undergraduates.

As a white person reading this, I can only make one conclusion with conviction: All these uppity comments of racial injustice toward white people are hilaaarious. Go back to studying for your Civ Pro final, kids.

#6: I think the George W. she may have been referring to was the former governor of Alabama ...

I used to read this blog daily. Not only were the stories quirky and insightful, but they also well-written and generally previewed some really interesting/witty issues that got both intelligently and thoroughly discussed in the comments. Now, 4 out of every 5 comments are racist slurs, stupid "characters" with nothing intelligent to add beyond that (146, nervous t-10) or generic graffiti by people who just like to see their words on a screen. Lat, i'm glad you went coporate and are making bank with your stable of blogs, but Elie is failing to capture your style and the comments are becoming an unmoderated XOXOXOTH cesspool. For god's sake fix this place up or the only readers you have left will be law school bound undergraduates.

I used to read this blog daily. Not only were the stories quirky and insightful, but they also well-written and generally previewed some really interesting/witty issues that got both intelligently and thoroughly discussed in the comments. Now, 4 out of every 5 comments are racist slurs, stupid "characters" with nothing intelligent to add beyond that (146, nervous t-10) or generic graffiti by people who just like to see their words on a screen. Lat, i'm glad you went coporate and are making bank with your stable of blogs, but Elie is failing to capture your style and the comments are becoming an unmoderated XOXOXOTH cesspool. For god's sake fix this place up or the only readers you have left will be law school bound undergraduates.

I used to read this blog daily. Not only were the stories quirky and insightful, but they also well-written and generally previewed some really interesting/witty issues that got both intelligently and thoroughly discussed in the comments. Now, 4 out of every 5 comments are racist slurs, stupid "characters" with nothing intelligent to add beyond that (146, nervous t-10) or generic graffiti by people who just like to see their words on a screen. Lat, i'm glad you went coporate and are making bank with your stable of blogs, but Elie is failing to capture your style and the comments are becoming an unmoderated XOXOXOTH cesspool. For god's sake fix this place up or the only readers you have left will be law school bound undergraduates.

I used to read this blog daily. Not only were the stories quirky and insightful, but they also well-written and generally previewed some really interesting/witty issues that got both intelligently and thoroughly discussed in the comments. Now, 4 out of every 5 comments are racist slurs, stupid "characters" with nothing intelligent to add beyond that (146, nervous t-10) or generic graffiti by people who just like to see their words on a screen. Lat, i'm glad you went coporate and are making bank with your stable of blogs, but Elie is failing to capture your style and the comments are becoming an unmoderated XOXOXOTH cesspool. For god's sake fix this place up or the only readers you have left will be law school bound undergraduates.

Amazing that 96% of blacks voted for Obama in the dem primaries, which allowed him to edge past Hillary.

Also amazing that a first term senator with ZERO significant legislative accomplishments was elected president.

Also amazing that a coke head in college somehow got accepted to HLS to launch his career.

Also amazing that a professor of law at UChicago didn't publish a SINGLE ARTICLE in 12 years.

And to think that he overcame all of this, and yet still won more votes than any other candidate in the history of the world IN SPITE OF all the racism that exists is truly remarkable.

Either that or he rode the reverse discrimination train all the way to the top.

Nice apology. It's all Dubya's fault.

What a dooooosh!

also, BLSA is very small at uchicago, and the number of people who attend BLSA events is even smaller...usually only 1Ls and a few 2Ls, so you know everybody there. checking for membership really is like looking for your friends, or people you see and chat with on an almost daily basis. there are lots of closed to the public meetings here--acs, fed soc, edmund burke, apalsa...they weren't allowed in b/c the room held about 30 people, and that was only enough to accomodate the expected capacity...there was a law firm contact who came in specifically to talk to blsa people, and brought former blsa members from goldberg kohn to address the group. this is a ridiculous conflict to have.

Whether Obama was elected because of or in spite of his race will never be known. What we do know is that he was helped by affirmative action along the way, either in admissions to Columbia, admissions to HLS, etc.. Would he have accomplished what he has accomplished without aa? I guess we'll never know. But it is impossible to be certain that he would have. I just don't understand why minorities want to go through life not knowing if they achieved whatever they did because of their own accomplishment and hard work or because they received a handout. Where's the self worth? Oh, there is none. Hence the calls for victimhood and adoration of Al Sharpton.

Seriously, what are all the "struggles" that black people face in 2008? Are they like all of the constitutional freedoms that the Bush administration has trampled? I.e., figments of your imagination.

181 hates facts:

1 - Had the black vote split 50/50 in the democratic primaries, obama still would have beaten hillary

2- the "zero" significant legislative accomplishment comment betrays your bias.

