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In late September 2011, the Berkeley College Republicans announced",", they would be sponsoring a campus bake sale where the costs of cup-, "ies would depend on the sex and race or ethnicity of the customer as a"",:y of protesting what they saw as the unfairness of California SenateH,II 185, dealing with affirmative action, which Governor Jerry Brown/Ill('y vetoed. People teaching on university campuses for very long had..•.•'r! such bake sales before; in fact, some version of them pops up every/ •.•. 4] years on campuses here or there, but this one gained considerable'"Itional attention. This selection and the next three-the Daily(::tlifornian's live blog about the event, a commentary by Heather MacIJonald, "Half Baked," and a blog posting by Tina Korbe, "Remember the1"Kist Cupcakes? Fordham University Fights Back with Its Own Bake';,.!e"-examine the bake sale from several perspectives. To give you';IImebackground on the issue, we present a transcript of an award-winning KQEDradio program, Forum, featuring Michael Krasny, a former"rofessor of English and an author, as moderator and two guests, AndyNevis, the executive director of the Berkeley College Republicans, andIlishalli Loomba, president of the Associated Students of the University of(:alifornia. We'd encourage you to listen to this part of the radio program,which aired on September 27,2011, as you read by going to http://bit.ly/r6TQqp. As you listen and read, think about the issues being debated onfWO levels. The first is the controversial topic of affirmative action, whilethe second is a rhetorical one: when, if ever, is satire inappropriate as aform of argument about a controversial issue?
The Berkeley Bake SaleMICHAEL KRASNYAND GUESTS
Host: Michael Krasny (MK]
Guests: Andy Nevis, executive director of the Berkeley College Republicans(AN]
Vishalli Loomba, president of the Associated Students of the University ofCalifornia (VL]
743
744 C H A PT ER 25 WHAT SHOULD "DIVERSITY ON CAMPUS" MEAN AND WHY?
0:00
MK:From KQED,public radio in San Francisco, I'm Michael Krasny. Coming upon Forum this morning in our first half hour, we'll hear from both sides on acontroversy that has erupted on the UCBerkeley campus over the CampusRepublican Club's planned bake sale for today, which features lower pricesfor nun-whites and women. Then, at 9:30,we hear all about new research outof UC Berkeley which allows scientists literally to see what is inside otminds. Brave NewWorld? Forum is next, after this.
1:00
MK:From KQED,public radio in San Francisco, I'm Michael Krasny. Goodmorninqand welcome to this morning's Forum program. California Senate Bill 185,which is being considered by Governor Jerry Brown, would authorize puhli.universities to consider race, gender, ethnicity, and national and qeoqraphitorigin in the admissions process. In reaction to that bill, and as a counter 1< I
a campus event in support of it, UCBerkeley Republican Club created a COIl
trovsrsy by setting up a bake sale for today which features a sliding scan-based on race and gender. The group has said its intent is satire, but it ha..created a good deal of anger and even some threats, and we want to talk abouiit in this first Forum half-hour segment. Joining us to do that this morninq.from the Berkeley campus are, well, Andy Nevis, who is executive director IIIthe Berkeley College Republicans. Goodmorninq. Welcome to the program.
1:45
AN:Hey, thanks for having me, Michael.
MK:Glad to have you. And, also glad to have Vishalli Loomba, who is presidentof the Associated Students of the University of California-they're elect,·"representatives of the UC Berkeley student body, and a molecular and CI'IIbiology major. Vishalli Loomba joins us from the campus, welcome.
VL:Thank you, good morninq, Michael.
MK:Good morning to you. Andy Nevis, let me begin with you. I know that th I'.
has really from the group's perspective been touted as being satiric, and 1",publicity, and really to highlight what you think of as ... what your gHlI'I'thinks of as racism. What about ... though ... the fact that many, includi 1I'IMs. Loomba's organization and the Chancellor, have said that this is hui Iing people, that it's causing a great deal of pain?
