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No More Asian Angels For Loyal Lexis Users

Asian Angels withdrawn canceled.jpgLast week, we reported on a questionable offering in the Lexis-Nexis Rewards Program store: an “Asian Angels” calendar.

Shortly after our post went up, the calendar came down. It seems that legal research companies respond well to media coverage.

But the calendar, despite being quickly withdrawn from the Lexis swag offerings, still incurred the ire of the Asian Pacific American Law Students Association at UC Berkeley.

Read their response, plus a statement from Lexis, below.

This e-mail went out on the UC Berkeley APALSA list-serv last week:

Hi APALSA Members,

Lexis Nexis was offering an “Asian Angels” calendar as part of its Rewards Program where students can cash in Lexis points for products. See:

http://abovethelaw.com/2009/09/sexy_lexis_nexis_reward.php

Lexis Nexis has since removed the calendar from its website.

It is terribly offensive that a provider of professional legal research tools would distribute a product that promotes sexualized representations of Asian women. Such demeaning representations contribute to sexual violence targeted at Asian women on college campuses and in the broader community. This product has no place in a professional or educational environment.

I encourage you to e-mail [REDACTED], Boalt’s Lexis Nexis Representative, to let the company know that such conduct is unacceptable. She can be reached at [REDACTED]. I have asked Lexis to let me donate my points to Asian Women’s Shelter, an organization that serves API victims of domestic and sexual violence (www.sfaws.org).

In defense of Lexis Nexis, the products in the Rewards Program come from the Amazon store. From a LexisNexis spokesperson:

Thousands of items are merchandised through the LexisNexis Rewards site via a service from a third party vendor. We work with the vendor to filter and exclude inappropriate products from our site. The item that appeared last week was clearly not in line with the professional nature of our company, clients or users and we took immediate steps to remove the item from our site.

We are working with the vendor to ensure that no inappropriate products appear on our site in the future.

Judging from the reviews of the Asian Angels calendar on Amazon, those who ordered it wasted their Lexis points.

Earlier: Sexy LexisNexis Reward

Comments

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1 Posted by guest | Permalink Wednesday, September 16, 2009 7:37 AM

what do you have against hot asians?

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2 Posted by guest | Permalink Wednesday, September 16, 2009 7:40 AM

There are outlets for all races, genders, hair colors, heights, ages, levels of hygiene, etc... If there wasn't a calendar featuring "Asian Angels" wouldn't that be even more offensive?

And has it ever been proven that "sexualized representations" of any group leads to higher rates of sexual violence? Answer below!

[No, there hasn't]

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3 Posted by guest | Permalink Wednesday, September 16, 2009 7:46 AM

Good PR for Westlaw

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4 Posted by guest | Permalink Wednesday, September 16, 2009 8:00 AM

Or they could care, and fire the vendor.

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5 Posted by guest | Permalink Wednesday, September 16, 2009 8:03 AM

the apalsa woman needs to get a life

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6 Posted by guest | Permalink Wednesday, September 16, 2009 8:03 AM

Westlaw has had their own controversies:

http://abovethelaw.com/2009/08/westlaw_printer_access_restore.php

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7 Posted by guest | Permalink Wednesday, September 16, 2009 8:05 AM

Only asian law students would find problems with showing hot asians...

I wish Lexis had a calendar of my people, but I'm Jewish and our girls are either ugly or plastic-surgeried.

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8 Posted by guest | Permalink Wednesday, September 16, 2009 8:05 AM

All the sexualization on Manhunt of big, hairy, fat white guys by bear-loving gay men has yet to lead to any sexual abuse against me.

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9 Posted by guest | Permalink Wednesday, September 16, 2009 8:06 AM

7 - Sarah Silverman is pretty hot. She's Jewish, isn't she?

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10 Posted by guest | Permalink Wednesday, September 16, 2009 8:24 AM

I smell varmint poontang.

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11 Posted by guest | Permalink Wednesday, September 16, 2009 8:26 AM

Join 5 and 7. "What's wrong with being sexy?"

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12 Posted by guest | Permalink Wednesday, September 16, 2009 8:29 AM

i love how people just pull shit out of their ass without even bothering to google.

http://scholar.google.com/scholar?q=study+relationship+between+sexual+violence+and+pornography+asians&hl=en&client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&hs=oeE&um=1&ie=UTF-8&oi=scholart

i mean, i don't necc agree with APALSA Berkley, and how much can you really "prove" something in social science anyway?

but 2 is a perfect example of the confidence of fools, maybe you should become a SC congressman

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13 Posted by guest | Permalink Wednesday, September 16, 2009 8:29 AM

WGWAC

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14 Posted by guest | Permalink Wednesday, September 16, 2009 8:39 AM

put your liberal academica clap trap back in the bottle, 12.

