MSU students protest sexist, racist incidents on campus

In this article they note the race of the alleged criminal, but never in their police briefs. Strange.

As a Madison grad, trust me this type of atmosphere is bred in the college. I had never been around so many prejudiced students in my life, and according to friends in other majors their classmates were much better in comparison. Now don’t get me wrong, not everybody in Madison is a prejudiced, in fact it is still a very small minority. It is just that the minority in Madison is much larger than other colleges on campus. I’m sure these comments will spark a firestorm, but it had to be said.

What a rediculous article. So if you can only gather 30 people for a protest you can have a prominent article in the newspaper?

Let me get this straight, one incident where a white dude allegedly “slapped multiple times” a black female, now the entire university is racist?

This is just another race-baiting, stupid article to make white people feel guilty, and make black people the victims. This is nothing new here in liberal la-la land.

One other point.. I knew within reading the first few sentences, that somewhere in the article there would be a reference to demands for “an apology” and compensation. This is nothing new either.

If the suspect is known and they identify him by name, which the article did, what would be the point of witholding his race?

I hate to say this…but if a black man hit a white woman, we’d never hear a thing about it. And there would be No Protests. It would just be handled by the police, just like this should be.

This just goes to prove that whenever white men assault someone of color, they are automatically labeled as violent, oppressive and racist. Well, this is a free country. White men should be free to violate the civil rights of anyone they choose without fear of being fired or persecuted. Besides, is it really assault if she asked for it? I mean, any non-white who has the audacity to major in a James Madison area is just doing it to antagonize those of us who are being primed by the college for legitimate leadership. Also, “Professor” Austin Jackson ought to take a page out of Bill Allen’s book because that’s the only way he’ll even be allowed to continue to darken (no pun intended) the halls of this great college. It’s all a part of the Judeo-Bolshevic conspiracy. Ron Paul in ’08!!!

The real question here is whether the students running the State News receive any guidance from professors or professional journalists concerning how to write appropriate stories.

The article’s subhead references a protest about gender and racial bias at Case Hall. Then, it refers to a purported off campus incident where a white male resident mentor slapped and grabbed the face of a black woman in an unprovoked attack. Apart from the fact there are no details (like, was alcohol involved), the story of such an unprovoked assault by a person who made it through the University’s mentor-hiring regimine is suspect on its fact. Moreover, as others have noted, how does one isolated incident raise the spectre of racism and sexism.

Bottom line—this story should not have been printed until more facts were developed by the writer.

In response to All So Ridiculous: “Witnesses of the incident claim that Shurig that actually only TOUCHED her face, in a friendly manner. And Megan Threats waited a week to call it assault.As a result of all this exaggeration and outright lying, Shurig has been fired from his position (leaving him without housing for next year) and has even had his life threatened.”

FACT: The victim did not wait a week to report the incident as an assault, she reported the incident the day after the event.

FACT: Nothing was exaggerated and no lying took place. I know Max and he has done stuff like this to other females. Megan was just the only one who had the courage to stand up to him.

FACT: The article is titled “ MSU student protest sexist, racist incidents on campus”. The victim at no point ever labeled Max as a racist. The fact that Max assualted a female would make it a sexist issue. I think the title of the article suggest that.

FACT: The incident was reported to the police. I do agree that the writer should have gathered more facts, because possibly it would have curbed some of the uneducated comments made in response to the article.

FACT: If Max was so worried about keeping his position as a resident mentor he should not have put his hands on Megan. He got exactly what he deserved. No matter how you spin it…“only touched her face in a friendly manner” assault is assault.

In response to Kyle Bristow… LOL I don’t even know how you are surviving in Madison. I have heard you speak and it quite clear that you need much improvement in regards to grammar and public speaking. Seriously, you are not very bright. I know Megan and she is extremely intellegent. She is here on a full-ride academic scholarship. She is a prominent leader in the James Madison College and the MSU community. For you to say that “any non-white who has the audacity to major in a James Madison area is just doing it to antagonize those of us who are being primed by the college for legitimate leadership” is a bigoted uneducated opinion. At the same time, I am not surprised by your opinion. There are some other students in the James Madison College who share your opinion, and it is easy to keep such hatred alive when you have a College that rarely address issues of race, in particular African-Americans in the classroom.

you’ve gotta admit though…Threats is a pretty badass last name…

...and an amusingly ironic one for an assault victim.