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KRASNY AND GUESTS / The Berkeley Bake Sale 745
2:28
AN:'WE'll,I think, y'know, when you have an event, any kind of Iree speechevent, you sometimes have to do things that are going to warrant attsntinn,I mean, I'vE'heard a lot of criticism that WE'should have had a Town Hall,y'know, WE'should have had snrns kind of discussion on this, but the fact ofthe matter is snmetimes you have to have some visual imaqe to qet people'sattention hefnre you can have a good discussion about it. And so I think,y'know, WE'certainly don't intend to , , . actually, WE'do intend to offend pE'O-pIE',but WE'intend to offend people the serne way thsy should he offendedabout race-based admission, It's discriminatory here, and it's also discrimi-natory in that case. SO,WE'actually hops that people fE'E'1uncnmfurtahle,because that's our goal. That's part of,y'know, free speech, FrE'E'speech isn'talways comfortable, but at the same time WE'want to make very clear WE'don't intend to, y'know, threaten anybody, WE'don't intend to make anybodyfE'E'1unwelcome on campus. 'WE'are more than happy to discuss this issuewith anyonE' that would like to; it's all about starting a dialnque.
3:30
MK:'WE'll,freedom of speech is certainly snmethinq that the BE'rkE'IE'Ycampus hasbeen identified with since the Mario Savio" days, but the ChancE'llor said,looking at his statement here, "Freedom of speech is not properly exercisedwithout taking responsibility for its impact." In other words, he is promotingUIE'idea that you need to think of civility, and you need to think of people'sIeel inqs, I gUE'ss.I want to hear your response to that, but also, you rneri-tinned threats, Your group has alleqsd threats as a result of this bake sale?
3:56
AN:YE'S,WE"VE'had a number of threats made against our organization. Peoplehave said, including, sadly, othsr BE'rkE'IE'Ystudents, have said, y'know,they're going to come by and flip OVE'rthe table, they're gonna throw cup-cakes at us, just a lot of really, really disturbing things have heen saidabout our organization. That's really disappointing. Nowto gE'tto your firstpoint about the Chancellor's comment, I think that, y'know, WE"fE'definitely,as I said, wE"rE'trying to start a dialcque, and I just don't SE'E'how having ahake sale necessarily hurts other students, I would hops that it would starta dialuque with them, As I said, it might make them fE'E'1uncornfurtahle,but that's the whnle point of frE'E'speech. If you can't make peup le fE'E'1
support of stuoerri: -I"l"ee
746 C H A PH R 25 WHAT SHOULD "DIVERSITY ON CAMPUS" MEAN AND WHY?
uncomfortable, then the whole notion of free speech is kind of worthless,That's the whole goal, is to try to impart some kind of emotional response inthe individuals that will be seeing our bake sale today,
4:57
I'1K:Andy Nevis, again, with us by phone, executive director of the Berkeley III
College Republicans, and Vishalli Loomba,president the Associated Studentsofthe University of California, They have already put out a statement that thisis contrary to the principles of community, Let's talk about why this isn't justgood dialogue or free speech, as we're hearing from 1'1r.Nevis,Vishalli Loornba"
5:20
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VL:So, I think I completely value the members of BCRfor coming forward andwanting to express their opinions; I think that's important, and that WI'
should be having constructive dialogue on the issues of SB185or any nthui
legislation, but I think this tactic is not constructive, and it's creating"very divisive environment. And it's really important, I know that Andy me) I
tioned that free speech has to make people uncomfortable in order to mean
something, and, I mean, I don't necessarily agree with that, and I think th.rt
when you're creating a dialogue-and I know that this has received a lot IIImedia attention-and I think something important to look at is what is till'far? And when do you, when do you realize that you crossed the line? Aililwhen you begin to compromise on respecting your peers and making thl'lI'feel unwelcome and unwanted on their own campus, I think that's takinq 01
a little too far in the name of free speech, And you really need to think C1 i IIcally, Like, if your intent is truly just to educate other students on yilt "opinion on the issue, there are much more constructive ways to do that.