3 - Because using cocaine in college bears any connection with high grades and LSAT scores? Also, Obama was elected president of the Harvard Law Review once he got there, got exceptional grades, and wowed his professors.

4 - He was never a professor, he was a lecturer. An adjucnt who taught classes while also being employed in other sectors. He had more important things to do than sit around and write papers like a typical academic

Also, as a funny irony, all of your comments deriding Obama's achievements could easily have been applied to W in 2004. And yet somehow, magically, he won without affirmative action.

The only election fact that means anything vis a vis the existence of racism is the one cited by someone earlier : the fact that any percentage of the population was less likely to vote for obama because of his race shows that racism still exists. the fact that, in spite of that, he still won, would only prove something to ann coulter

also, BLSA is very small at uchicago, and the number of people who attend BLSA events is even smaller...usually only 1Ls and a few 2Ls, so you know everybody there. checking for membership really is like looking for your friends, or people you see and chat with on an almost daily basis. there are lots of closed to the public meetings here--acs, fed soc, edmund burke, apalsa...they weren't allowed in b/c the room held about 30 people, and that was only enough to accomodate the expected capacity...there was a law firm contact who came in specifically to talk to blsa people, and brought former blsa members from goldberg kohn to address the group. this is a ridiculous conflict to have.

-161

How much of the 53% voted for the man *because* of his color?

186, give me a cite or evidence that had Obama won only 50% of the black vote, he would have beaten Hillary.

All law schools are White Law Student Associations, and you all know that. There is nothing wrong with creating organizations for people normally marginalized but now less marginalized such that they have numbers to form a group. That being said, I'm responding to tttrolls, so whatever.

and #185, you're a horrible person -- you obviously are a white person that NEEDS to be included in the events put on by diversity groups, b/c you have absolutely no clue what's up.

169 - Obama was not elected IN SPITE of his race. Obama was elected BECAUSE of his race. No way he would have been elected had he been white. period.

Let me start off by saying that I am white. During law school recruiting season, I was surprised by how little being a racial minority seemed to help when applying for jobs. I had assumed that affirmative action would mean that minorities would have NO problem getting jobs. But I saw tons of minorities with good grades (top third at T14), journal membership, moot court, etc - not getting offers. This was back when the economy sucked in 2002, but still. The way firms wax eloquent about diversity and people on this blog complain about AA, I would have thought that minorities were showered with offers. Def not so.

Whoa is me.

If Obama had been white, he would have been John Edwards.
Charismatic public speaker with minimal legislative accomplishments talking about a new America. No way he would have won.

Yes, Obama was elected president. That doesn't change the fact that Obama was the only black member of the United States Senate, which now has 0 black members. Obviously, blacks comprise more than 1% of the population. Obama's election also does not change the fact that blacks are proportionally underrepresented in Congress, in top positions at companies, in higher education, etc.

Why is it an acceptable mode of analysis to ignore all facts/statistics other than Obama's election, and blindly declare that racism is "over?"

Bush is a total douche and deserves to be the brunt of jokes! He should be proud that, through humor, he was FINALLY able to contribute something positive to our nation.

Support Bush all you want, but don't expect the rest of us to keep buying the bullsh*&t he is selling!

So, bring on the Bush jokes!

I think Obama was elected, in part, because he was black. However, this is no way means that racism is over. It is simply an interesting quirk of current politics in the U.S. Obama may indeed have been more likely to win the Democratic primary not only because of high black turnout, but because white liberals undoubtedly were inspired by the idea of our first black president. Racists who would never vote for a black person, on the other hand, probably did not hurt Obama too much in the general election, because, for the most part, these racists would not have been likely to vote for any Democrat (obviously this is not an airtight claim, but i think there is significant truth to it). So, Obama was in no worse position than, say, John Kerry among these votes. So, to end the stupid debate above, it seems true both that a) Obama may have been helped to the presidency by his race, b) racism is alive and well.

"Don't worry. Most white people, particularly those of us intelligent enough to be in in positions of power, still feel very guilty about all that past nastyness."

_______________________________________

I don't. Nor does anyone I know. I mean, at least feel *personally* guilty, any more so than when you hear of a murder or random crime victim on the local news. Sure, you feel bad but why would you feel *guilty*? You didn't do anything. Are you Catholic or something? Does it make you feel closer to heaven to feel guilty?

Very good letter. Well done.

197 -- as you requested:

"God told Moses, take off your shoes, Moses, and approach the burning bush.

And Moses did, and burnt his feet.

And God said Ha! Third one today!"

WGWAGSA

Jesus Christ. Why the hell can't people learn how to post on this board. Or why the hell can't there be some SOME SOME kind of freaking moderator to delete the hundreds of repeats.

