'Immigration' game at NYU crosses line, students say
(http://www.nydailynews.com/front/story/499527p-421075c.html)
Wednesday, February 21st, 2007
A student Republican club at New York University is getting heat for organizing a "Find the Illegal Immigrant" game on campus tomorrow.
Participants in the contest will try to win a gift certificate by being the first to point out a club member wearing a nametag reading "Illegal Immigrant."
Other students at the high-priced school have bombarded club officials with e-mails branding the event "racist" and "disgusting." Some students plan to counter the game with a protest.
"It's not a racist event, first and foremost," said Sarah Chambers, 21, president of the College Republicans. "Just because we don't want illegal immigrants being able to completely disregard the laws of our country doesn't make us racist."
Chambers, a politics major, said students must show their NYU identification to be deemed "INS" agents and to search the person wearing the nametag.
"The person that is being the 'illegal immigrant' is not an actual undocumented worker or illegal immigrant," Chambers insisted.
She admitted the game is provocative, but it's intended to get students to pay attention and debate the issue of illegal immigration.
Up to 300 students are expected to protest the game. On a campus Internet bulletin board, protest organizers said, "We need to show that this type of racist action is completely unacceptable."
------------------------------
I'm a little torm on this issue. I mean, I have to believe that there is a much easier, less controversial way of bringing attention to the issue of illegal immigration without making it look like a hunt.
Then again, there's a reason I never joined any sort of Republican club at all...
But then again, I don't really see how this "game" is racist - a little uncalled for and ridiculous, but not racist. I could be wrong, who knows. Maybe these people are looking deeper than I am. Or maybe they are overanalyzing.
So, what do you think? Is this game racist? Or merely uncalled for? Would you participate in this game or would you find yourself protesting it?
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
I am not a big fan of illegal immigration, so I do not find this game that big of a deal. I do not feel that it is a racist game, nor is it that bad of a game.
They mention that it is a racist game, but how can it be racist when illegals can be black, white, Asian, Hispanic, Middle Eastern, as well as others. There are multiple races that enter into this country illegally, and I feel that if you are not here illegally then you have nothing to be offended by but if you are then you may be offended. And even if you are illegal and offended, you don't have much to argue about because you are not supposed to be here.
Also, I must look down upon the protesters of this game and feel that they are not fulfilling their duties as citizens of the United States. How can you allow people to come into our country, exhaust our benefits, resources, and other valuable assets and leave a trail of waste including violence! I think that we she begin to STRICTLY limit who comes in our borders, and it has to start at the top with our elected officials.