Alexandra Wallace, UCLA Student, Apologizes For Anti-Asian Rant Video

UCLA student Alexandra Wallace has issued an apology for her anti-Asian rant which, after going viral, elicited strong reactions from members of the UCLA community.

University of California Police Department spokeswoman Nancy Greenstein told the Daily Bruin that Wallace contacted UCPD after receiving death threats via e-mail and phone on Sunday evening. Wallace later told professor Phil Gussin that she had been advised by police officials to reschedule her finals after her exam schedule was made public.

The video was originally uploaded by Wallace on Friday, but was soon taken down. It was reposted Sunday and has since gone viral, garnering over one million YouTube views and prompting countless spoofs, remixes and response. On Monday, Wallace issued a statement of apology to the Bruin.

She said:

Clearly the original video posted by me was inappropriate. I cannot explain what possessed me to approach the subject as I did, and if I could undo it, I would. I'd like to offer my apology to the entire UCLA campus. For those who cannot find it within them to accept my apology, I understand.

Later that day, University Chancellor Gene Block denounced Wallace's rant. "I am appalled by the thoughtless and hurtful comments of a UCLA student posted on YouTube, he said, adding, "Like many of you, I recoil when someone invokes the right of free expression to demean other individuals or groups."

He continued to say that Wallace's video does not represent the strength of the diverse community at UCLA.

But the many violent and sexist reactions to Wallace's video have made some students question whether the incident has brought to light latent tensions at UCLA.

In an editorial in the Bruin, two students suggested that the university require freshmen to undergo sensitivity workshops in order to promote a more integrated campus.

And in a response to the incident, the Asian Pacific Coalition at UCLA wrote that although they are offended by Wallace's comments, they hope to use the opportunity to prompt changes on campus. They released these demands in the Bruin:

1) We call for a public apology from Alexandra Wallace. Her words and actions are not in line with the UCLA Student Code of Conduct.

2) We call for UCLA to take the appropriate disciplinary measures befitting of Wallace's violation against the UCLA Student Code of Conduct and UCLA's Principle of Community

3) We call for UCLA to issue a statement addressing this incident. UCLA must demonstrate its commitment to a culture of diversity, respect, tolerance, and acceptance for all communities by standing against such acts.

4) We call for the UCLA Academic Senate to pass a requirement in the general education curriculum grounded in the UCLA Principles of Community.

Below, watch Chancellor Block's statement response to Wallace's video, and share your reaction in the comments section.

Comments

[keeblerlorien]

12:42 AM on 03/31/2011

She makes the rest of us UCLA females look bad. Cringe.

[Bob Youruncle]

11:20 PM on 03/27/2011

This whole fiasco is a shame. What Alexandra Wallace did was TALK – nothing more!

Did anything Alexandra Wallace say take away from, deny, restrict, or seriously harm anyone?

If the shoe doesn’t fit, why wear it?

The REACTION has been disproportionate to her words.
Death threats? Violations of her privacy? Why is this justified?
These are the actions of fragile people.

Personally I don’t care to listen to anyone on their hand phones in public – regardless of who they are racially or culturally. It’s rude.

We are ALL entitled to our own individual opinions and beliefs. Nobody can control another’s thoughts, beliefs, or feelings.

[vinainor]

08:57 AM on 04/05/2011

It was the context and framing in which she complained about people using cell phones in the library which was the problem, including her comments about Asian families at the beginning of the video. That context and framing made her racist attitudes transparent. Having said that, I agree that death threats are not warranted. A cold shoulder is a more appropriate response from the campus community. Maybe a little anger too, but not death threats. People who make death threats for any reason themselves have a problem. She complained about being ostracized, but that too, she deserved.

[vinainor]

09:03 AM on 04/05/2011

If she speaks the truth, how come I have never known Asians to speak on their cell phones in the library. Personally, I have only known white peopel to speak on their cell phones in the library. Should I then generalize that ALL white people speak on their cell phones on their library? Grow up!

[Nathaniel Nort]

11:34 AM on 04/06/2011

It's hard to assimilate when the population is full of people who are willing to stand up for a person's right to be openly racist and insulting and insensitive and when just because a few people who act this way happen to be Asian then every Asian is thought of in that way whereas if a few white people were to do something of this nature, no one would say that hordes of white kids cheat or save seats (which is the dumbest thing to get so upset about, honestly, you sound like a bitter mediocre student trying to justify your own failures). It's hard because as an Asian you're never seen as American even though you live in America, you speak English, and you're a legal citizen, people like you still insist on viewing them as Asian and not American and complaining that they are not trying to "assimilate" to the apparently "normal" WASP community when you're so insistent on calling the whole group Asian and stereotyping. Guess what? America's diverse. It's a multicultural multiracial nation and you better get used to not thinking of being white and choosing not to mix with others of similar race as the only way to be American.

