• Skip to main content
  • Skip to header right navigation
  • Skip to site footer
College Magazine logo

College Magazine

College Life, Dating, Career & Campus Advice

  • Colleges
    • College Guides
    • College Rankings
    • Campus Life
      • Academics
      • Dating
      • Freshman Year
      • Health
      • Social Change
      • Party
    • Find Your College
  • Majors
    • All Majors
    • Most Popular Majors
    • Choosing a Major
  • Intern
    • Internship Directory
    • How to Get an Internship
    • How to Write a Resume
    • How to Write a Cover Letter
    • How to Interview
    • How to Network
    • Career 101
    • Find Your Passion Career
  • Money
    • How to Make Money
    • How to Save Money
    • How to Get a Job
    • Credit Cards 101
    • FAFSA
    • Ramen Project
  • Travel
    • Study Abroad
    • College Spring Break
    • How to Travel Cheap
    • Things to Do
  • Shop
    • College Magazine Shop
    • Gift Guides
    • College Packing List
Home » Latest Posts » Backlash to UC Berkeley’s Racist Bake Sale
Life

Backlash to UC Berkeley’s Racist Bake Sale

Facebook Tweet
Josh Axelrod   September 29, 2011
You don’t see the words “racist bake sale” in a headline very often. This novel phrase comes to us courtesy of UC Berkeley’s College Republicans and their attempt to protest a bill sent to Gov. Jerry Brown that would permit public California universities to implement affirmative action policies.  They did this in the form of an “Increase Diversity Bake Sale.”  That sounds harmless enough, but this wasn’t your average baked goods fundraiser.
 
The issue was not with the selection  – if it weren’t for the racial connotations, I would be all over those cupcakes – but with the price structure the group used.  The goods were priced based on gender and ethnic categories; for example, Caucasians had to pay $2.00 per item, Asian Americans were allowed to pay $1.50, and all women received $0.25 off whatever their race would force them to pay.  This was meant to simulate the way colleges use affirmative action to admit students and set their tuition.
 
If your reaction to this was “Wait…what?” I’m right there with you.  It would appear that most of Berkeley’s campus agrees with us, as the bake sale was protested by student Democrat organizations, minority groups, and apparently a Harry Potter-themed bake sale that priced its goods differently for pure bloods and muggles.  
 

trending

493

10 Student Organizations Breaking the Mold at Berkeley

201

Top 10 Spots Around Emerson College to Get Inspired

169

Top 10 Ways to Spot a UT Austin Alum


"We agree that the event is inherently racist, but that is the point," Berkeley College Republicans President Shawn Lewis said, trying to justify his group’s efforts. "It is no more racist than giving an individual an advantage in college admissions based solely on their race (or) gender."
 
Shawn, when your satirical protest is being protested by angry mobs and satirized by wizards and witches, you should take the hint and realize you went too far.  Nothing looks more elitist than a group of white people at a relatively racially homogenous university complaining about something that could benefit minorities.  Maybe you could put more of your energy into protesting tuition hikes in the UC school system that affect everyone than a proposed law that might (gasp!) help diversify your school.
 
Photo: courtesy of Huffington Post

About Josh Axelrod

Junior > Journalism > University of Maryland

The Art of the Hot Girl Walk

I Used to Outrun My Feet

What I Wish I Had Known About Mental Health So I Wouldn’t Have to Call Myself a College Dropout

Ant-Man Opens the Doors for Marvel’s New Phase

10 Boba Tea Spots for Houston College Students

10 Ways to Have Fun with Your Friends Indoors

Do You Actually Care, Or Do You Want to Look Like You Do?

unsplash.com

Top Ten Inspirational Quotes from Your Favorite Sports TV Shows

I lived with my three best friends. Here’s how it went.

Previous Post:NFL Week Four Preview
Next Post:Learning to Love Your Major

colleges

  • College Guides
  • College Rankings
  • Campus life
  • Academics
  • Dating
  • Freshmen Year
  • Health
  • Party

majors

  • All College Majors
  • Most Popular Majors
  • Choosing a Major

intern

  • Internships Directory
  • How to Write a Resume
  • How to Write a Cover Letter
  • How to Interview
  • How to Get an Internship
  • How to Network

money

  • How to Make Money
  • How to Save Money
  • How to Get a Job
  • Credit Cards 101
  • College Loans

travel

  • Study Abroad
  • College Spring Break
  • How to Travel Cheap
  • Things to Do

shop

  • College Packing List
  • Gift Guides
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • RSS Feed
  • Twitter
  • About Us
  • Team
  • Write
  • Apply
  • Privacy Policy
  • Sign Up
  • Advertise
  • My Account
  • Cart

College Magazine logo

Copyright © 2023 Powered by BizBudding