NC Professor To Students: ‘Americanize’ Your Names ‘Because This Is America’
A professor in North Carolina was handing out biochemistry tests when he had difficulty reading one of the names and remarked that students should “Americanize” names “because this is America.”
[su_center_ad]NC State says the professor, Charles Hardin, who made the comment will apologize.
ABC 11 reports, “A school spokesperson said NC State leadership met with Hardin who admitted making the comment, but said it was made in jest.”
It appears that the students can expect a really crappy apology for this:
“The professor realizes that his statement devalued the heritage of some students and was inappropriate for the classroom or anywhere else on the university’s campus,” the spokesperson said.
The university said Hardin will apologize when his class meets on Wednesday and the department head will meet with any students who would like to express any concerns.
H/T: @ComgenKDT with thanks.[su_csky_ad]
Image: Wikipedia
Khary A November 12th, 2014 at 9:53 am
“I’m Americanized…DEATH TO ALL WHO WEAR PAISLEY!!”
Carla Akins November 12th, 2014 at 10:30 am
I’m just curious what he expects from students cursed with awful parents that name their children; North West or Pilot Inspektor ? These children were named by there already Americanized parents.
Anomaly 100 November 12th, 2014 at 12:30 pm
Or my first name….
Carla Akins November 12th, 2014 at 12:54 pm
I know you hate it, but again – your name is a perfectly fine unique name without being “North West”. They could have named you Bambi .
Anomaly 100 November 12th, 2014 at 1:35 pm
Yeah, but they just *had* to name me Snaggletooth?!
Carla Akins November 12th, 2014 at 1:36 pm
They were inspired.
arc99 November 12th, 2014 at 10:43 am
If anyone is interested in changing their names to “Americanize” them, some of my favorite choices would be
Sitting Bull
Sacajawea
Red Cloud
Pocahontas
Those are real American names, not foreign imports.
Pistol-Packing AKA "Susie" November 12th, 2014 at 10:53 am
When my Great Great Grand Father came over in 1878. When giving his name at Ellis island, he was told the exact same thing. And my family name was changed that day to be more American that people can pronounce.
arc99 November 12th, 2014 at 11:15 am
This is the 21st century, not the 19th century.
Lots of things went on in 1878 that have no place in modern society. And as I noted below, if your great great grandfather chose a name that originated in England, that is not more “American”. It is European. The real Americans are the people who were already here for centuries before Columbus showed up.
Pistol-Packing AKA "Susie" November 12th, 2014 at 1:00 pm
Dont get me wrong. I agree. It has no place in todays society. But it was a very common practice to do it.
With my heritage being Slovakian. I am not that upset with the new name… LOL
Anomaly 100 November 12th, 2014 at 12:30 pm
When I was born, my parents gave me a highly unusual name. (RJ and Carla can vouch for this.) They passed on a family name to me. It’s a tradition in our family.
What’s un-american about tradition? I hate my first name, but it’s not less American than anyone else’s since we are a diverse country.
Pistol-Packing AKA "Susie" November 12th, 2014 at 1:01 pm
True
edmeyer_able November 12th, 2014 at 5:26 pm
What’s so hard about Susie?
Allan Kim Harrison November 12th, 2014 at 10:55 am
Bet he’s a liberal.
Guest November 12th, 2014 at 12:11 pm
Bet you’re a c#nt-servative.
Budda November 12th, 2014 at 12:39 pm
Like Elmer or Gertrude?
edmeyer_able November 12th, 2014 at 5:24 pm
Full disclosure: my Dad who never knew his father was sent to an orphanage when his Mother died and she requested the stepfather not receive custody. Before his Aunt and Uncle could afford to get him out the nuns running the organization decided to change his name from the Ukrainian spelling of Major to the German Meyer.
RK Johnston November 13th, 2014 at 7:26 pm
Reminds me of the joke my ex used to tell:
A little Native American boy asked his parents how they came to name him what they did.
“That is easy, son,” said the father. “We named you after the first thing we saw together after you were born…it’s a tradition in our tribe.”
“So,” inquired the mom, “why do you ask, Two-Dogs-Humping?”
Just be careful what you wish for!
–RKJ