6:22
I'1K:So you've been hearing from a lot of students that they are hurt by IIII',and that it's had this kind of effect?
VL:Yeah, yeah, right from the outset on Thursday night, when the event ',,'''',posted, from then, I've been hearing from many, many students frrnu "I!different campus communities, who ars very UpSE?tand feel extr ennl.
offended, and hurt, and disrespected and unwelcome on campus,
I'1K: Well, you've talked about getting the sponsorship of the Republican 11111,
revoked, and they'VE?said, "You'll find yourself in court if you do th.ri. I!
KRASNY AND GUESTS /The Berkeley Bake Sale 747
unconstitutional." Is the Associated Students Group planning on some kindof litig ... uh, move toward revocation of their charter?
"/:00
VL: No, I don't think so. The Student Government, the senators, met on Sunday 15in a special meeting, and discussed student group conduct in general, andjust sort of discussed what the responsibility of student groups should beto the campus climate and the environment, and respecting their peers andother students, and other organizations, and holding events to make surethat they're not creating an environment that's divisive and that's makingstudents feel uncomfortable, but I don't think at this point there would beanything as drastic as removing funding.
"/:32
11K: Vishalli Loomba again is president of the Associated Students of theUniversity of California. I'm going to open up the phone lines. I know there aremany ofyou who have strong opinions on this or have questions you'd like toraise, and we'd certainly like to hear from you. You can join us now toll-free,and this is a half-hour segment, so if you'd like to register your thoughts orjoin us, the time to do so would be now.The toll-free number to join us at is 866-733-6786,and we do welcome your calls. Again, you can join us toll-free now at865-733-6785.Youcan also send an email to [email protected], oryou can post aquestion or comment on our Web site, simply by going to kqed dot org slashforum and clicking on the segment. Agroup of Republican students, again, atUCBerkeley under fire for planning to hold a bake sale today where the costof the cookie is based on the race of the person buying, and the group says it'smeant as a satire of legislation on the Governor's desk that would allowCalifornia universities to consider race and gender in college admissions.We're taking up that issue, and finding out your thoughts about whether youthink it's offensive or not, or just political commentary, and really startingdialogue. As Andy Nevis is saying-Andy Nevis is executive director of theBerkeley CollegeRepublicans, and I guess there's some concern on your part,isn't there, that, well, there's a kind of chipping away at 209, Mr.Nevis ...
:::47
IIN:Yeah, absolutely. We think that the will of the voters was made extremelyclear, y'know, when they passed Proposition 209, and to me, this is an
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748 C HA PT ER 25 WHAT SHOULD "DIVERSITY ON CAMPUS" MEAN AND WHY?
attempt, essentially, to overturn that proposition by legislative action,which we think is completely unconstitutional, and not to mention thatGovernor Brown likes to talk a lot about how he respects the will of the peo-ple, how he wants, y'know, the people to be able to vote on, like, tax mea-sures, tax increases. Well, I would ask him, you know, please respect the willof the voters and the will of the people on this issue. They've already spo-ken. If you want to overturn, if you want to re-allow affirmative action, thengo back to the ballot and try to convince people otherwise.
9:31
MK:Did you have on your original event page-I just want to get this on tlu-
record, I think you took it down, but "if you don't cnrne to the bake sa],'.you're a racist"?
AN:Yes, that was on the original page,
MK:... and decided, I think probably advisedly, to take it down. Let me gu III '"
this question of 209,Vishalli Loomba, with you, that was the will of the P""ple: it was a ballot measure that essentially got rid of affirmative actin " ,and I suppose those who think there should be a meritocracy or are oppu. ""Ito affirmative action see this as a threat, and you would say what to thr-ru.'
10:02
VL:SB 185 is nor affirmative action, It allows the liC" system to consider I." ,.gender, and other factors in the entire holistic admissions process. It'i. ",,1by any means, affirmative action, or putting affirmative action ... itr. ""I
doing that. 50 I don't see how that's a valid argument. It's completely difl,·"" 01
MK:But it is, perhaps, as Mr.Nevis said, moving in that direction or chi"I'''''1away at 209?