14 - if the Law Review held an event paid for out of Law-Review-allocated-funds and open only to Law Review members, it's my understanding that it wouldn't be required to allow non-Law-Review members to attend. (And we always held those off-campus, with a lot of BYOB.) This event appears - somewhat unclear, but appears - to have permitted non-BLSA members to attend, as well as being held on-campus at lunchtime - those events always seemed to be open to the whole school. Unclear whether only BLSA-allocated funds were used for the event.

73 - I'm a well-rounded person from U Chicago Law School, and not at all a nerdy, maladjusted jackass. Thanks.

67, the funniest thing ever. . .

I hope that Obama needed AA to get into Columbia and HLS.

It would prove that the system works.

99- great points
94- you are a tool. First, nonblacks are members of BLSA and other minority groups at least they at any good school. Second, your law school must be really racist because at every other top law school, blacks are a part of law review and other legal journal. Additionally getting on law review just means you know how to BlueBook well, not that you are smart or have great grades. Third, give employers some credit. They are not going to employ some baffoon because they are on law review. Firms are looking to add value to their ranks, not just idiots who BlueBook well. Law Review may get you te first interview but it does get you the callback or the job- brains and not being a total asshole accomplishes that.

Full disclosure--I went to U of C and am black. The law school has some great aspects to it, but it's such a fucking hostile place. My time on law review sucked ass and I was elated when I graduated, took a clerkship and landed in a big firm. I got a great education, but I couldn't stand how openly prejudiced certain classmates of mine were. It still disturbs me.

Back to topic.--My God this whole mess is so stupid. Everyone needs to take a freaking deep breath.

When I went to U of C, there were like four black people in my class and if I remember correctly, we had a few white people who were members of BLSA. I was a part of Outlaw despite being a straight woman. Anyone could join anything so long as they were willing to support the purpose of the organization. For instance, there weren't any Mormon students in Outlaw!

That president had a right to limit a meeting to members since anyone could be a freaking member if they wanted to. If they were excluding people from joining BLSA it would be a different story.

Of course, everyone jumped to conclusions, started hurling insults, and turned a fairly small misunderstanding into a Big Deal.

186 - please name one significant legislative accomplishment. Thanks.

Crikey. I can't actually think of a more graceful note to close a complete non-issue. To the UC BLSA ex-pres - nicely done, that was a lovely note. @ 207, thanks for your nice comments. Just curious: Was the awful atmosphere because of your skin color, or because UC is a crappy place generally, or because of non-race-based cultural differences?

To the people who claim racism doesn't exist anymore b/c BO was elected, get a life.

The midwest is racist. No way around it.

It was a stupid act. The girl hopefully learned her lesson. Let her move on from the mistake.

Her shame will probably keep her from doing something that stupid in the future.

116 - you're a major jackass

I guess 206 did not make law review.

Hey 161,

I love how some people's standard of a "non-racist" society is one where 47% of people will not ignore the fact that one presidential candidate has better policies, is more intelligent and in general a better choice simply and refuse to vote for him simply because THE OTHER GUY is black.

214 - that is the dumbest thing I have ever heard. Are you really saying that everyone who voted for McCain is a racist simply because they didn't vote for your candidate? Its really upsetting that you think you can win an argument with a ridiculous assertion and then just yelling racism and hoping that no one questions you because you used the R-word.

214 - i get the point you are trying to make...but that comment doesnt work switched around like that. no one is claiming that we live in a non-racist society because 47% of people voted for john mccain even though barack obama is black. that doesnt even make sense.

if you are going to try to be clever, make sure you are smart enough to pull it off

Let he who has never made a joke/comment that we would not want publicized throw the first stone....

215 - #214 was trying - unsuccessfully - to cleverly respond to the point made by 161 that it does not prove society is non-racist simply because they supported a candidate who was black (meaning that there are a lot of reasons - mainly policy related - why people would be more closely aligned with obama, and the fact that they don't change their minds simply because obama is black does not mean racism is dead). no one said that everyone voted for mccain was racist.

if you dont want a joke published, may i suggest not posting it on above the law?

181 is spot on. Well put.

76% of people with advanced degrees (aka "smart people") voted for obama. how does above the law wind up with such a high percentage of the right-wing 24%?

221: Internet trolling by bitter freepers and federalist society members. I'm willing to bet that even most corporate lawyers voted for Obama.

I didn't vote for Obama. He is a communist and terrorist.

This asshole did not "step up to the plate and accept responsibility."

He lied and said he based his decision on membership, when it was based on race.

He apologized for "not being familiar" with the policy.

