- Target:
- The University of Texas at Austin, Center for Asian Studies at UT/Austin, The Texas Language Center
- Region:
- United States of America
From:
Concerned Vietnamese American Citizens
To:
The President of University of Texas at Austin
The Director of Center for Asian Studies at UT/Austin
The Director of The Texas Language Center
William Powers Jr.
President
The University of Texas at Austin
Main Building 400 (G3400)
Post Office Box T
Austin, Texas 78713-8920
512-471-1232
------------------------------------
Juan C. González
Vice President for Student Affairs
U.S. Mailing Address
P. O. Box 7699
Austin, Texas 78713-7699
Campus Mail Address
Main Building 121 (G5000)
512-471-1133
512-471-5558 fax
----------------------------------
Don Hale
Vice President for Public Affairs
U.S. Mailing Address
P.O. Box Z
Austin, Texas 78713-8926
Campus Mail Address
Main Building 301 (G3200)
512-475-6869, 471-3151
--------------------------------
Gregory J. Vincent
Vice President for Diversity and Community Engagement
U.S. Mailing Address
1 University Station, G1050
Austin, Texas 78712
Campus Mail Address
Main Building 12 (G1050)
512-471-3212
512-475-7385 fax
--------------------------------
President’s Staff
Nancy Brazzil
Deputy to the President
512-471-1232
nab@po.utexas.edu
------------------------------
Center for Asian Studies
ceas@uts.cc.utexas.edu
Robert M Oppenheim
Coordinator
rmo@mail.utexas.edu
512-471-7279
-------------------------------
The Texas Language Center
Thomas Garza
Director
tjgarza@mail.utexas.edu
Homer Rainey Hall (HRH) 4.196
Email: tlc@austin.utexas.edu
Phone 512-471-6574
Subject: Vietnamese Language Course and Instructors
Dear Sir or Madam:
We, undersigned, are Vietnamese American citizens living in the United States.
1. After the fall of Saigon in 1975, millions of Vietnamese have fled the country because they don’t accept the Communist regime.
2. As refugees, we always embrace our wishes to restore the democracy and freedom to our fellow people in Vietnam.
3. We have tried so hard to keep our identity as Vietnamese against the Communism. Our heritage flag (the Yellow Background and three Red stripes) was recognized by Texas State, Travis County and City of Austin in 2004. It was also recognized by scores of States, counties, and cities all over the nation.
4. There are thousands of Vietnamese American students at the University of Texas, whose parents are refugees from Communist Vietnam. We expect that they will be taught Vietnamese language by instructors from our community.
5. The facts that Mr. Hoang Ngo – from Communist Vietnam with different political background and perspective - has been teaching our children; and the Communist flag displayed on the official website of UT/Austin, we consider these are an offense and challenge to our community.
http://www.utexas.edu/cola/centers/tlc/SLI/Vietnamese- Language-Program.php
Therefore:
1. We are expressing our disagreement to the fact that our children are taught by our politically opposing side. This instructor may carry out some communist propaganda to distort the Vietnamese history and culture, in line with Communist ideology.
2. We are respectfully requesting the University of Texas to replace any Vietnamese instructors by Vietnamese Americans who are best qualified to the job, that we believe there are many in Austin.
3. We are respectfully requesting the University of Texas to promptly remove the Communist Vietnam flag on the UT website. A friendly reminder: the display of a Communist Vietnam Flag at UT Arlington sparked a protest by 5000 Vietnamese American right at the campus on May 30, 2006.
We are very thankful to your concern and fair resolution in this sensitive matter.
Respectfully yours,
Latest news: On March 29, 2011, the Red Flag of Communist Vietnam was removed from the UT Webpage.
Mr. Michael Do sent a Letter of Appreciation to the UT Officials on 03/30/2011.
There is still the second goal: to replace the Communist Vietnamese Intructor by the one from our Community who has good Nationalist Stand Point.
Thank all for strong support.
May God bless Vietnam.
You can further help this campaign by sponsoring it
The Remove the Communist flag on the official website of UT/Austin petition to The University of Texas at Austin, Center for Asian Studies at UT/Austin, The Texas Language Center was written by Michael Do and is in the category Education at GoPetition.