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15 Posted by guest | Permalink Wednesday, September 16, 2009 8:42 AM

So according to these idiots, if I want a calendar of Black Babes I would be furthering racism?

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16 Posted by guest | Permalink Wednesday, September 16, 2009 8:44 AM

"It seems that legal research companies respond well to media coverage."

You're not "media coverage" kash. You're a glorified TMZ. You should pat yourself on the back. Anytime you guys shed light on anything good, it dies.

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17 Posted by guest | Permalink Wednesday, September 16, 2009 8:45 AM

SC congressmen are my heros. You people should know better.

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18 Posted by guest | Permalink Wednesday, September 16, 2009 8:45 AM

Is there a huge amount of sexual violence against asian women? What a crock.

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19 Posted by guest | Permalink Wednesday, September 16, 2009 8:48 AM

9

I wouldn't say she's "pretty hot"... she's decent. Then you add make-up, fame, humor, and money, and she becomes pretty hot. But even then, she could only get Jimmy Kimmel.

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20 Posted by guest | Permalink Wednesday, September 16, 2009 8:49 AM

You just know the Berkeley APALSA girl who wrote that e-mail if fugly beyond belief.

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21 Posted by guest | Permalink Wednesday, September 16, 2009 8:52 AM

BAHAHAHAHA at APALSA

Seriously?!?

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22 Posted by guest | Permalink Wednesday, September 16, 2009 8:57 AM

Only white people may be exploited in Obama's America.

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23 Posted by guest | Permalink Wednesday, September 16, 2009 9:02 AM

Can we get a calendar with Kash? I think there would be a market here on ATL!

24 Posted by EllieWeasel | Permalink Wednesday, September 16, 2009 9:02 AM

Do you know what would sell? An ATL Calendar!

Lat . . . Mystal . . . Kash . . .

Please send royalties for this idea to EllieWeasel@biteme.com.

25 Posted by EllieWeasel | Permalink Wednesday, September 16, 2009 9:03 AM

Awe, man! Mind meld again, and you beat me!

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26 Posted by guest | Permalink Wednesday, September 16, 2009 9:13 AM

@7
Are you crazy? Jewish women are the best. I love them, even the plain ones. Walk around NYC a little.

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27 Posted by guest | Permalink Wednesday, September 16, 2009 9:15 AM

This conflict proves that Asian women are much hotter in theory than in real life.

28 Posted by Pacific Reporter | Permalink Wednesday, September 16, 2009 9:18 AM

Asian pinup calendars promote sexual violence? I'd like APALSA to cite some studies supporting that assertion, because it sounds like bullshit.

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29 Posted by guest | Permalink Wednesday, September 16, 2009 9:18 AM

"Such demeaning representations contribute to sexual violence targeted at Asian women on college campuses and in the broader community."

Statistical evidence, please. (And by "evidence," I don't mean a hyperlink to Google search reults that contain loose references to sexual violence and pornography.) Also, does this calendar promote violence only against Asian women, and not those from other backgrounds? Who knew it could have such specific, targeted effects. I suppose this means that the SI Swimsuit Issue promotes violence against hot bikini models of varying ethnic origin, then.

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30 Posted by guest | Permalink Wednesday, September 16, 2009 9:18 AM

11 -- Excellent

It's such a fine line between stupid and clever.

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31 Posted by guest | Permalink Wednesday, September 16, 2009 9:19 AM

7-

Do you mean "Jewish" in the religious or much narrower ethnic sense, i.e., Ashkenazi? Just curious...

Sarah Silverman is actually pretty hot per 19's definition.

-Confused Catholic

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32 Posted by guest | Permalink Wednesday, September 16, 2009 9:24 AM

7 - I think there are lots of hot Jewish girls. I never had a shot with them in undergrad or law school, but I always thought they were hot and VERY curvy. Just my type! I will admit though, I sensed many of them were somewhat of the princess type. But that's cool too.

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33 Posted by guest | Permalink Wednesday, September 16, 2009 9:25 AM

further proof that any use of an ethnic group in any way is racist. soon you'll be visiting the 'grocery store that sells rice, wontons, and seaweed' and watching movies entitled 'men of a specifically-toned epidermis can't jump'.