He did not apologize for acting immorally. He should have said "I apologize for excluding people based upon their skin color. I acted wrongly. I am not going to try to weasel out of this with glib references to Bush."

Hey powers that be -- if you want to make the comments section a bit more bearable, how about not allowing people to comment as guests? Make everyone have to sign in with a username.

It won't make it non-anonymous so you'll still get your tipsters, and I've seen it work on other blogs to seriously cut down on the crap that gets posted, plus it helps develop an actual community where people start recognizing other posters that they like (or dislike, of course).

Please can we give this a try? Maybe it'll cut down on "business" briefly, but it will pop right back up in no time. And yes, the truly obnoxious will have multiple usernames, sure, but for a lot of people, it will cut down on the random garbage. It's worth it.

You clueless morons, get with the program.

It's not "black", it's "diverse."

George Orwell

186- of course he hates facts, he's Republican. They prefer a more "ideology based" reality. To further research enter the following search terms "Iraq" "epic fail" "smirking chimpanzee" "poor kids dying for Halliburton"

212- did I touch a nerve? sorry to have reality impose on your happy kingdom
- 116

I think its fair to say that some (though obviously nowhere close to a majority) of Obama supporters voted for him in part because he was black, and that some (though obviously not close to a majority) of McCain supporters voted for McCain because they refused to vote for a black person.

I do think, however, that there is a qualitative difference between voting for a black person because of a desire to take a step forward in America's battle with its racist past, and refusing to vote for a black person because you just don't feel comfortable with blacks in positions of power.

I'm not saying that either one is a particularly wise ways of selecting candidates (though an argument can be made that a show of non-racism is a strategic move in combatting terrorism), but i think it is safe to say that one deserves significantly less moral disapprobation than the other.

And I agree that the fact that there were any white citizens who refused to vote for Obama on account of race shows that racism is still a problem, even if Obama's ultimate election signals progress.

Obama's elections is a complete and utter failure for this country. It only shows that the American people are are dumb as we had feared.

WHAT IS 206? PLEASE SELECT FROM THE FOLLOWING:

1. Flame
2. Paralegal with a two-year degree
3. Someone not on law review
4. Person who rode short bus
5. Undergraduate with bullshit major
6. All of the above

WHAT IS 206? PLEASE SELECT FROM THE FOLLOWING:

1. 231'a mom

Hi 227,

I did some reasearch on some of your terms.

IRAQ: http://www.cnn.com/US/9812/16/clinton.iraq.speech/

EPIC FAIL:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karl_Marx

POOR KIDS DYING:
http://www.guttmacher.org/pubs/2006/08/03/ab_incidence.pdf

One thing I don't miss about law school is that stupid incidents become traumatic events for everyone involved whether those individuals are white, black, green, etc.

So the person made a dumb comment. BFD.

To those individuals citing the election of Obama as the end of racism, I gather that you now no longer look down at idiots seeing that the Great W. was elected twice.

If racism has ended, has intellectual superiority ended as well?

glad I went to WUSTL

T-20 STUD

Why is she taking a leave of absence ... I didn't know this? Academic related or personal related or what?

I think her acceptance of responsibility is awesome, and her defense of her organization is right on. That being said, please, we can deal without the attendant sarcasm and "humor." It would not be "funny" for a white student to dismiss an otherwise serious apology in the same way. She comes so close to being upstanding.... but then crashes and burns.

HLS student

"I just happen to be both audacious and a diehard fan of irreverent comedy."

lmao, reminded me of "my style is impetuous"

hilarious random swipe at Bush (at first I thought it was referring to Washington, hahaha)

At least being in BLSA means these students have a chance of getting firm jobs next summer if they're 1Ls. I've heard from several sources at top 20 firms (NYC) that their recruiting departments are exclusively looking at minorities for 1L summer. It was always a practice to favor minorities in 1L firm hiring but its a little weird to come out and say we're not even considering white people.

237: by we, do you mean people who do not go to Chicago and were not sent the email?

although expulsion seems harsh, the fesTTTering TTT that is u of shitcago needs to worry about it rapidly declining reputation....

I think everyone has to agree that, at the very least, racial preferences should be phased out at some point. Racial preferences are discrimination based on race. They are allowed right now only to right past wrongs. But once the playing field is level, they should be abolished. Once black people are not held back by society because of their race, then we will have won.

I am simply suggesting that now is a good time. All of these notions of CURRENT suppression and racism or whatnot are vague and ambiguous. So when do we stop with racial preferences? I think that, when a society elects to its most important office, i.e., an office that most Americans feel a personal connection with, a black man, then perhaps the whole point of racial preferences cannot pass the "strict scrutiny" hurdle. Be honest, 10 years ago did you think we'd have a black president in 2009?

