Director apologizes
for offensive letter
By Daralyn Trappe
Emerald Associate Editor
The associate director of the
Office of International Educa
tion Is making an offort "to
mend fences" after writing
what several students see as a
racist remark.
Peter Briggs found hitnself in
hot water with some members
of the area's Asian community
after writing a short letter that
refers to the Chinese us people
“who will run all over you if
you lot them.”
Some Asian students, includ
ing Hlayang Yuan, president of
the Chinese Students nnd
Scholars Association, and
ASUO President Bobby Lee,
have reacted with outrage and
initially called for Briggs’ to bo
fired.
But others havo jumped to
Briggs’ defense, including
Wenyon Do, president of tho
Chinese Students Association.
Briggs apologized for his
written comments and wrote an
open hitter of apology to all reg
istered Chinese students. He
said he understands the con
cerns of those who voiced their
anger at a private meeting witii
University President Myles
Brand, who declined to take
any action but suggested those
involved sook mediation.
Briggs said his intent now is
to meet with those students
himself and focus on rebuilding
broken lies.
"A lot of peoplo who know
mo have been vory supportive,”
Briggs said. "My own fooling
now is to look at how we can
mend broken fences. I made a
mistake, but can wo recognize
that and move forward? I think
calling for my resignation is a
bit oxtreme."
Briggs added that a major
concern now is thut tho campus
Chinese community not be
come dividod because of an Is
sue surrounding him.
"I’m using this us a real wake
up call," he said. "Let's not ar
gue, but move forward. 1 feel
this tan bo worked out. There
will still be some who an? not
happy, but I want to be able to
work together again and mend
fences and I’ll work hard to do
that."
The ictiur In question, dated
Aug 5. was written in response
to a student's request for an ex
tension on his student housing
lease. Students who finish
school are given two months to
find another plats? of residence
VVu Xiangui, who lives in West
moreland housing, graduated in
Juno. He requested the exten
sion so ho could stay In the
iow-rent homes until he found
work and could afford other ac
commodations.
Darrell Neet, Westmoreland
maintenance supervisor, wrote
a lottor on Aug 4 to Ron
Tendick. director of family
housing, In it, he wrote that
Xiangui had contributed much
to the complex and deserved u
fair chanco at an extension.
Neet indicated in the letter that
he beliovos family housing is
inconsistent in such decisions
Although Briggs has no say
on housing decisions, Neet sent
a copy of the letter to him.
Neet expressed concern that
■‘Chinese students are often ut a
disadvantage in our system l>o
cause they an? too polite to bo
abrasive and wouldn't consider
threats und retribution as ap
propriate.”
Briggs responded with a let
ter to Tendick that was eventu
ally shown to Xiangui.
In the letter. Briggs writes ”1
respect the rules you have and
the difficulty in enforcing
thorn. My experience with the
Chinese (as one example used
in your letter) tolls me that they
may be polite, but they also
know how to work a system to
Turn to BRIGGS. Page 5A
683-1584
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