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by Nick Penzenstadler
Friday, February 23, 2007
A University of Wisconsin law professor is under scrutiny for comments he allegedly made in a Feb. 15 lecture about the Hmong community.
According to an e-mail sent to several law and Hmong students obtained by The Badger Herald, professor Leonard Kaplan spoke for 10 minutes using "racist and inappropriate" comments.
The e-mail quoted Kaplan allegedly saying, "Hmong men have no talent other than to kill" and "All second-generation Hmong end up in gangs and other criminal activity."
Kaplan also allegedly said, "All Hmong men purchase their wives, so if he wants to have sex with his wife and she doesn't consent, you and I call it rape, but the Hmong guy is thinking 'man, I paid too much for her.'"
A group of concerned students held a meeting on campus Wednesday night to discuss the comments. When contacted, organizers of the forum and members of the class declined comment.
Ken Davis, dean of the UW Law School, said he received a letter from the students in the class and has since held meetings with the professor.
"I've talked at some length with Kaplan [and] made it clear to him that [his comments were] inconsistent with my expectations to handle the core values and commitment we have to diversity," Davis said. "I think he gets that message."
Kaplan, a tenured professor who joined the UW Law School faculty in 1974, did not return phone calls seeking comment as of press time.
According to UW pharmacy student Qoua Her, who is Hmong, called Kaplan's comments a "clear symbol" of the cultural and historical ignorance throughout the university.
"Ignorance exists everywhere," she said.
Davis said Kaplan has shown remorse for his comments, which were made during a legal discussion about formalism and minorities.
"I think he's more than remorseful," Davis said. "Once he heard about student complaints, he really apologized and took the initiative and made it very apparent (he would like) to be involved to rectify the anger and pain that has resulted."
In light of the murder of a Hmong hunter in northern Wisconsin earlier this year, Davis said there is a "heightened edginess" surrounding the Hmong community.
"As one of the students said last night, it isn't about race — it's about ignorance," Davis said.
According to UW political science professor Donald Downs, depending on what context the comments were used and if they were pertinent to the class, they may be protected by UW's academic-freedom speech code.
"I would be shocked if he meant these words in a [derogatory] way — he's not that kind of guy," said Downs, the president of the Committee for Academic Freedom and Rights at UW. "Students are free to criticize and challenge, but let the marketplace of ideas handle it."
Downs added Kaplan is a "decent and fair man" and said he is known for his work with social-justice issues on campus.
If students were ever offended with any of his lectures, Downs said he would recommend they come to him personally to work through any issues.
"We have to be very careful. We want professors to speak with what they see as their truths," Downs said. "We're here to push the envelope. … Academic freedom has to be very strong and vibrant."
Anonymous (February 23, 2007 @ 9:21am):
Without knowing the exact words and context in which he used them, Professor Kaplan should understand that generalizations and attacks on the Hmong or any group are hurtful, demeaning and usually grossly exaggerated. It is also irresponsible for Professor Kaplan to use his class as a forum to spread his "ideas," without REAL knowledge of the situation. It is disturbing because students are impressionable and for him to put this on the students only helps to cycle the ignorant environment that exists. Professor Downs mentioned his academic-freedom of speech, however Professor Kaplan should also understand his responsiblities to his students and to the community. To professor Kaplan, I would love to see your study of how all Hmong males end up being gang members, rapists and murderers. I truly hope that people can look past these statements, realize the ignorance and stupidity of them, and move on.
Anonymous (February 23, 2007 @ 9:25am):
Let's make the context of these comments clear. They were not used to reflect upon Professor Kaplan's personal feelings towards the Hmong community, but rather to demonstrate the difficulties of drafting legislation while avoiding a negative impact on minority groups. That being said, he should have used a little more tact in deciding how to illustrate his point, but this has all become way more of an issue than it should have been.
Anonymous (February 23, 2007 @ 9:57am):
Really? Academic freedom = "All Hmong men suck"?
Anonymous (February 23, 2007 @ 10:40am):
Get rid of Kaplan!
Anonymous (February 23, 2007 @ 11:01am):
Wow, I can't believe what Kaplan said about the Hmong being rapists and killers. This is just not right. He should be sorry. I hope the Hmong community comes together and see that this sort of comments doesn't happen again.