VL:I think that's an opinion, I don't think so. The Senate bill, it authorizer. II" III
system and the CSli"to consider race and gender along with other 11·1"\·.,,,'
factors. And so I don't think that it's chipping away at 209,and it's in ru \ , •
even close to affirmative action, so I don't see that as a valid arqumei II '\,,, I I
think with the issue of the hake sale, it's, that's a valid argument, i i .• "" ,
against SB185, that's fine, speak out against it but in a constructive ,,,''' ".Putting on something like an event, like this bake sale where you Jr. ,." "'.
different prices, differential pricing based on race, is offensive. AIJII ,,',
as , , . if you want to make a tangible difference, then you can ell) " 101, •.•
KRASNY AND GUESTS / The Berkeley Bake Sale 749
bank, like the people in support of SB185, students in support of SB185, todayon campus will be holding a phone bank to Governor Jerry Brown's office toencourage him to sign the bill into law. And if students really were againstthis, and they wanted to talk and have a constructive conversation about SB185, that would be a much more constructive event, in my opinion, than hold-ing an event like this that is just making students feel extremely uncomfort-able and creating a divisive environment.
[1:43
IVIK:The bake sale was, according to the Berkeley College Republicans, aresponse to the phone bank, but we want to go to our phone bank and getyour calls in here. I want to mention, by the way, that this essentially iden-tical kind of bake sale was done eight years ago on the Berkeley campus, it'snot new, but let me go to our callers and let's bring them in, and, Michael,you're first, good morning.
11:59
MICHAEL: Yeah, a quick question-so Vishalli is against the bake sale, but to me 25it would seem that any argument that could be made against the bake salecould also be made against the new law. I'd love to hear her comments aboutthat.
12:14
MK:I think that's you, Ms.Loomba.
VL:I'm sorry, what was the question?
MK:Hesaid the same kind of arguments against the bake sale, I think the caller issaying, could be made against the new law that's on Governor Brown's desk.
VL:I mean, I don't think that the same arguments can be made. SB 185, I don'tsee how that directly ... I don't see how that's offensive to people, where thebake sale is directly offending students who are on this campus, and com-ing to, and like, to attend this school, where they feel like, where they feeluncomfortable in their campus environment, even coming to school andattending their classes because they feel like there are students on campuswho are racist and who are participating in this sort of event. And so, I don'tthink that the same criticism can really be applied to the legislation.
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750 ( IIA!'H [, L 5 WHAT SHOULD "DIVERSITY ON CAMPUS" MEAN AND WHY?
13:00
MK:WE'll,Iet me ask Andy Nevis, are you offended by 186? :11
AN:YE'S,I think it's offensive ...
MK: 185, pardon me.
i
AN:YE'S,185, I think treatinq people differently based on race, I mean, WE'can heataround the bush as to whether it's affirmative action or not, but the bottomIine is the will of thE' voters in Prop. 209, was that race should not be a factorin admissions. This would make race a factor in admissions, and I think thr-people of California and certainly the BE'rkE'IE'YCollE'gE'Repuhlicaris thinkthat's offensive. And WE'also think, by the way, that charging people differsn Iprices at a bake sale is also offensive, but WE'SE'E'the two issues as equivalen I.and so we re trying to make that point today. As I said, we are trying ... Y[IIIknow, sometimes you have to have snrnethinq somewhat cunt.rover-stal j IIorder to start a discussion. I also msntioried, I talked to another sturleulgroup, one of the nonpartisan student groups last night, and they're nr,>;interested in having a forum on this issue. That probably would not hav.:happened had we not had this event, so I think this is a first step towan+.having that cunstructivs dialoqus. And furthermore, I'd just like to say, tll., Iif there are any Berkeley students listening that fE'el offended by our E'VI'III.y'know, come and stop by and talk with us about it. I'd he happy to talk willianybody; in fact, I talked to many friends already who WE'rea little bit uncr IIIIfortable at the bsqinninq, but I had a chance to talk with them, and I think ,IIthe VE'ry least, even if they don't aqrse with us, that they understand wi ,.01
were doing and why were doing it. So I think that would he much mere COli'structive than passing resolutions and, y'know, just condernninq us base I ,II'
our speech.
