Race Factor, Racism?

foxton

5-Year Member
Joined
May 16, 2010
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I'm sure this is a dumb question but my father is quite concerned about schools in the east coast. Hi, my name is Phuc Bui, I am a Vietnamese American living on the west coast, California, where there are tons of other Asians around. Not to sound racist or anything, but the east coast is predominantly, white, and my father is concerned about the possible racism that comes with east coast schools. I plan on going to go to Norwich, but with only 2.5% Asian Americans, my father was afraid of bullying or hazing based on race. I'm not to concerned about the matter because I don't believe it is true, but he asked me to ask everyone for their opinion on the topic matter. Thank you for your opinion and have a nice day.
 
Your race will absolutely, positively NOT be an issue at Norwich. Ever. It is all about your performance. As with the other SMCs, some of Norwich's top grads are of Asian descent.
 
I can't tell you about Norwich specifically - but I would be surprised if any SMC in the US in 2011 didn't treat hazing or bullying because of race as a dismissable offense. If you are asking will you be a minority? Certainly you will- VMI for example is only about 12% nonwhite. But being a minority and being harrassed because of it are two different things. Cadets value each other for their personal performance- the ones who do their best and buy into the system and live by the Honor code are the ones who succeed. The ones who are a drag on their brother rats (male or female) or who go out of their way to shirk their responsibilities are the ones unloved by their fellow cadets.Those assessments are pretty independent of race.
I can't imagine that VMI, Norwich or any other SMC would condone or even look aside with a "wink and a nod" at practices that were degrading, sexually harrassing or racially bigoted - they all bring discredit to the Institute and the military, AND are against the law and are treated that way. Quite frankly the military is the largest ethnic & racial mixing pot in the US- the dominant culture in the military is the military one- which values performance not appearance. There have been and are a number of highly successful ethnic Asian cadets and grads- just as there have been from all other racial backgrounds.
I've included a couple of extracts from the VMI rules and regulations that discuss hazing and penalties associated with it- the school takes this seriously and so do the Cadets.

"DISMISSAL AND OTHER PENALT IES
In the interest of good order and discipline, the Institute reserves the right to dismiss, suspend, or otherwise penalize any cadet who does not properly adapt to the life and work of the college. Among the offenses that are considered seriously subversive of high standards of character and conduct and, which may result in dismissal, are disobedience of orders, combinations against authority, hazing, ungentlemanly or disorderly conduct, use or possession of alcoholic beverages within the limits of the Institute or in a way to bring discredit to the Corps, absence without leave, habitual neglect of academic or military duty, and unauthorized use of explosives. Any use or possession of unauthorized drugs is a dismissal offense. Any conviction of an honor violation is a dismissal offense."

I am also attaching a link to part of the VMI regulations- (I don't have all of the blue book here) with some basic functions of Cadet Government re Rats. http://www.vmi.edu/assets/0/18/615/9...B971AB124D.pdf
In particular chapter 11-3 assigns responsibility for oversight and investigation of the Rat Line to the OGA "Officer of the Guard" association which functions as something of a Cadet IG's office. (There is also an Institute Inspector General)

"CHAPTER 11: THE CORPS OF CADETS 11-1. ORGANIZATION. The Corps of Cadets shall be organized for administrative purposes and for basic military instruction as an infantry unit traditional regiment of the United States Army. In all details of military duty, the rules and regulations of the United States Army shall be observed insofar as they are applicable.
b. The Officer of the Guard Association (OGA) has the mission to protect and inform cadets while upholding and enforcing the conduct of the Corps. The OGA serves as the investigative arm of the General Committee (GC) and may investigate misconduct for possible GC or Executive Committee (EC) (the EC is a subcommittee of the GC responsible for handling serious cases of cadet misconduct). The OGA investigates cases involving hazing, racial or ethnic harassment, gross misconduct of a cadet, abuses of the Dyke System, sexual misconduct (if the conduct is not sexual harassment, as determined by the Inspector General), and any other acts the OGA, First Class President, or Commandant deem necessary"
 
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In three years at an SMC I have never met a single truly racist person. No one will exclude you purely for your race. That said, it doesnt mean you will automatically fit in either.

We have had alot of foreigners and 1st generation American cadets here. Some make friends and fit in like everyone else. Others do not. It will all depend on your willingness to make the effort to get to know your classmates and find things that you have in common.

It may be intimidating at first. But then again, all freshmen at SMCs, regardless of where theyre from, are intimidated when they show up.
 
I don't think you would have much to worry about coming to Norwich, All we do all the time is gripe at the snow. You're rook buddies end up being your best friends, and cadre eventually become friendly too (give it 5-6 months). If you do have a problem it will be taken care of.
 
I'll echo those sentiments for The Citadel. There was a first generation Vietnamese guy in our company last year. He's an exceptional cadet and will be on cadre next year. He did not encounter any racism from the upperclassmen in our company. There could always be individuals who are racist at any school. But I can tell you that I have not seen racism as a problem at all in my two years at El Cid thus far.
 
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