Anonymous (February 23, 2007 @ 12:39pm):
kaplan= you're Fire..!!!!!!
Really...the University need to fire kaplan for his stupid statements.he is a sick dude..
Anonymous (February 23, 2007 @ 12:54pm):
He can't make fun of people but all the liberal professors can make fun of the country and conservatives?
Anonymous (February 23, 2007 @ 12:55pm):
Why can't Hmong men be a civilized as Kaplan? Thanks for the glowing example of how "proper" people should act.
Anonymous (February 23, 2007 @ 1:00pm):
It doesn't matter what the context of the statements were made. The statements that were made are discriminatory and sterotypes. They have no place on this campus period. Even "academic freedom" has its boundaries, and all professors know these boundaries. If this campus supports and condones the use of these statements under "academic freedom", all of us minority students should start submitting our transfer applications. If Kaplan truly did not mean to say these statements and doesn't believe they are true, I would like to personally invite Kaplan to attend the meeting and discuss his version of the story.
Anonymous (February 23, 2007 @ 1:10pm):
Kaplan must resign. His pedagogy is not consistent with the UW Law School policy on diversity and cultural sensitivity, as Dean Davis stated.
Anonymous (February 23, 2007 @ 1:10pm):
I sincerely doubt Prof Kaplan or anyone else at the UW believes all Hmong men are criminals. It seems pretty obvious that statements made in the subjunctive voice in class are being held out as his proof of his personal beliefs.
I do admire the political mobilization on this case.
Anonymous (February 23, 2007 @ 1:20pm):
He's tenured. Meaning that its really really hard to fire him. He might as well join the KKK and still be a profesor here. He gets a slap on the wrist and we move on. Whether he was trying to prove a point or something else, it was still wrong. He might as well join the KKK and still be a profesor here.
Anonymous (February 23, 2007 @ 1:47pm):
Anybody who has ever had a class with Kaplan knows that 90 percent of what he says is completely and utterly incomprehensible. Chances are we'll never know what he meant by his comments, but I guarantee it isn't anything as obvious as what the quotes seem to indicate.
Anonymous (February 23, 2007 @ 2:20pm):
It just goes to show the white man thinks he knows better.
Anonymous (February 23, 2007 @ 3:55pm):
"He can't make fun of people but all the liberal professors can make fun of the country and conservatives?"
There's a difference between making good-natured jokes, as opposed to saying that an entire ethnic group are gang-banging rapist thugs.
Anonymous (February 23, 2007 @ 5:13pm):
It's a difficult case, especially without any proof of the actual lecture. But everyone be advised that the student who reported this incident isnt just any student, but a law student. I'm pretty sure this earns this case a bit of credibility. So please don't say this is a complete misunderstanding.
Anonymous (February 23, 2007 @ 5:16pm):
How many law students sit through crap teaching like this so some tenured professor can babble off topic undisciplined on subjects off their core knowledge of the law?
It's not pushing the envelope, or making the market competitive for ideas.
It's feeding a law professor's ego, because he's got a paid platform to babble on what he does not know. Because he can. Special protections lead to flabby thinking -- what does he know of the immigrant communities sitting up there studying Jewish law?
Anonymous (February 23, 2007 @ 5:38pm):
As a former student of Kaplan's, I believe that his remarks FAR from racist. He uses examples that are absurd and extreme as a means to satirize how ridiculous those stereotypes are. Its the same thing that Stephen Colbert is doing with political conservatives. CONTEXT, people.
Anonymous (February 23, 2007 @ 7:10pm):
I'm sure that most people have by now have compared Kevin Barret and Kaplan. Please academic freedom does go both ways. If we cannot say something offensive what freedom of speech do we have?
- Germain E. Stemme
Anonymous (February 23, 2007 @ 7:44pm):
He is a law prof. but has a baby's brain. I doubted he might not graduated form Law school.
Anonymous (February 23, 2007 @ 8:24pm):
He can't make fun of people but all the liberal professors can make fun of the country and conservatives?
I very much fail to see how making derogatory comments about Hmong people is "making fun" of them. If I were to tell you that all memebers of your ethnic group join gangs, kill people, and rape their wives would you see that as a joke?