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14:32
MK: WE'll, there have been students who have condemned you and 11.,'"
expressed anger and disgust, but therE' has lisen snms levity, too. I I' '.111
where one African American student said his white friends are askiru I 1,""to buy cupcakes for them so he can get a lower price. Let me go to mill" "I
your calls. Jesus joins us, good morning.
JESUS:Hey. Yeah, I'm typically for 185 here, I protested 209 when I was in 1:1111, 'I'
more than ten years ago, but I think what the Republican group did I!, .11 I"
ally pretty clever, and I think the other side of it, this group over here i-: 1 ,,,,Iof playing right into their hands. So, y'know, to say that it's offensive i!; ,I
KRASNY AND GUESTS I The Berkeley Bake Sale 751
a stretch, they're doing satire. It's kind of funny, and I think it's working forthem, so, y'know, I'll take my comments off the air here.
15:24
11K:All right, well, thank you for your comments. Here's a listener, Eleanor, whowrites from a different perspective and says, "What the white Republicangroup neglects is the quality of treatment has been different between thegroups over all these years; that is, are the cheap cupcakes made out of taintedingredients? Are the white cupcakes made out of Belgian imported chocolate?The point being, you cannot equate racism with a bake sale. It is a deeplyrooted and complete issue. Togloss over it like this shows insensitivity and alack of understanding of the issue, and as a white female, I find this bake saleoffensive and ignorant." And Mark writes, "I'd just like to say that everyoneraising concerns about this is giving the BCR exactly what they want-attention." And we'll give attention to more ofyour calls. Bill,join us, you're on.
16:04
IlILL: Yes. I have a question for the College Republicans. I'm wondering, exactlywhat prices are you charging? How many different race-based prices doyou have and what are they?
I\.N: OK,50, basically, first of all, I should clarify that we arE'not actually going tobe enforcing these prices as it is. It is strictly political theater, people canpay, y'know, whatever they want for a cupcake or a cookie. But the prices thatwe have, for display, is ... we have Caucasian students are two dollars, AsianAmericans are a dollar fifty, I believe Hisp ... Latino students are a dollar,African Americans seventy-five cents, and Native Americans twenty-fivecents, and all women are twenty-five cents off. I could be wrong on a few ofthose numbers; I don't have them right in front of me, but they're somethinglike that.
11K:I think that's right, actually.
BILL: How did you come up with those prices? 40
17:00
AN:Well, basically, y'know, we weren't as concerned with coming up with a SPE'-cific value for each, y'know, group as opposed to the overall message thatthis is discriminating based on race. So I can't tell you that there's a specific
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752 C H APTE R 25 WHAT SHOULD "DIVERSITY ON CAMPUS" MEAN AND WHY?
reason why African Americans are seventy-five cents as opposed to a dol-lar, or what the case may be, The pricing structure, the specific pricingstructure, is somewhat beside the point. The overall point is that it's treat-ing people differently based on race and gender, and we believe that that iswrong whether it's in a bake sale or in university admissions,
11K: I notice, though, Vishalli Loomba, that the campus Democratic club saidthat what's being done here is essentially a mocking of the struggles of peo-ple of color, Doyou agree with that?