I challenge anyone to state, with particularity, when would be a better time.

242: The government should never have implemented these programs. Affirmative Action only serves to make otherwise qualified people a slave to the "system" as well as work to discredit the qualifications of legitimate candidates in the eyes of those in position to hand out or pass on opportunities.

Forcing minority hires or using a "non-quota-based" system of quotas only creates a backlash in the heart of those whose minds are otherwise ready to move forward. For those of you who might immediately disagree with this logic, consider first the parallel situation: Has the policy of forcing governmental structures on people in other nations been overwhelmingly accepted or staunchly opposed? No. And it never will.

You may apply this principle universally. Can you honestly defend the forced imposition of one idea, while lashing out at the forced imposition of another? The collective must grow to accept a proposition by its own will, no matter how "right" or "righteous" the idea.

147: "anti-white racist jokes are not accompanied by any type of injury."

EPIC FAIL.

This person apologized. That in itself gets him/her a gold star in my book. And it was a complete apology - along with a couple of small jokes to lighten it. Not sure what the furor was about - if he/she tried to just restrict attendance to members only, then what is the problem?

"I am not racist."

Sincerely,

--Racist.

RACIALIST!!!

116 - You are an awful person.

#131: but the experience of being the first in your family to go to college & law school is one that can be shared by all races....why segregate? I believe that being separate is something we should fight against. Working together and unity are what we need. I would love to read some posts addressing this issue.

As a former member/officer of a BLSA chapter, I feel the need to speak up on BLSA's behalf. Though the organization is called the BLACK law students association, it is not inherently racist. My law school's chapter WELCOMED and ENCOURAGED all students to join. However, I will also say that not all BLSA chapters are created equal.

#245: Everyone apologizes after they get in trouble. Did you here O.J. Simpson copping please today?

#245: Everyone apologizes after they get in trouble. Did you here O.J. Simpson copping pleas today?

#245: Everyone apologizes after they get in trouble. Did you here O.J. Simpson copping pleas today?

#245: Everyone apologizes after they get in trouble. Did you here O.J. Simpson copping pleas today?

#245: Everyone apologizes after they get in trouble. Did you here O.J. Simpson copping pleas today?

30: I'm going to assume that you have a problem with Jewish Law Students Association, South Asian Law Students Association, Latino American Law Student Association, Chinese Legal Association, African Law Students Association at Columbia, Womens' Legal Association and probably even Christian Legal Society?

If so, kill yourself.
If not, you're probably racist. Still, kill yourself. Quel idiot!

I don't understand why people cant just embrace that people have a space for them to learn and discuss experiences...there is a christian legal society, usually they allow christians to feel free to discuss their legal views...why does everything has to be accessible to white people...most organizations are white organizations...and non blacks can join blsa but they must understand and respect the purpose of the organization...likewise, the comment about her being an affirmative action recipient is just rude...she probably had higher grades and scores than u

I don't understand why people cant just embrace that people have a space for them to learn and discuss experiences...there is a christian legal society, usually they allow christians to feel free to discuss their legal views...why does everything has to be accessible to white people...most organizations are white organizations...and non blacks can join blsa but they must understand and respect the purpose of the organization...likewise, the comment about her being an affirmative action recipient is just rude...she probably had higher grades and scores than u

To those who assert that BLSA is an inherently racist organization because of its name, please become informed.

The "Black" in BLSA refers to individuals of African descent, or individuals who have an interest in the issues and causes of such people. It is analogous to the "Jewish" in JLSA, the "Latino" in LLSA, etc. "Black" [Americans], as of late, tend to prefer the term "Black" as opposed to "African-American." The term "Black" in this context refers to ethnicity rather than race.

"White" people are more than welcome to join BLSA and are valued when they do. White people generally have not created organizations called White [Input Description of Organization] because they have, until recently, predominantly occupied most organizations that aren't tailored to a specific ethnic group. In addition "White" encompasses such a large group of ethnicities that the interests of its members may be so divergent.

Creating an Irish, Italian, British, or even European Law Student Association would not be considered racist, so long as the organization welcomes people of any ethnicity or race who are interested in such issues.

There are, for example, white ethnic groups with caucuses in congress.

258 - it makes us all feel better to say things like "she probably had higher scores than you," but in fact that simply isn't the case. She may well have scored well on the LSAT, but she "probably" did not. The mean LSAT score for African-Americans is 141.

http://www.lsacnet.org/research/LSAT-Performance-with-Regional-Gender-and-Racial-Ethnic-Breakdowns-1997%E2%80%931998-Through-2003%E2%80%932004-Testing-Years.pdf

I think it is interesting to read all of these comments when we don't know what she actually said. Anyone know?

