Punch Bowl “Diversity Issue” a Paragon of Subtlety and Restraint

by | February 12, 2008 at 8:37 pm

Punch Bowl "Diversity Issue" a Paragon of Subtlety and RestraintHow many scandals have to unfold before college publications realize their Borat-aspiring ditties on yellow fever and Indian givers are seldom well received?

Meet the newest inductee to that infamous coterie of College Publications With Dubious Taste: The Pennsylvania Punch Bowl, whose “Diversity Issue” features a theme so broad as to offend not just one or two minorities, but all maligned groups. Word is that the Asian Pacific Student Coalition called a meeting to discuss the Bowl‘s heavy hand with Asian jokes, including a photo spread depicting “Where Asians Don’t Belong.” Locations of non-belonging include “at a frat party,” “participating in a drinking game,” and specific buildings and classes at Penn. Highlights include a “Great Moments in Diversity History” timeline:

Punch Bowl "Diversity Issue" a Paragon of Subtlety and Restraint

And advice on “Diversifying Your Friend Portfolio”:

Punch Bowl "Diversity Issue" a Paragon of Subtlety and Restraint

Ah, the fine line between making jokes about stereotypes and, uh, listing them one by one for 14 pages straight? Punch Bowl‘s website offers the magazine for PDF download, but since you probably don’t want smut like that on your hard drive, we’ve got it after the jump. Looks like the Bowl didn’t appreciate our attempt to improve their internet availability. So we’ve reduced after-the-jump to just a few excerpts (only some of your shit, Punch!) and one of the stranger cease-and-desists we’ve received, featuring ruminations on “this modern life” and metaphors about fire and light and stuff.


The photo spread that has the APSC up in arms (click for enlarged view):
page 7page 8

The cease-and-desist in which we discover that, just as Vogue is a division of the Conde Nast, and 7 is a divisor of 21, Punch Bowl is a division of Penn:

Hey Ivygate,
 
Thanks for the attention! We’ve been trying to fan the flames enough for people to complain, and it looks like instead of actually complaining or something… they gave a heads up to you guys? Ah, this modern life.
 
Anyway, yeah we appreciate the limelight- but- you’re gonna have to take down the entirety of our magazine in jpg form. We’re fine with (jubilant, in fact) you linking to our website if your readers want to read our reprehensible magazine, but we’re not fine with (not jubilant, in fact) you jacking all our shit. So yeah, direct link it or whatever, but take down those jpgs.
 
We’re, ironically, actually copyrighted and actually considered a division of UPenn, and it’s going to be a huge hassle for us to have to go to legal and submit a formal complaint and all that, so we’d appreciate it.
 
Thanks again!
Punch Bowl

So, if Punch Bowl is a division of Penn, their editors must be, like, Amy Gutmann’s co-workers. In which case they might want to rethink their boundaries:

 Punch Bowl "Diversity Issue" a Paragon of Subtlety and Restraint

Luckily, we hear Fairy Jihad-Mother has a pretty good sense of humor for these things.

 
185 Comments | |
 
 Print This Post
 
Read more: , ,
← Older Comments
  • princeton ’10

    I find this “Punch-Bowl” publication dreadfully wretched. Browsing some of its “PDF’s,” I discovered that its writers utilize a simply unacceptable amount of profanity. The race jokes are fine–I like race jokes–but if the Punchbowl dares use inappropriate language again, it can look forward to explaining its actions in a court of law.

  • princeton ’10

    I find this “Punch-Bowl” publication dreadfully wretched. Browsing some of its “PDF’s,” I discovered that its writers utilize a simply unacceptable amount of profanity. The race jokes are fine–I like race jokes–but if the Punchbowl dares use inappropriate language again, it can look forward to explaining its actions in a court of law.

  • princeton ’10

    I find this “Punch-Bowl” publication dreadfully wretched. Browsing some of its “PDF’s,” I discovered that its writers utilize a simply unacceptable amount of profanity. The race jokes are fine–I like race jokes–but if the Punchbowl dares use inappropriate language again, it can look forward to explaining its actions in a court of law.

  • princeton ’10

    I find this “Punch-Bowl” publication dreadfully wretched. Browsing some of its “PDF’s,” I discovered that its writers utilize a simply unacceptable amount of profanity. The race jokes are fine–I like race jokes–but if the Punchbowl dares use inappropriate language again, it can look forward to explaining its actions in a court of law.