Megan Threats did not inform anyone of the incident until AFTER Kyle Mays and AJ Rice entered Max Schurig’s room at approximately 1:00 am and threatened his life.

Dear “Truth” and the MSU Student Body,

To say that nothing was exaggerated is a complete LIE. In both the article and the papers handed out during the “Petition” yesterday it was clearly written that Max “first slapped her in the face”. This is false. Max and Megan are friends and were having a conversation over something that Max let Megan borrow (a Model UN gavel) and jokingly grabbed her lips and told her “Shhh” because he JOKINGLY didn’t want her to give him any excuses why she didn’t return the gavel to him at this James Madison Ball. It has been brought up that Max may have been under the influence of alcohol. I was not at this event, I was in San Antonio representing MSU in the NCAA tournament, otherwise I would have been next to him greeting Megan and everyone else at this great event. So I do not know if there was alcohol involved in this event and it has not/can not be proven that it was. Throughout the night Max talked to many of his superiors- Case Hall officials and teachers and they have vouched that he was not drunk.

To say that you know Max and that he has done this to other FEMALES is also an atrocious statement. He is a big guy that loves to be the center of attention and is also very friendly. While I have had girls come up to me and tell me that they may feel “intimidated” or even “slightly threatened” by Max, none of them have ever told me that he has assaulted them in anyway. In this situation Max would apologize and never make the person feel “threatened” ever again. If this is not a race issue then it does not belong on the list of racial harassments committed in Case Hall. If you consider this a SEXIST issue let me assure you that he is just as attention grabbing, friendly and what some people may call “obnoxious” to EVERYONE, no matter the color of their skin, gender or sexuality.

Max Schurig’s personality is unlike anyone that I have ever known. He is more charismatic than anyone in all of James Madison College which is what has gotten him so many amazing positions within Case Hall, James Madison and the entire university. Besides being the mentor on a floor where everyone is extremely close and where WE all get along tremendously (it is also a very diverse floor where race is not an issue at all and everyone feels just as welcome as everyone else), he is a member of one of the most prestigious singing groups on campus, the Spartan Dischords, he is been a member of the JMC Student Senate for two years, he was recently selected to be on the e-board for MSU’s Model United Nations, he is an active member in IRO, one of the most spirited members of both the IZZONE and the student section at football games, he is looked upon very highly by professors and administrators at this school and received an extremely high rating when Resident Mentor evaluations were released (one of the highest in all of Case Hall).

Max is my best friend, my RA and I met him because we were paired together as roommates when we went in blind last year as freshman. He would never “assault” anyone and would 100% never show any signs of racism towards any race. I would have agreed with the protests yesterday and I think that the other issues involving race here in Case Hall are very legitimate and very scary, but the slander of this article and they way Max is portrayed completely illegitimacies the point that is trying to be made with this protest and in this fight against racism on campus.

If you think this is a biased opinion then know this: Max may be a good friend of mine, but Megan Threats is also a friend of mine. I listed many of Max’s qualities and accomplishments here at MSU, well, Megan’s accolades are extremely impressive and she is looked upon very highly by everyone in the college. Max and Megan are two of the most prestigious leaders we have in Case Hall and in James Madison. It is a real shame that something like this had to come up.

To the State News, if there are any threats against Max or anyone on this floor or in Case Hall because of the fact that you released his name and where he lives then I will make sure that there are legal consequences against the newspaper. Kelly House generally writes excellent articles for this newspaper and the fact that she wrote this terrible article and the fact that the editors at the State News let this run completely brings down this award winning publication.

Coincidence that the one time State News posts about black people being harrassed as opposed to the 20+ articles about black-on-black crime there’s more comments on here than damn near the last 7 campus articles combined.

Are you all scared that black people still have a voice on campus? You sure love to run to your computers and make witty racist comments and then run in fear based on stereotypes when African-Americans are in your presence. I’m glad this article was published, because it once again shows me how little this campus has progressed as a multiracial entity just based on the ignorance in the comments alone.

Right on Steven. I know max. Sometimes he is obnoxious. More than once he has annoyed the hell out of me this year. He is a giant teddy bear and a huge joker, he picks people up and makes them laugh with his crazy antics. To interpret his actions as sexist and/or racist is just plain stupid.

