Chinese Students At USP Get Racism Apology

The Chinese Student Association (CSA) of the University of the South Pacific was accorded an apology from the head of the iTaukei student association (ITSA).

This was because of slurs that were made against a group of Chinese students that had performed at the Japan ICT Centre.

According to CSA president Caitlin Harm-nam, there were discriminatory comments that were uttered by members of the audience during the Association’s performance at the opening of the Welfare week in the University.

These comments were called out by Ms Harm-nam during the event.

“This is the first time we had experienced such a thing and we are concerned,” she said.

She said it was usually taken as a joke and she hoped it would be the beginning of a bigger dialogue within different communities who study at the University.

“We understand that this can be unprecedented. It’s our only hope that students are able to correct such behaviour in future events,” she said.

“It came from the crowd and for the iTaukei student’s association to take it upon themselves to present an apology to us portrays how the USP community can stand together against discrimination.

“We all should understand that discrimination at any level was not okay.”

ITSA President Inoke Droya shared his disappointment and apologised for the behaviour of the students on that day.

“I believe this is the first of its kind and certainly not the last in the hope of reducing if not eradicating the normalisation of stereotyping against the Fijians of Chinese descent” he said.

“I hope that this would send a positive message to all students to be mindful and cautious about what their viewpoints and actions could do to other people.”

Edited by Selita Rabuku

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