Anonymous (February 23, 2007 @ 10:12pm):
Jak sie masz? My name-a Borat. This is Urkin, the town rapist. Naughty, naughty!
Anyone for cultural learnings of Hmong people for Make benefit glorious nation of America???
Me..Me..Having sexy time!!!
Wake up America! You are not alone! The world is becoming a global village. Soon you will see all nationalities here. Not only here but all over the world. NY has more than 150 countries represented.
Kaplan might be wrong today but he might be right 300 years from now as no one can validate his claims as like examples of Mayans or Songhai...
Anonymous (February 23, 2007 @ 11:32pm):
this is a huge misunderstanding and Kaplan shouldn't be punished
Anonymous (February 23, 2007 @ 11:56pm):
The students are law students so they should know better. To call him a racist, to use quotes that are only half of what he said and to call him a racist over and over and over again in the email is very wrong. This could ruin someones career. Does anyone know what defamation is?
Anonymous (February 23, 2007 @ 11:59pm):
yes i agree. a huge misunderstanding. however poor kaplan will be known for the rest of his life as a racist. and he is far from a racist. people need to be careful about using words like this against people. the student who send the email WAS NOT EVEN IN THE CLASS!!!! come on. this is someones reputation at stake. he has taught at uw for over 30 years. i dont think he or his family deserves this.
Anonymous (February 24, 2007 @ 12:17am):
"It just goes to show the white man thinks he knows better."
Oh great, now we have the politically-correct 1990's coming back! Thanks, a-hole! Yeah, just bash ALL white men for what this one idiot said! Hey, while we're at it, why don't we just bash all black men for what Tim Hardaway said about gay people. Yeah, all those "sick, evil black men" are gonna pay for what just one of 'em said. Gimme a break!
Anonymous (February 24, 2007 @ 12:19am):
"-- what does he know of the immigrant communities sitting up there studying Jewish law?"
What do Jews have to do with this? Do I smell more Jew-bashing around the corner here?
Anonymous (February 24, 2007 @ 12:53am):
you cant call someone a racist 5 times in an email and then say it is not about race it is about ignorance! the more i read these comments i am so disappointed. a law student should know better than to send an email callign someone a racist over and over again. especially a student who was not there. it is wrong. hearsay hearsay hearsay. this is a man who has been a progressive member of the madison community and does not deserve this. this is going to ruin his reputation! does he deserve this?
Anonymous (February 24, 2007 @ 12:55am):
oh and there is an article in the international herald tribune where nam dao a hmong student who WAS IN THE CLASS says that the prof didn't go on a racist rant but was discussing these things in context of the class
Anonymous (February 24, 2007 @ 11:16am):
"-- what does he know of the immigrant communities sitting up there studying Jewish law?"
"What do Jews have to do with this? Do I smell more Jew-bashing around the corner here?"
Read his biography. His teaching specialty is not SouthEast Asia, but Jewish topics of law. I venture to say he knows much less about 2nd immigrant communities other than casual observance.
Re: "Jew Bashing" No, but you raise an interesting point. If Jewish students had mobilized and publically responded to a Hmong law professor who made these comments, would it be making a big deal over nothing, and just let it rest? Or would the professor show up in March, explain why he used those examples and what specific disciplined point he was making in class, while accepting his apology for lame insensitivity.
If you really think the professor was comically or negatively condoning those who use sweeping generalities and believe such racist arguments that Hmong men are prone to violence, then you are saying the Hmong students would turn on an ally. That they would misconstrue his statements of support just to stir up trouble. The dean would not have apologized if the students truly got the examples wrong or just misunderstood the joke. He would have explained what they misunderstood and stood behind the examples. This sounds like undisciplined off-talk, which wastes time for learning for all race students.
Show up and apologize in person, and think before you talk professors. Don't try to be noble and make these examples some big "teaching" point off your topic of experience.
Anonymous (February 25, 2007 @ 3:03pm):
"I can't believe what Kaplan said about the Hmong being rapists and killers."
It's almost as bad as what the left wingnuts say about US troops every day of the week!