I hope all those involved feel real good about getting a good person fired from a very important job. I hope that that the guys who threatened Max feel real big, bad and tough that they cornered a lone guy helpless in his own room, intimidated and made threats of violence against him. And I hope that the State News feels good about releasing the name and location of a person who already had to worry about his safety and now has to watch his back wherever he goes on campus. I loved reading the State News before, now I can only think of how IRRESPONSIBLE, AMATEUR and UNPROFESSIONAL this organization is. Completely ridiculous.

How fitting that “compensation” is being asked for. That really adds to the validity and legitimacy of their cause.

Ok all you Numb Nutters out there,

IF THERE WAS ANY ASSAULT THERE WOULD BE ARRESTS. THAT IS THE WAY THE SYSTEM WORKS! (REGARDLESS OF RACE, SO DONT PLAY THAT)

This article is absolutely ridiculous. For the first time since I have been admitted to the James Madison college and Michigan State University, I am ashamed to go here.
First and foremost, this bickering between comments is immature and should stop, say your peace and leave.
The problem with race on MSU campus is one that should be addressed, but in this fashion, one that ruins the reputation of case hall and it’s staff, is completely inappropriate and shows the vast lack of integrity within the state news. However, what disturbs me the most is the misinformation printed and the paper and the long term effects this article will have for the future of the student it attacks.
Max Schurig is an upstanding individual within the MSU community with a spotless record and that has only ever shown his floor and case hall kindness. To print ALLEGATIONS against a student in a state funded university paper is absolutely unprofessional and illegal. I am so utterly disappointed in my fellow peers who have started this and exaggerated the entire situation, you should be ashamed of yourselves. I can completely understand the race situation within the MSU community and give my support to all of the initiatives the De Bois society is trying accomplish. However, to personally attack a fellow student, to promote slander against him, blame him for being a sexist and a racist, is unjustifiably wrong. No matter what the situation. Nothing has been accomplished and shouldn’t that be the goal? Shouldn’t change be the goal? This is WIDENING the gap, not repairing it.
As for the other situations in case hall, I do hope they invoke change because it seems to be necessary.

“The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.”
Martin Luther King Jr., Strength to Love, 1963

Why aren’t any of you who are so concerned with Max’s future even in the least bit interested in the fact that he assaulted a woman?

uhh…..because he didnt. go back to ann arbor ya turd burgler.

Maybe it should be published knowledge that Kyle Mays not only threatened Max’s life while he was alone in his room, but a room full of 20+ girls at what was supposed to be a peaceful floor meeting… regarding the other issues that were also fabricated at the protest. The “racism” issue should be looked at from both sides here.

I’m not denying that some race issues HAVE happened in Case Hall, and its very sad that they have, but to ignore that the racism is going both ways is very very wrong. We are supposed to be working together to solve this problem, not pushing each other apart.

I got the below email on Tuesday to let us know all know that there are some crazy things going on in Case Hall. To tell you the truth, I was bit unnerved to know there was such blatant animosity toward non-whites in Case—-especially since it appears to be (not so)tacitly approved by the Hall staff.

I don’t understand why Max felt the need to assault Megan. She’s such a nice woman. Frankly, I thought it was just a matter of time before such a bully like Max would run into someone who would push back. I’m glad he lost his job. I hope he’s expelled from, too.

**************************
There have been a slew of incidents on campus in which Black female
students have been terrorized and harassed. The most recent incidents
have been assaults on Black women. The current institutions to protect
Black students, specifically Black female students, has proven itself
unable and unwilling to address the problems that they face. And the
problems that they face are white racists and departments, as well as
staff, that tacitly support their behavior.

This is a list of the events that have transpired over the past seven
months:

• two Black students left Case Hall because they were being harassed
by white students early in the school year
• Black female students in Case Hall have experienced the following
terrorism:
• items were ripped off their door
• ice cream has been thrown at their door
• white students constantly banging on their door
• A white male unlawfully entered a Black female’s room late one night
• Another Black female, while attending James Madison College Charity
Ball, was assaulted by a white male who slapped her in the face, and
later put his hands on her again to scrunch her face.
• A Black female was pushed into a brick wall by a male football
player from Grand Valley State University
or when she informed an office that she was assaulted the man was not
arrested and a report was not filed because the officer said he didn’t
witness it
• A white girl called the police and alleged that two Black males
forced their way into her room and beat up her boyfriend. In response,
eight police officers show up and immediately rush to a Black female’s
room and aggressively demand that the student give them her id or she
will be arrested. There is absolutely no evidence to suggest that
anyone ever bust down the students door, or that her boyfriend was
attacked.
• Case Hall director of Residence Life Shannon McCaughey informed all
of her undergraduate and graduate mentors that a warrant had been
issued for the arrest of Prof. Austin Jackson and a Black female
student. Before verifying the validity of these claims, she contacted
the Dean and assistant Dean of James Madison College, and other
administrators and informed them about the warrant. When Prof. Jackson
inquired about this warrant at DPPS he was informed there was never a
warrant issued for him or the Black female student.

Kyle Mays is not the problem. It’s not our fault if you are inherently threatened by the presence of a black male. <P>
Max is gone. He needed to be gone. Next to leave will be the director of Case Hall. Just watch

So apparently it’s okay and not illegal to threaten the lives of other people. Hmm….

Yeah right. Max was threatened by Kyle Mays. Mays is not even half Max’s size. I guess Max only likes to bully women. He should be ashamed of himself. I’m glad he lost his job.

First of all, I would just like to say to those alleging these false accusations against Max TO GET OVER YOURSELVES. They were friends, if she doesn’t understand his playful demeanor by now then that’s on her. It’s disgusting to see how far people will go to ruin other people’s lives, and for what? Just so you can widen the gap more like it is apparent the goal is. I’ve been told that alcohol was not involved, that she was never slapped (meaning it was not multiple times), that they were friends and that he was joking with her. So basically youre saying that gives her the right to sound the racist alarm? Or that makes it alright for those who are claiming to be discriminated against to threaten other people’s lives? You would think coming from James Madison that people would have a little more intelligence and maybe some respect.
I agree with the fact that the racism issue needs to be looked at from both sides. Quit exaggerating this topic that has been blown way out of proportion because of lies that are being spread. I would love to know what goal this is accomplishing for the W.E.B DuBois Society. Is it to widen the gap? or shrink it? Personally, this looks so bad on your part because it looks like all this is doing is widening it. What is that going to accomplish?
With the lies and threats on someone’s life, it is a shame to see someone who does so much get their reputation smeared and their future turned upside down. There is no respect, no respect at all based on the actions that were taken against someone who was being friendly and joking around. Pat yourselves on the back for making this a racial issue for nothing.

I don’t usually write in on these but let us all get one thing clear. There were MULTIPLE INCIDENTS. For instance, two girls moving out of case because the N-word was written on their door. Or another black female who had “fat black bi***” written on her door, or another incident where “Black bit**** are evil” was written on her door. Now, I would like for someone to explain to me how that is not racist. Please..I’m waiting…And it’s not Megan’s fault Max was fired. It was well..Max that slapped her. And a review by the Case hall staff found him guilty. Nobody else but them. Oh, and by the way, a lot of what is on here. To “The Truth”. lol..the truth is that Megan’s story was corroborated by several other individuals…ON BOTH OCCASIONS..the first when he smacked her, the second when he scrunched her face. The second time individuals at her table told him that was inappropriate. This is what they have stated. So..again, everyone that is here you need to get the facts. lol. An argument equals claim plus proof. You all are making claims, however, that is not enough. I am giving you both claim and proof. The same way Megan did to the Case hall staff, which is why Max is fired. Again, readddd people! Look at the flyers that were passed out and the state news article. In neither place does it say that Max is a racist. This is nothing but the white guilt complex. Take a deep breath…don’t be mad because a Black girl stands up for herself, or because Black people are organized and read the facts. Reading is fundamental people. Wow…now I see why YOUR ancestors didn’t want us to read. It’s painful to read your statements, but hey, we will have to keep tolerating your ignorant, uninformed, uncorroborated, unsubstantiated, rants. And for one person in particular, I won’t even dignify your statements with a response. If any of you are interested in understanding how your comments perpetuate the Matrix of Domination articulate by Patricia Hill Collins, I recommend that your read “Black Feminist Thought in The Matrix of Domination”. It details how Black women are uniquely oppressed as they face oppression by white males, white females, and black men. Interesting read. Well, that’s about it. Hopefully this cleared up some questions, and I’m sure there will be subsequent posts talking about racism and how Max didn’t do it. Well you will always have detractors, I’m just glad that Megan and another female was able to get the justice they deserve. Oh yea. How come nobody is talking about the other incidents..which are factual and documented, and also photographed. Now that is interesting!