Nothing is lamer than when whites make racist comments and blame it on their uncommon sense of humor, except when blacks do the same thing. Hey, maybe it's a sign of progress. For we African Americans to achieve true equality, we have to be willing to play by the same rules -- black-on-white bigotry is NOT okay, so let's put away the lame "it doesn't have the same impact" bullcrap excuses.

A sincere apology never includes the word "but." It's not sincere if there is an excuse, even a partial one (e.g. I was wrong, but I was joking).

I'm about to fail my final, people are starving all over the world, Bush just ruined the country and is about to pardon a hundred drug dealers to do his dirty work...lets focus on something that really matters..

I think it is interesting to read all of these comments when we don't know what she actually said. Anyone know?

I think it is interesting to read all of these comments when we don't know what she actually said. Anyone know?

I think it is interesting to read all of these comments when we don't know what she actually said. Anyone know?

I think it is interesting to read all of these comments when we don't know what she actually said. Anyone know?

I think it is interesting to read all of these comments when we don't know what she actually said. Anyone know?
I think it is interesting to read all of these comments when we don't know what she actually said. Anyone know?I think it is interesting to read all of these comments when we don't know what she actually said. Anyone know?I think it is interesting to read all of these comments when we don't know what she actually said. Anyone know?I think it is interesting to read all of these comments when we don't know what she actually said. Anyone know?I think it is interesting to read all of these comments when we don't know what she actually said. Anyone know?I think it is interesting to read all of these comments when we don't know what she actually said. Anyone know?I think it is interesting to read all of these comments when we don't know what she actually said. Anyone know?I think it is interesting to read all of these comments when we don't know what she actually said. Anyone know?I think it is interesting to read all of these comments when we don't know what she actually said. Anyone know?I think it is interesting to read all of these comments when we don't know what she actually said. Anyone know?I think it is interesting to read all of these comments when we don't know what she actually said. Anyone know?I think it is interesting to read all of these comments when we don't know what she actually said. Anyone know?I think it is interesting to read all of these comments when we don't know what she actually said. Anyone know?I think it is interesting to read all of these comments when we don't know what she actually said. Anyone know?I think it is interesting to read all of these comments when we don't know what she actually said. Anyone know?

I think it is interesting to read all of these comments when we don't know what she actually said. Anyone know?I think it is interesting to read all of these comments when we don't know what she actually said. Anyone know?I think it is interesting to read all of these comments when we don't know what she actually said. Anyone know?I think it is interesting to read all of these comments when we don't know what she actually said. Anyone know?I think it is interesting to read all of these comments when we don't know what she actually said. Anyone know?I think it is interesting to read all of these comments when we don't know what she actually said. Anyone know?I think it is interesting to read all of these comments when we don't know what she actually said. Anyone know?I think it is interesting to read all of these comments when we don't know what she actually said. Anyone know?I think it is interesting to read all of these comments when we don't know what she actually said. Anyone know?I think it is interesting to read all of these comments when we don't know what she actually said. Anyone know?I think it is interesting to read all of these comments when we don't know what she actually said. Anyone know?I think it is interesting to read all of these comments when we don't know what she actually said. Anyone know?I think it is interesting to read all of these comments when we don't know what she actually said. Anyone know?I think it is interesting to read all of these comments when we don't know what she actually said. Anyone know?I think it is interesting to read all of these comments when we don't know what she actually said. Anyone know?I think it is interesting to read all of these comments when we don't know what she actually said. Anyone know?

I think it is interesting to read all of these comments when we don't know what she actually said. Anyone know?I think it is interesting to read all of these comments when we don't know what she actually said. Anyone know?I think it is interesting to read all of these comments when we don't know what she actually said. Anyone know?I think it is interesting to read all of these comments when we don't know what she actually said. Anyone know?I think it is interesting to read all of these comments when we don't know what she actually said. Anyone know?I think it is interesting to read all of these comments when we don't know what she actually said. Anyone know?I think it is interesting to read all of these comments when we don't know what she actually said. Anyone know?I think it is interesting to read all of these comments when we don't know what she actually said. Anyone know?I think it is interesting to read all of these comments when we don't know what she actually said. Anyone know?I think it is interesting to read all of these comments when we don't know what she actually said. Anyone know?