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34 Posted by guest | Permalink Wednesday, September 16, 2009 9:28 AM

"Pacific Reporter": Asian pinup calendars promote sexual violence? I'd like APALSA to cite some studies supporting that assertion, because it sounds like bullshit.

Not that I disagree, but I love that it's Pedobear making the comment.

35 Posted by Pacific Reporter | Permalink Wednesday, September 16, 2009 9:30 AM

The sexualized representation of Asian women leads to them being married off as trophy wives to rich white men. Oh nos!
http://www.marieclaire.com/sex-love/advice/tips/asian-trophy-wife

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36 Posted by guest | Permalink Wednesday, September 16, 2009 9:34 AM

They used to have plaboy videos and the like as rewards. Don't know if that has changed, as they don't give real lawyers rewards for doing pointless research.

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37 Posted by guest | Permalink Wednesday, September 16, 2009 9:37 AM

I heard if you buy Chrometa, the will throw in the Asian Angels calendar. Slick time keeping software and a calendar of asians - win win

BTW, there are tons of hot jewish girls.

http://scandalist.thefablife.com/2009-03-10/happy-purim-the-40-hottest-jewish-celebrities/

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38 Posted by guest | Permalink Wednesday, September 16, 2009 9:47 AM

"And now let's turn to Asian reporter Trisha Takinawa, who's [in Asian parody voice] gonna-tell-us-all-about-the-news."

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39 Posted by guest | Permalink Wednesday, September 16, 2009 9:50 AM

I rike asian girls they so horny.

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40 Posted by guest | Permalink Wednesday, September 16, 2009 9:51 AM

Groups like APALSA are utterly ridiculous.

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41 Posted by guest | Permalink Wednesday, September 16, 2009 9:53 AM

This is probably totally racist, but I read the APALSA girl's e-mail in the voice of the prostitute in Full Metal Jacket.

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42 Posted by guest | Permalink Wednesday, September 16, 2009 9:57 AM

The guy who killed Yale grad student Annie Le obviously had acquired an "Asian Angels" calendar using his Lexis points.

UC Berkeley APALSA

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43 Posted by guest | Permalink Wednesday, September 16, 2009 10:15 AM

Chanks wexis

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44 Posted by guest | Permalink Wednesday, September 16, 2009 10:16 AM

Is it true that Jewish chicks are more inclined to take it in the ass?

Smelly Weasel

45 Posted by MaTTT Foley | Permalink Wednesday, September 16, 2009 10:19 AM

Well, la-dee-FRICKIN-da! Can we have some real news please?

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46 Posted by guest | Permalink Wednesday, September 16, 2009 10:34 AM

No one should think asian chicks are sexy. NO ONE.

Now go about your business of trying to get a worthless degree.

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47 Posted by guest | Permalink Wednesday, September 16, 2009 10:44 AM

you're fucking kidding me . . . .that calendar is the only source of hot girls at law school and now the whiners at Boalt want to keep us from it?

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48 Posted by guest | Permalink Wednesday, September 16, 2009 10:50 AM

""And now let's turn to Asian reporter Trisha Takinawa, who's [in Asian parody voice] gonna-tell-us-all-about-the-news.""

It's "gonna-tell-us-all-about-the-rain" but stil appreciate a family guy reference - we need one in every set of comments.

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49 Posted by guest | Permalink Wednesday, September 16, 2009 10:55 AM

People need to get over themselves. The notion that Lexis was actually offering or endorsing this calendar is absurd. They provided points which, in turn, could be used to buy any of thousands of products from a vendor. So fucking what?

If I give you a $50 Wal-Mart gift certificate, and you manage to find some questionable product on the back shelf somewhere, it doesn't mean I approve of that product or wanted you to get it. Idiots like APALSA need to stop being whiny, bitchy morons all the time.

Or put another way -- APALSA used email to get its message out. I also get emails offering to make my dick bigger or to show me barely legal hot Asian babes. Therefore, by utilizing the same email system APALSA has endorsed porn.

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50 Posted by guest | Permalink Wednesday, September 16, 2009 12:04 PM

Dammit... just when I was about to make the switch from westlaw to lexis.

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51 Posted by guest | Permalink Wednesday, September 16, 2009 12:05 PM

CAN WE PLEASE TURN OUR ATTENTION TO THE PLIGHT OF THE SUMMERS TO WHOM MAYER BROWN HAS SO CALLOUSLY FAILED TO GIVE OFFERS? THIS IS TRULY CAUSING SUFFERING OF THE HIGHEST DEGREE, AND NONE OF US SHOULD REST UNTIL THIS INJUSTICE HAS BEEN REMEDIED.