Do you know anything else, aside from what Austin Jackson spoon feeds you?

Just curious, and as for the comments written on the black girls door, what is suppose to happen? What action do you want being taken for a random piece of graffiti that could have been done by ANYONE in Case Hall.

Why don’t we talk about the real criminal here? Kyle Mays has threatened the life of 20 girls on 1 South calling them “white cracker bitches” IN A FLOOR MEETING that was suppose to be a peaceful forum, and has been seen on the floor for the last two week straight “patrolling” (ironic aside, since he’s been seen on the floor things have only gotten worse by 10 fold..hmm maybe he’s the problem? or it’s probably just the white cracker bitches..must be..). I guess that’s the sort of intimidation and language that the W.E.B. De Bois society stands for. Sounds like De Bois would be real proud of what you have accomplished. That group stains the name of a great man. Congratulations.

amen.

White people in Case Hall have had been charged with assault and hate crimes because of their racist, ignorant actions. Shannon McCaughey and her staff of bumbling idiots have done nothing but protect the white bigots responsible, and then treat the victims of white racist violence like they are the victimizers.

All this could have been settled if the Case hall staff and assistants and aids did their job. And since they didn’t do their job, didn’t hold the white bigots accountable for their actions, the Case hall staff and students and aides will be held accountable by the Black students in Case hall. Shannon needs to be fired immediately. This guy who slapped Megan and shoved her face, he got what he deserved, but more needs to be done to bring these other racists to justice.

Those comments are not really from Kyle Bristow, they’re clearly someone trying to be funny, so just calm down.

Sentinel, you sound as dumb as Shannon, the Case Hall director. Several students have been filed police reports and hate crimes. People will be held accountable — if not by MSU, in a court of law.

I’m just glad to see the process is just starting. Firing the student who assaulted Megan Threats is just a first step. More heads need to roll — from the Case Hall director and down the line.

The Black students at MSU will not tolerate being assaulted and having “nigger” written on doors while the staff and student aids sit on their asses and do nothing but protect the people responsible. Black students will defend themselves from such attacks by whatever means necessary.

seriously, you are a huge joke. they only reason they’re “protecting” the students is because they are INNOCENT until proven guilty. We don’t live in Napeoloenic France where it is the opposite. Civil rights go both ways, white students have a RIGHT to be innocent until they are proven otherwise as with black students. Heads may roll, but they will be from both sides, because from what has happened, their have been crimes on both “sides”

Hmm. Interesting comments on both sides. I have no personal attachment to either person involves in this case, though I’ve worked with Max a bit this year. Regardless, I have no stake in any of this.

1. I think we need to divorce ‘racism’ from ‘assault’ or even ‘sexism’. It seems that people are unnecessarily merging these things. From what I gather, what Mr. Schurig may or may not have done had nothing to do with race and, if he is officially charged with anything, would fall under ‘assault’, not ‘hate crime’. Though all of my classes are in Case Hall, I have been totally unaware of these sorts of things happening. Moreover, race relations seem to be pretty positive within the hall; most people seem to get along just fine and are generally friendly.

2. While I am willing to believe that there may be acts of hate in Case Hall, I don’t think this particular incident should be used as the poster child for any cause seeking to address this issue. Yes, a female African American and ‘white’ male were involved, however, that doesn’t automatically make the incident racist. This incident has been unduly escalated and the rhetorical tone needs to be brought down a couple notches.

3. Now, just because it isn’t race-related doesn’t mean assault is somehow acceptable or “less bad”. If Mr. Schurig, in fact, did what he is being accused of then, then this needs to be addressed as it is a clear sign of disrespect towards others(it may not be limited to women from what I’ve seen of his interactions with others). The way this is currently being handled is nothing short of the passions of the mob going wild. People need to calm down, take a deep breath and consider things. Nobody should be “glad he got fired” nor should they act the part of a wholesale defender. Rather, while we should certainly take this and other cases seriously, we should look towards avoiding these sorts of incidents in the future—proactive rather than reactive.