Anonymous (February 25, 2007 @ 6:06pm):
Quit bashing Barret - he only called the Presisdent of the USA a muderer, or was it the Jews he said did 9-11?
Anonymous (February 25, 2007 @ 6:28pm):
<i>
It's almost as bad as what the left wingnuts say about US troops every day of the week!</i>
The difference is students aren't paying the wingnuts to teach them a specific subject, only to have them go off topic and speak of what they do not know.
How is this man qualified to speak on 2nd generation Hmong men? What he said was stupid. He knows it. The dean knows it. The students know it. Teach what you are paid and qualified to teach. Leave the rantings for your own time, just like the other nuts do.
Take some responsibility for your work, or lack of classroom preparation after so many years. Anyone can spout ignorance, and an educated man spouting ignorance doesn't make it any better because of who he thinks he is.
Anonymous (February 25, 2007 @ 9:00pm):
If you bothered to read about the topic of the lecture you will see he was not off topic.
Anonymous (February 26, 2007 @ 12:04am):
to be an 2nd generation IM A GANGSTA
Anonymous (February 26, 2007 @ 2:50pm):
It's real interesting -- again --that a public university is so assinine one-sided on issues. You hire an idiot who preaches about the war against terrorism and let him shriek for years!! Get a life. The prof has apologized and based on his background--which is much more revelled than most of the so called profs on campus--get a life!!
Terry Lampiris -taxpayer.
Anonymous (February 26, 2007 @ 9:35pm):
It' not a misunderstanding at all. He's a racist, and after all these years of teaching he thinks that he's smart enough to comment about the hmong community. He should be punished. If a asian/hmong professor was to to make racist comments like Kaplan did, he /she would've been punished to the extent. Even if he wasn't off topic, he should know better as a professor to be so DUMB. He's statements were very offensive, and I believe that he should resign/terminated. I believe that others stating that he's a good man, a fair man is ignorant as well. Look around you, white man DO NOT know best. All those that agree mind as well join the KKK.
Anonymous (February 26, 2007 @ 11:57pm):
People have to realize that just because a law student has reported this incident does not necessarily lend to the accusations any more or less credibility. Please realize that spoken words need to be heard in the context of the conversation. For example, just because someone uses the word "JAPs," does not necessarily mean that someone is making a derogatory reference to Japanese people. But upon further review of the conversation as a whole, the context becomes clear that the word "JAPs" was not derogatorily aimed against Japanese people, but rather the word "JAPs" was used in reference to Jewish-American Princesses. Context people, context!!!!
Anonymous (February 27, 2007 @ 10:07am):
Good afternoon my fellow Wisconsinites. My name is Chia Xiong. I am Hmong, 25, an entrepreneur, and reside in Milwaukee, WI. I did not want to create an account here just for the sole purpose of posting this, but I also did not wish to voice my concerns anonymously. Madison is one of my favorite cities in WI (having lived here since 1985) and it shocks me that such a beautiful and progressive city would harbor such a foul and shameless person as Mr. Kaplan. I will refer to this person as Mr. instead of "Professor" as to dignify himself as such would be to sour the memories of all my professors past and present who share in the ideologies of diversity, culture, and common sense. His remarks were completely out of line, superfluous, and insensitive with context to his job, class, and university. It only serves to weaken ties between my community and our Caucasian neighbors...ties that are already border lining total and utter collapse.
I am very concerned that Mr. Kaplan would make such derogatory remarks towards my community in such a controlled public environment. As a professor in arguably the best university in this state, Mr. Kaplan should have more thoroughly planned his lecture and thought about the ramifications that such remarks would have towards the profession he holds, the university he represents, the student body that he teaches, and the growing community his remarks would hurt. This isn't about making some sort of wacky connection to a point he may have been trying to make in his lecture....this is about the epidemic of racism fueled by ignorance and our dying race relations in this state and country.
Now if Mr. Kaplan would open up his mind and grab a book or even did a "Google" search of all things on our great Hmong society, he would realize that there is more than meets the eye (or in this state's case, a news story) with our community. I am sure Mr. Kaplan has seen those Phillip Morris "Knowledge is Contagious" commercials on TV. Well Mr. Kaplan, your remarks well represent that some Caucasians are still and will always be immune to it.