[IWantTofu]

02:16 PM on 03/23/2011

As an Asian, I don't like white people who talk on the cell phones in the library, but I don't make fun of the hair all over their body, or their funny smell. Its not nice.

[Scott Carolan]

10:22 AM on 03/19/2011

I now question UCLA's Poly Sci department. :)

[Kareem Harper]

12:00 PM on 03/21/2011

As a polictical scientist myself, I nearly fell over when she said what her field of study is... almost ashamed.

If I may say so, she is not indicative of the study of political science. *wipes sweat from brow* ... then again this could be the origin of the Ann Coulter /Michelle Malkin archetype, which honestly terrifies me (read: our species is doomed)

[Scott Carolan]

12:19 PM on 03/21/2011

i think this girl has been drinking the white-is-right Kool Aid, as many of us did growing up in American, traditional pedigogical classrooms. I say this because she identifies outside cultures (outside the dominant culture, which she seemingly belongs to) as deficits through her sarcasm. the system may really be to blame here, but we all should help her see the "water she swims in" and be socially responsible.

[ChezMJ]

10:55 AM on 03/18/2011

Good luck on getting a job, Alexandra Wallace. All your potential future employers will see this moronic, insensitive, self centered video when they google you.

[ariellela]

02:47 AM on 03/18/2011

If she had racy porno pictures, she would be more forgiven then her Asian comments.

Btw, according to the Sacramento Bee article, she was an aspiring blogger and was looking into having a domain name based on her first blog.

Don't fret Alexandra, there is a website based on your words and proceeds from merchandise sales from that website go to aiding the Japan tsunami "thing".

This girl is getting her 15 minutes though not the kind she wanted.

[Sir Byzantium]

03:27 PM on 03/18/2011

She has those too apparently, they're not porno pictures, just pictures of her in a bikini and one of her topless but she's covering it up with her hands. Nothing special really, I've seen a gazillion unimaginative pictures like hers.

[IWantTofu]

02:08 PM on 03/23/2011

Link please.

[ZMike]

11:24 PM on 03/17/2011

"I cannot explain what possessed me to approach the subject as I did."
Uh huh, I think you mean "I cannot explain what possessed me to put this out in public and believe that I somehow wouldn't achieve memetic infamy".

You're just jelly that you don't get sweet home-cooked meals on a regular basis, and afraid that one day that exchange kid from down the hall is going to Shoryuken you through the ceiling. Ching Chong Bing Bong, Ms. Wallace.

[glddraco]

11:15 PM on 03/17/2011

Look like this woman belongs on fox news.

[stephj6]

07:24 PM on 03/17/2011

I like how she apologizes to the school and not to the Asian race. As if it were even possible to save herself at this point. It is embarrassing that people in our country act like this. We are a first world country. When will people start acting like first class citizens.

[ZMike]

11:43 PM on 03/17/2011

I also like how she can reconcile dishing on minorities with being a Political Science major. But hey, you aren't born knowing everything.

[TeValereJubeo]

05:13 PM on 03/17/2011

Maybe the world would be a better place if people video taped themselves speaking their minds.
It would give the rest of us a chance to tell them how wrong they really are.

[Leto II]

03:25 PM on 03/17/2011

This girl is just another example of the narcissistic generation of social media. People Tweet or update their post on Facebook because they think others actually care what they think. In this girl's case, she did a 'video tweet' and said what was on her mind. Hell, I'm sure there are people who agree with her.

She can think whatever she wants. That's her right. I'm just glad that she felt compelled to broadcast the entire rant to the whole planet. I wish more people would do this. When people want to make fools of themselves, nobody should stop them.

For all the other closet bigots out there, please follow her lead and expose yourself. If you hate a certain people, say it loud and proud!!!

[conscioushope]

05:06 PM on 03/17/2011

Interesting twist and take on the situation. I like how you think!

fanned!

[Jokergirl]

02:48 AM on 04/09/2011

Yes, and while someone tweets "I'm going on vacation", somebody is at their house a day later loading that new flatscreen tv into their crappy truck, along with everything else in their house.

[David01]

03:18 PM on 03/17/2011

Too late, stupid.

[glassbender]

03:04 PM on 03/17/2011

her head and boobs, are filled with the samething,AIR

[glassbender]

02:59 PM on 03/17/2011

future member of the american taliban party.....