4. Since it’s clear that race isn’t going to be partitioned from this case, I’d also like to point out that the white population has hardly monopolized the market for hate and racism—on campus or in society as a whole. Racism goes both ways and non-whites need to recognize that they have been just as prone to prejudice as any other group on campus. Self-segregation is rampant on campus; it’s difficult to bridge the racial divide when the person on the other side insists on cutting the ropes every time. My roommate is from Africa and, whenever his African American friends come over for the first time they always seem so surprised to see that his roommate is gasps white. He’s also told me the stories of how many of them ask, privately, “Is he alright?” or “Are you really friends or is this just business?” My point is that we all need to be honest and realize that everyone is responsible for the state of race relations on and off campus and that everyone needs to make an effort to meet at least half way; I think we will make a lot progress this way

5. My final point; be careful about how forcefully you come across regarding what may or may not have actually happened throughout this Schurig-Threats incident; slander and libel are taken seriously and, from what I’ve read and heard from people, there are strong cases in favor of these sorts of charges. Everyone is passionate, but try to keep those passions in check so you don’t end up being the next person to be publicly flogged through news media and rumor.

“Black students will defend themselves from such attacks by whatever means necessary.”

Acting like a stereotype often results in people classifying you as a sterotype. So keep on chimpin’ you stupid stereotype!

I don’t know if this is racist issue or not. But I know the victim personaly,(she is my cousin) and I am here to tell you that that young man whether he is black, white or green, it doesn’t matter he had no business putting his hand on a fellow student. Megan is the sweetess young lady you will ever meet and the fact that he would do this to her or any other student doesn’t speak very well of him or his morals. Now if this type of behavior is an ongoing thing on campus and in particuarly that Hall, then it is time for the Administration to step up and do something about. It doesn’t matter if this kind of thing wasn’t happening before, it is happening now and needs to be dealt with. The administration has a duty to protect their students and if they don’t they have failed the students and the parents.

This isn’t the first time Max has been involved in an incident of aggression toward a female. Pattern? Heads up. Royal Oak police records. Watch this guy.

This is what happens when anonymity is allowed on a public internet forum – inflammatory comments with little (or no) basis on truth, and blatant disregard for the life of a young man who already has to deal with the consequences of his actions.

I condemn this article by making it racially inflammatory. I am quite sure that the incident was not racially motivated, and while no one ever states that Max is a racist, it is implicitly implied by the fact that his name and race are associated with this article.

I also feel like if both parties were of the same race that the likelihood that this would be an issue is close to zero. While touching, and even slapping, someone may be considered assault, the likely punishment for this is likely to be much greater than it should be – simply because of the fact that race is involved.

So I thank everyone for setting us back further from complete racial equality by bringing up the issue when it is completely unnecessary. Congratulations, you are inflammatory.

Thank you.

Let’s test this claim: Next time you see Kyle or AJ, call either one of them a “chimp” to their face. Oh, you wouldn’t do that? Than why talk all this smack on this message board?

All this anonymous cyber tough-talk is a joke. More cover for white bigots to say things they would never say to a Black person in their face. The essence of bigotry is cowardice, which appears in abundance in these posts.

“Next time you see Kyle or AJ, call either one of them a “chimp” to their face. Oh, you wouldn’t do that?”
No, I probably wouldn’t do that… I wouldn’t want to risk them responding to my agitprop in the expected stereotypical fashion… i.e. – by whatever means necessary… if their self-image is such that name calling causes them to go “ape” then they are just reinforcing the label…
source: dept. of justice website
http://www.ojp.gov/bjs/homicide/race.htm
Homicide trends in the U.S.
Trends by race
Racial differences exist, with blacks disproportionately represented among homicide offenders
In 2005, offending rates for blacks were more than 7 times higher than the rates for whites
Homicide Offending Rates per 100,000 Population by Race
2005 White 3.5 Black 26.5

Let try to keep the name-calling, slang, and idioms to a minimum and use grammatical english to prove we are respectful intelligent adult students having a conversation rather than a bunch of school-kids yelling at eachother across the playground…
specifically I am refering to: cracker, chimp, yall, funk dat, whut, etc…
let’s try not to perpetuate ANY preconcieved notions forum readers bring when they read these posts… (i.e. – try not to make your ethnicity or culture apparent from your language choices)
the views you eloquently express might give some clues to which “side” you’re on, but your wordchoice and grammer should not…
don’t write like a redneck or a homey/homegirl… it only undercuts your position!