Send your thoughts and comments to me if you wish. xiong_chia@yahoo.com
I am also posting this on Myspace, All our community websites, and all Asian and Pacific Islander sister sites. Oh and for those "not in the know", if you are doing a Google search, perhaps typing in the word "Hmong" will help...or for the more advanced people "CIA Secret Army"...or for those of you just waking up from the last century "2007!"
Anonymous (February 27, 2007 @ 11:30am):
It's people like him (kaplan) that Makes AMERICA a country we should have never help faught for. Why are there Terorist fighting destroy america, cause of people like Kaplan who doesn't know how to keep his mouth SHUT. Want to talk about FREADOM of SPEACH MR. DOWNS... You woudln't be able to handle talking to HMONG People.
Anonymous (February 27, 2007 @ 1:47pm):
We don't know the context in which the comments were made, and anyone jumping to conclusions should be ashamed.
Remember, this is a law class. Many times a professor will, and SHOULD, illustrate the extremes on either side of a case. Chances are, these were references to the shooting of Cha Vang or by Chai Soua Vang, and perhaps the difficulties in seating an impartial jury, responses to verdicts or whatnot.
The point is, we don't know. If he really beleives these things, of course there should be consequences. But how about we wait for the facts before pronouncing judgment.
Anonymous (February 27, 2007 @ 5:03pm):
Get rid of Kaplan!
Anonymous (February 27, 2007 @ 5:13pm):
It was because of the "American" CIA that got us involved in the Vietnam War, which caused us (THE HMONG) to end up in a place like this...We (THE HMONG) should have NEVER helped you (Americans), if we had known that America is filled with people like Kaplan.......You know what's true....you (Americans) are in debted to us for what we (THE HMONG) have done for America.....
Anonymous (February 27, 2007 @ 8:17pm):
The professor obviously has no idea what he's talking about. I like to see him make remarks like that to other race. If he is not disciplined, the system is f..ked up. He's is just not right spreading his ideas to other "Law" student. And if some of the law students do not say anthing about it, they are just as bad as he is. Freedom of speech, i like to see him make a remark about other race.
Anonymous (February 27, 2007 @ 9:39pm):
Hm..This email has spread throughout the Hmong community..by awareness and word of mouth...ok maybe some world wide web also..even to us here in california...wow..it still amazes me to see the lack of progression that the midwest has had as far as being culturally sensitive and accepting of someone who is different from yourself..seems that "supremacist" type mentality still exists there..and i use that term loosely..seems lately the hmong community has been under severe scrutiny whether it be on a national level (Patriot act labels hmong refugees as Terrorists?) or on a local level..(the ignorant and pathetic excuse of a professor)..i apologoze for this rude demeanor..but i felt like i just had to say that regardless of who i offended..Oops! I'm starting to sound like that professor..only difference is im NOT a professor...get my drift?
Anonymous (March 5, 2007 @ 7:59am):
Kaplan should be fired. For those of you who say that he's not being racist, you might be saying that because his message wasn't about your race or religion. Regardless of how we as Hmong live and what acts we have done, he has no right to say that stuff. This is just more proof that there still are ton's of racist's out there and Kaplan is just leading the charge. Hmong people don't even account for a % of the population in the U.S. so when one thing happens, we get so much scrutiny from it. We could say the same thing about other races, but we know better than that. Stuff happens in life and it's not right to point out one culture/religion/race. You look at the individual and not everything else.
Plain and simple..fire that guy. If he had said the same thing about a Hispanic/African-American student, he would've been fired already. Why is it so different when it comes down to Hmong people?
Anonymous (March 6, 2007 @ 11:45am):
fire him
Hmong Hmong (March 14, 2007 @ 3:45am):
I think Hmong people fought Vietnam War with the wrong side and wrong people. I think America should know that if no Hmong people have helped them, the American sodiers and AQmerican personnel will died more than 58,000 people on the American recorded.
I would like to let other countries such as Iraq, Iran and North Korea know that better to stay way from the American people. Do not do as the American say and do not follow as America tell you to do. They are such as group no felling.
Anonymous (April 13, 2007 @ 8:51am):
hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm
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