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52 Posted by guest | Permalink Wednesday, September 16, 2009 12:09 PM

Wow. The APALSA statement is really inaccurate and misinformed. The 1950s called -- they want their gender science back.

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53 Posted by guest | Permalink Wednesday, September 16, 2009 12:16 PM

51 - Sense of entitlement regarding six figure employment is so 2006. "Injustice?" Really. I think you need to work on your sense of your place in the world. Being denied access to 160k job is the norm for 99.99% of americans. Cry me a river about your law school loans. You took on that debt willingly with no guarantees. We all did.

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54 Posted by guest | Permalink Wednesday, September 16, 2009 12:20 PM

This is only making my Yellow Fever worse.

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55 Posted by guest | Permalink Wednesday, September 16, 2009 1:13 PM

If you really think APALSA is over-sensitive about potential racism, you only need to look at these comments to get a sample of the shit no one has the balls to say IRL but lots of people think.

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56 Posted by guest | Permalink Wednesday, September 16, 2009 1:29 PM

I agree. No on Asian Angels. Yes, on Azn MANgels.

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57 Posted by guest | Permalink Wednesday, September 16, 2009 1:32 PM

55 - these comments are the mainstream. The hypersensitive and illogical position of APALSA is something you will only hear from a bunch of Berkeley kids obsessed with anything related to their ethnicity.

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58 Posted by guest | Permalink Wednesday, September 16, 2009 1:35 PM

Lexis = racist for taking this calendar down

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59 Posted by guest | Permalink Wednesday, September 16, 2009 1:43 PM

"I have asked Lexis to let me donate my points to Asian Women’s Shelter, an organization that serves API victims of domestic and sexual violence (www.sfaws.org)."

WTF is the Asian Women's Shelter going to do with lexis points???

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60 Posted by guest | Permalink Wednesday, September 16, 2009 2:17 PM

"It is terribly offensive that a provider of professional legal research tools would distribute a product that promotes sexualized representations of Asian women. Such demeaning representations contribute to sexual violence . . . "

Two things are infinite: human stupidity and human stupidity. And I am quite certain about both.


If I were a judge and counsel made an argument like that, I would issue Rule 11 sanctions sua sponte.

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61 Posted by guest | Permalink Wednesday, September 16, 2009 2:27 PM

"sua sponte" should not ever be used in any conversation, verbal or written, ever again.

I agree, though...APALSA president is race-mongering, attention-deprived, and needy.

Is the donation of Lexis points for the good of asian women, or is it for the good of this person's ego?

Sort of makes me sick...

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62 Posted by guest | Permalink Wednesday, September 16, 2009 4:12 PM

Me rike shrimp fried lice.

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63 Posted by guest | Permalink Wednesday, September 16, 2009 6:33 PM

Actually, this email was circulated by ONE APALSA member and, to my understanding, does not represent the view of the club leadership or the membership as a whole.

Frankly, I think the complaint was un-called for. It's not like this calendar featured pictures of emaciated Cambodian sweatshop workers performing unholy sex acts on old, white, law firm partners.

There are barely any asians in the media as it is (if anything, it's racist that there are soooo many more sexy white chick calendars). God forbid people actually think of Asians in a sexy way.

But fear not, soon I will be publishing a "Normal Asian Law Students" calendar featuring asian women wearing normal clothes and doing normal things in normal settings.

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64 Posted by guest | Permalink Wednesday, September 16, 2009 8:56 PM

57, "these comments are the mainstream"? LOL, really? ATL comments are the mainstream of the legal world?

"I read the APALSA girl's e-mail in the voice of the prostitute in Full Metal Jacket."

"I rike asian girls they so horny."

"Me rike shrimp fried lice."

As a female Asian American attorney, would you not be troubled if even one attorney in your firm you work with was one of these pricks?

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65 Posted by guest | Permalink Monday, September 21, 2009 5:15 PM

64 - as another soon-to-be female asian american attorney (fingers crossed)... unfortunately, i do believe those comments to be the norm. it seems our media has provided this norm of portrayal of asian women. it's sad that it is the american norm. and, if we respond negatively or address it, we're race-mongering. if we laugh it off, we are self-loathing. if we date within our race, we're fobs. if we date a white male, we are submitting to white male fetishes. it's pathetic, but it will be a while when this type of thinking dissipates.... if at all.

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66 Posted by guest | Permalink Thursday, October 1, 2009 5:06 PM

ME NO RIKEY REXIS NEXUS!

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