17:49
VL:Yeah, I do agree with that because I think you can't dismiss it and say th.:pricing structure is beside the point. That's precisely the point. Torank people in a differential price structure according to their races, I mean, that i.:
obviously a discussion that needs to be had, Like, why are Asian American,one fifty? Why are African Americans ssventv-fivs cents? What though I
was put into that? That, in and of itself, is so offensive and inherently racistI mean, you can't just dismiss that fact; it's a huge factor of why stutlenl.are feeling so uncomfortable with this and why people feel so offended,
11K: Well,were getting a lot of responses, as you listeners might imagine. Hen "'.Christopher who says, "Free speech is a Ieqitimats defense of the legality i Ii
this bake sale, It is not a defense of its morality, ThE'fact is that while the 1111'
has every legal right to make the arqurnent they're making, the argumenl r-.
faulty and offensive. Considering race in college admissions is in servicr "I
legitimate social goals, fostering diversity, and righting past injustu.-.Equating the right of those who have historically been discriminated agai ".1
to an education with discount on a cupcake trivializes these goals, an« ".racially insensitive." Angela writes, "Goodfor the Republican club for stanu..» I
up for themselves. It is a shame that the Associated Student Body presi,l",lwould talk about making everyone feE'1comfortable on campus, but inti "" I'
upon the rights of these students to peacefully protest against laws they I"" I
unjust." And a listener from San JOSE',Eric, says, "Hichael, it is sad that ",,,,,,Berkeley students wish to shut down a bake sale, and in so doing silence v. d ,.I
protest. This is not open and free-spirited Berkeley of past decades." Let, II" 'I"
to more ofyour calls, and we'll go to San Jose, Aaron, you're on the air,
19:24
AARON:Hi, so, my question is: Doesn't the liC system already qivs weight I" I", ,"
school applicants that come from neiqhborhnnds where they hav.: '.1, "'I
KRASNY AND GUESTS I The Berkeley Bake Sale 753
gling schools, for example, a struggling school in L.A.?Astudent from thereis going to be given, urn, wsiqht, in the application process because of theneiqhborhond and the socioeconomic conditions surrounding that schoolversus a student who's applying from, say, Cupertino, in the Bay Area,where they're coming from, y'know, a lot of advantages.
11K:In fact, Andy Nevis, there may be in place a kind of an under-the-radaradmissions system.
;-:0:02
/\N:Yeah, well, basically, the Berkeley Cclleqe Republicans, at least, doesn'treally have a problem with taking into account an individual's challeriqesthey've faced during their life, whether that be socioeconomic or anyother challenges that they'VE!had that may have made it mnre difficult forthem to achieve academically than another student, We just don't thinkthat it's appropriate to blanketly say that somebody's race has causedthem more difficulty than someone else's race. I think race is an incrsdi-bly complex issue. Every person's experience with the issue of race is dif-ferent. 50, to say that just because you're a certain ethnicity, you're goingto qet a preference ... We think that evE'ry case should be cnnaidered onits mer its, individually, based on the chall snqes that that person hasfaced.
MK:Vishalli Loomba, since Andy Nevis has sinqled out race here, I'd like you tocomment on that.
VL: I think that's absolutely ridiculous. You really don't think that race hasplayed a factor for your entire childhood, since you'VE'heen brought up? Ithink you're dismissing a huqe issue, and just completely dismissing raceand saying it's not a factor.
I' MK:Well, just a question to you, Vishalli Loomba, on that point. Would say .. , 50
we get back to a lot of the old arguments about affinnative action, but woulda student from a wl?althy background who happens to be Native Americanor African American or Latino, as opposed to, say, a working-class poorwhite kid, should there he a preference there?
II
Ii
21:31
VL: Well, that's why it's part of a holistic process. Youlook at everythinq. Andrace is a part of that, and you can't dismiss it and say that it's not a partof eVE'rything else. And your race, your ethnicity, your her itaqs, your
I, .,',
socioeconomic status are all factors that play into this process, and playinto your upbringing, and I think that you can't just dismiss it and say it'sinvalid,
754 CHAPTER 25 WHAT SHOULD "DIVERSITY ON CAMPUS" MEAN AND WHY?
I
Many of the callers to Krasny's radio
show are testing the limits of the UC
Berkeley College Republicans' bake
sale analoqy. After reading these
questions, do you think the bake sale
represents a faulty analogy?::'1'
-- Ui\~~(TO F!III
22:00
MK:Well, here's a listener who says, "I find it odd that there is so much protestabout the bake sale but not about 5B 185,I think that the bake sale is clearlya great stunt, which is why it's the topic for today's show," and that's fromWilliam, and we'll go to Eva, who's calling us from liC Berkeley, Hi,Eva,
EVA:Hi. So, I wanted to find out, why aren't you discounting the bake sale fOJmen, I mean, men are the ones, there's a growing trend, that guys are gettinq , , , there are fewer and fewer guys compared to girls on campuses, su
shouldn't there be affirmative action towards men in schools? So whywouldn't you be discounting cookies, , .