I think it is interesting to read all of these comments when we don't know what she actually said. Anyone know?I think it is interesting to read all of these comments when we don't know what she actually said. Anyone know?I think it is interesting to read all of these comments when we don't know what she actually said. Anyone know?I think it is interesting to read all of these comments when we don't know what she actually said. Anyone know?I think it is interesting to read all of these comments when we don't know what she actually said. Anyone know?I think it is interesting to read all of these comments when we don't know what she actually said. Anyone know?I think it is interesting to read all of these comments when we don't know what she actually said. Anyone know?I think it is interesting to read all of these comments when we don't know what she actually said. Anyone know?I think it is interesting to read all of these comments when we don't know what she actually said. Anyone know?I think it is interesting to read all of these comments when we don't know what she actually said. Anyone know?I think it is interesting to read all of these comments when we don't know what she actually said. Anyone know?I think it is interesting to read all of these comments when we don't know what she actually said. Anyone know?I think it is interesting to read all of these comments when we don't know what she actually said. Anyone know?I think it is interesting to read all of these comments when we don't know what she actually said. Anyone know?I think it is interesting to read all of these comments when we don't know what she actually said. Anyone know?I think it is interesting to read all of these comments when we don't know what she actually said. Anyone know?I think it is interesting to read all of these comments when we don't know what she actually said. Anyone know?I think it is interesting to read all of these comments when we don't know what she actually said. Anyone know?I think it is interesting to read all of these comments when we don't know what she actually said. Anyone know?I think it is interesting to read all of these comments when we don't know what she actually said. Anyone know?I think it is interesting to read all of these comments when we don't know what she actually said. Anyone know?I think it is interesting to read all of these comments when we don't know what she actually said. Anyone know?I think it is interesting to read all of these comments when we don't know what she actually said. Anyone know?I think it is interesting to read all of these comments when we don't know what she actually said. Anyone know?I think it is interesting to read all of these comments when we don't know what she actually said. Anyone know?I think it is interesting to read all of these comments when we don't know what she actually said. Anyone know?I think it is interesting to read all of these comments when we don't know what she actually said. Anyone know?I think it is interesting to read all of these comments when we don't know what she actually said. Anyone know?I think it is interesting to read all of these comments when we don't know what she actually said. Anyone know?I think it is interesting to read all of these comments when we don't know what she actually said. Anyone know?I think it is interesting to read all of these comments when we don't know what she actually said. Anyone know?I think it is interesting to read all of these comments when we don't know what she actually said. Anyone know?I think it is interesting to read all of these comments when we don't know what she actually said. Anyone know?I think it is interesting to read all of these comments when we don't know what she actually said. Anyone know?I think it is interesting to read all of these comments when we don't know what she actually said. Anyone know?I think it is interesting to read all of these comments when we don't know what she actually said. Anyone know?I think it is interesting to read all of these comments when we don't know what she actually said. Anyone know?I think it is interesting to read all of these comments when we don't know what she actually said. Anyone know?I think it is interesting to read all of these comments when we don't know what she actually said. Anyone know?I think it is interesting to read all of these comments when we don't know what she actually said. Anyone know?I think it is interesting to read all of these comments when we don't know what she actually said. Anyone know?I think it is interesting to read all of these comments when we don't know what she actually said. Anyone know?I think it is interesting to read all of these comments when we don't know what she actually said. Anyone know?I think it is interesting to read all of these comments when we don't know what she actually said. Anyone know?I think it is interesting to read all of these comments when we don't know what she actually said. Anyone know?I think it is interesting to read all of these comments when we don't know what she actually said. Anyone know?I think it is interesting to read all of these comments when we don't know what she actually said. Anyone know?I think it is interesting to read all of these comments when we don't know what she actually said. Anyone know?I think it is interesting to read all of these comments when we don't know what she actually said. Anyone know?

