BERKELEY, Calif. — Despite claims of “reducing all systemic injustice to a 3-unit P/NP class,” a new report from political think tank colorBLIND suggests Berkeley’s mandatory “American Cultures” classes are expected to completely end racism by 2030.
Researchers from a consortium of social-impact clubs dubbed “Students Helping Inspire Tolerance,” also known as S.H.I.T, applauded the progress made by the University.
“Look at our team here. We have people from Ireland, from Germany, even from Italy,” noted student-researcher Joe Smith. “As an immigrant from Arkansas, I’m no stranger to the challenges of assimilating to a new culture. What we have… wouldn’t have been possible even ten years ago.”
The AC requirement mandates each Berkeley student take a class centered around the experiences. Recent topics have included, “Oski’s Cultural Legacy” and “The Consulting Club Example: Creating Diversity in Competitive Spaces.” Licht Ryans, a representative of one of these clubs, felt their sheer dedication deserved recognition.
“I mean, you know how easy it is to pick people that look like me?” said Ryans. “I think most of the credit should be given to the decision makers. I mean, in a way, I guess I am a savior of sorts.” After a brief pause, he added, “Not in like a total ego-trip way, just like, I am kind of a BMOC (big man on campus) so to speak.”
Researchers like Smith believe outside factors also gave the movement its biggest push.
“Compared to the 90s, students at Berkeley are half as likely to make questionable remarks after a club’s rejection, and a third as likely to call their peers something that would get them canceled. But at the same time, the world’s changed too. I mean, that whole black square movement. Wow,” he remarked. “That changed the whole ballgame.” According to the team, some major, equally important cultural shifts were marked by moments like NAV promising to no longer say racial slurs in his music, as well as Justin Beiber saying he was “very sorry” for past offensive jokes.
The team has claimed they have similar projects in the works but declined to comment when contacted for any further details. Still, many see the group as a beacon of hope; hope that can one day cure the world of issues faced by well-off Berkeley students.