College students – especially student journalists – are known for espousing controversial opinions, but one student came under fire this week for his particularly negative critique of a Native American cultural event on campus.
Noah Kelly, an editor of the student newspaper at California State University, Long Beach, apologized today for his column that called his campus’s annual Pow Wow “a large, Native American themed flea market,” among other criticisms.
In the article, titled “Pow Wow Wow Yippee Yo Yippy Yay,” Kelly mocked the food (“like a Mexican pizza from Taco Bell, but sh*ttier”) and the traditional dancing (“The entire scene felt disingenuous and cheap”) as well.
Now, after experiencing a huge backlash, and apparently even death threats, Kelly published an apology (see pages 2-3). “What occurred was nothing less than a lapse in fact-finding, cultural awareness, and sensitivity on my part,” he wrote. “…I am truly sorry to those whom I have offended and to those who perceived me to be mocking their culture, their way of life, and their ideals.”
What do you think? Was this an assault on the event or the culture itself? Was the backlash that Kelly experienced merited? Let us know in the comments!