I think it is interesting to read all of these comments when we don't know what she actually said. Anyone know?I think it is interesting to read all of these comments when we don't know what she actually said. Anyone know?I think it is interesting to read all of these comments when we don't know what she actually said. Anyone know?I think it is interesting to read all of these comments when we don't know what she actually said. Anyone know?I think it is interesting to read all of these comments when we don't know what she actually said. Anyone know?I think it is interesting to read all of these comments when we don't know what she actually said. Anyone know?I think it is interesting to read all of these comments when we don't know what she actually said. Anyone know?I think it is interesting to read all of these comments when we don't know what she actually said. Anyone know?I think it is interesting to read all of these comments when we don't know what she actually said. Anyone know?I think it is interesting to read all of these comments when we don't know what she actually said. Anyone know?I think it is interesting to read all of these comments when we don't know what she actually said. Anyone know?I think it is interesting to read all of these comments when we don't know what she actually said. Anyone know?I think it is interesting to read all of these comments when we don't know what she actually said. Anyone know?I think it is interesting to read all of these comments when we don't know what she actually said. Anyone know?I think it is interesting to read all of these comments when we don't know what she actually said. Anyone know?I think it is interesting to read all of these comments when we don't know what she actually said. Anyone know?I think it is interesting to read all of these comments when we don't know what she actually said. Anyone know?I think it is interesting to read all of these comments when we don't know what she actually said. Anyone know?I think it is interesting to read all of these comments when we don't know what she actually said. Anyone know?I think it is interesting to read all of these comments when we don't know what she actually said. Anyone know?I think it is interesting to read all of these comments when we don't know what she actually said. Anyone know?I think it is interesting to read all of these comments when we don't know what she actually said. Anyone know?I think it is interesting to read all of these comments when we don't know what she actually said. Anyone know?I think it is interesting to read all of these comments when we don't know what she actually said. Anyone know?I think it is interesting to read all of these comments when we don't know what she actually said. Anyone know?I think it is interesting to read all of these comments when we don't know what she actually said. Anyone know?I think it is interesting to read all of these comments when we don't know what she actually said. Anyone know?I think it is interesting to read all of these comments when we don't know what she actually said. Anyone know?I think it is interesting to read all of these comments when we don't know what she actually said. Anyone know?I think it is interesting to read all of these comments when we don't know what she actually said. Anyone know?I think it is interesting to read all of these comments when we don't know what she actually said. Anyone know?I think it is interesting to read all of these comments when we don't know what she actually said. Anyone know?I think it is interesting to read all of these comments when we don't know what she actually said. Anyone know?I think it is interesting to read all of these comments when we don't know what she actually said. Anyone know?I think it is interesting to read all of these comments when we don't know what she actually said. Anyone know?I think it is interesting to read all of these comments when we don't know what she actually said. Anyone know?I think it is interesting to read all of these comments when we don't know what she actually said. Anyone know?I think it is interesting to read all of these comments when we don't know what she actually said. Anyone know?I think it is interesting to read all of these comments when we don't know what she actually said. Anyone know?I think it is interesting to read all of these comments when we don't know what she actually said. Anyone know?I think it is interesting to read all of these comments when we don't know what she actually said. Anyone know?I think it is interesting to read all of these comments when we don't know what she actually said. Anyone know?I think it is interesting to read all of these comments when we don't know what she actually said. Anyone know?I think it is interesting to read all of these comments when we don't know what she actually said. Anyone know?I think it is interesting to read all of these comments when we don't know what she actually said. Anyone know?I think it is interesting to read all of these comments when we don't know what she actually said. Anyone know?I think it is interesting to read all of these comments when we don't know what she actually said. Anyone know?I think it is interesting to read all of these comments when we don't know what she actually said. Anyone know?I think it is interesting to read all of these comments when we don't know what she actually said. Anyone know?I think it is interesting to read all of these comments when we don't know what she actually said. Anyone know?I think it is interesting to read all of these comments when we don't know what she actually said. Anyone know?I think it is interesting to read all of these comments when we don't know what she actually said. Anyone know?I think it is interesting to read all of these comments when we don't know what she actually said. Anyone know?I think it is interesting to read all of these comments when we don't know what she actually said. Anyone know?I think it is interesting to read all of these comments when we don't know what she actually said. Anyone know?I think it is interesting to read all of these comments when we don't know what she actually said. Anyone know?I think it is interesting to read all of these comments when we don't know what she actually said. Anyone know?I think it is interesting to read all of these comments when we don't know what she actually said. Anyone know?I think it is interesting to read all of these comments when we don't know what she actually said. Anyone know?I think it is interesting to read all of these comments when we don't know what she actually said. Anyone know?I think it is interesting to read all of these comments when we don't know what she actually said. Anyone know?I think it is interesting to read all of these comments when we don't know what she actually said. Anyone know?I think it is interesting to read all of these comments when we don't know what she actually said. Anyone know?I think it is interesting to read all of these comments when we don't know what she actually said. Anyone know?I think it is interesting to read all of these comments when we don't know what she actually said. Anyone know?I think it is interesting to read all of these comments when we don't know what she actually said. Anyone know?I think it is interesting to read all of these comments when we don't know what she actually said. Anyone know?I think it is interesting to read all of these comments when we don't know what she actually said. Anyone know?I think it is interesting to read all of these comments when we don't know what she actually said. Anyone know?I think it is interesting to read all of these comments when we don't know what she actually said. Anyone know?I think it is interesting to read all of these comments when we don't know what she actually said. Anyone know?I think it is interesting to read all of these comments when we don't know what she actually said. Anyone know?I think it is interesting to read all of these comments when we don't know what she actually said. Anyone know?I think it is interesting to read all of these comments when we don't know what she actually said. Anyone know?I think it is interesting to read all of these comments when we don't know what she actually said. Anyone know?I think it is interesting to read all of these comments when we don't know what she actually said. Anyone know?I think it is interesting to read all of these comments when we don't know what she actually said. Anyone know?