MK:You're leaving out your own gender here, Andy Nevis?
AN:Well, I think in this case, we're looking at what historically has been tlu "
trend, Historically, when there has been affirmative action or corisideiation of gender in college admissions, it has been geared towards qivinuadvantage towards females. Of course, that could change, but we don't
know that for sure. So, it's based on the historical practices of colleges ai»l
universities.
MK:Final word from you, Vishalli Loomba.
23:16
VL:Yeah, I was just going to say that I think it's a sexist mentality. It's al».«lutely ridiculous, and if you look at the real world, women are still makiu.j.what, seventy-five cents to the dollar? So, it's extremely offensive to )111 .. 1
things like that on the Internet and say, and hold an event like that. And 1',1
also like to add that I think there are a couple of comments that said t I,., I
I'm silencing BeR and I don't want them to protest. That's completely in«.»recto I fully support the ideas that members of BCRshould be expresr.u«:
their views. I encourage dialogue, and I love that we're ...
MK:That'll have to be the final word here; we've come to the break. Youcan "'"tinue talking about this on our Web site, KOEDdot org slash forum. Cliel '" I
the segment. I'm Michael Krasny.
KRASNY AND GUESTS I The Berkeley Bake Sale 755
RESPOND.
1. How would you characterize the issues raised by California Senate Bill185 for the College Republicans and for the Associated Students of theUniversity of California? What arguments does each side offer in favorof the stance it has taken? Which arguments do you find most con-vincing? (Note: This isn't a question about which side you most agreewith. In fact, work hard to separate your own value commitmentsfrom your evaluation of the argument each side offers.) Why?
2. Not surprisingly, Krasny, a former professor of English, understood theBerkeley College Republicans' Bake Sale as a case of satire. What spe-cifically is being satirized? How? In fact, Krasny was careful to notethat "the group has said its intent is satire," but he continues byacknowledging that "it has created a good deal of anger and evensome threats." How effective do you find this act of "political theater,"as Andy Nevis termed it? Why?
3. How well does Krasny moderate the interview? Do you perceive that heis balanced in his approach to the topic? That he is fair to those he isinterviewing or receiving comments from? Why or why not? In whatsenses is he modeling a rhetorical analysis, as discussed in Chapter 6?
4. Live interview programs, especially those involving more than oneinterviewee and more particularly those that include comments fromcallers or online comments, are improvisational in nature. Even thehost, who is ostensibly in charge, cannot be sure where the programwill end or how it will get there. The host must also monitor the pass-ing of time. How do the constraints of this rhetorical context influencethe messages or arguments that can be offered? (Chapter 1 considersrhetorical situations.) Based on studying this transcript and perhapsyour own experience, what kinds of responses to questions frominterviewees or comments by listeners are most effective? Which areleast effective? What can you learn about shaping effective argumentsfrom considering these questions?
5. Using the example of the Berkeley Bake Sale, write an essay in whichyou evaluate the uses and possible limits of satire as critique when deal-ing with emotionally charged issues like the ones at stake here, includ-ing affirmative action, racism, sexism, and free speech, especially at aninstitution that has quite a history of public debate about each. Are theresituations in which satire is inappropriate or at least ill-advised? Whatmight they be and why? What role, if any, might or should the intent ofthe satirists play in responding to these questions? Is it relevant? Why orwhy not? What would it mean for satirists to take responsibility for theiractions, as the chancellor of the university has claimed they should(paragraph 8)? (Chapter 10 considers evaluative arguments.)