  • princeton ’10

    I find this “Punch-Bowl” publication dreadfully wretched. Browsing some of its “PDF’s,” I discovered that its writers utilize a simply unacceptable amount of profanity. The race jokes are fine–I like race jokes–but if the Punchbowl dares use inappropriate language again, it can look forward to explaining its actions in a court of law.

  • @princeton ’10

    seriously? “if the Punchbowl dares use inappropriate language again, it can look forward to explaining its actions in a court of law.” …really?

    i personally find Punch Bowl’s use of gerunds to be obscene and past the boundaries of public decency. plus, if the writers wanted to show real comedic talent, they would write the entire magazine with using the letter “e”.

  • @princeton ’10

    seriously? “if the Punchbowl dares use inappropriate language again, it can look forward to explaining its actions in a court of law.” …really?

    i personally find Punch Bowl’s use of gerunds to be obscene and past the boundaries of public decency. plus, if the writers wanted to show real comedic talent, they would write the entire magazine with using the letter “e”.

  • @princeton ’10

    seriously? “if the Punchbowl dares use inappropriate language again, it can look forward to explaining its actions in a court of law.” …really?

    i personally find Punch Bowl’s use of gerunds to be obscene and past the boundaries of public decency. plus, if the writers wanted to show real comedic talent, they would write the entire magazine with using the letter “e”.

  • @ princeton ’10

    Normally, I’d assume that you’re joking, but you’re from Princeton, so maybe not.

    I really do hope that you’re kidding, but part of me wishes that you’re serious, because I’d LOVE to see you attempt to sue Punch Bowl. Now THAT would be funny.

  • @ princeton ’10

    Normally, I’d assume that you’re joking, but you’re from Princeton, so maybe not.

    I really do hope that you’re kidding, but part of me wishes that you’re serious, because I’d LOVE to see you attempt to sue Punch Bowl. Now THAT would be funny.

  • @ princeton ’10

    Normally, I’d assume that you’re joking, but you’re from Princeton, so maybe not.

    I really do hope that you’re kidding, but part of me wishes that you’re serious, because I’d LOVE to see you attempt to sue Punch Bowl. Now THAT would be funny.

  • penn ’11

    thank you for cover this and all, but come on… it’s been out for a good 3 or 4 weeks.
    fuck you, princeton. you just wish someone at your school had a sense of humor.

  • penn ’11

    thank you for cover this and all, but come on… it’s been out for a good 3 or 4 weeks.
    fuck you, princeton. you just wish someone at your school had a sense of humor.

  • penn ’11

    thank you for cover this and all, but come on… it’s been out for a good 3 or 4 weeks.
    fuck you, princeton. you just wish someone at your school had a sense of humor.

  • Ev

    How is it ironic that they are copyrighted? Man I wish people actually knew what that word meant, especially football color commentators. And Punch Bowl.

  • Ev

    How is it ironic that they are copyrighted? Man I wish people actually knew what that word meant, especially football color commentators. And Punch Bowl.

  • Ev

    How is it ironic that they are copyrighted? Man I wish people actually knew what that word meant, especially football color commentators. And Punch Bowl.

  • Drexhell Kid

    An Asian standing around 40th and Market streets, for a prolonged period of time, is serious fucking business.

  • Drexhell Kid

    An Asian standing around 40th and Market streets, for a prolonged period of time, is serious fucking business.

  • Drexhell Kid

    An Asian standing around 40th and Market streets, for a prolonged period of time, is serious fucking business.

  • Asian Kid at Penn

    Hardly anyone at Penn demanded an apology or even a radical change of procedure of Punch Bowl. So there is no reason for anyone to retaliate when some of us expressed our distaste in response to its recent publication. Why do the members of Punch Bowl and its advocates malign us for simply stating the facts? We never tried to speak on behalf of the entire Asian-American population but let me assure whomever may be reading my comment that there was a substantial group of us that were offended and afraid that these oversimplified views and stereotypes were being perpetuated, which, according to statistics, contributes to preconceived judgments laid on the Asian diaspora and mental illnesses such as depression.

    I simply implore the Punch Bowl to understand this and know that these are the consequences of their actions.

  • Asian Kid at Penn

    Hardly anyone at Penn demanded an apology or even a radical change of procedure of Punch Bowl. So there is no reason for anyone to retaliate when some of us expressed our distaste in response to its recent publication. Why do the members of Punch Bowl and its advocates malign us for simply stating the facts? We never tried to speak on behalf of the entire Asian-American population but let me assure whomever may be reading my comment that there was a substantial group of us that were offended and afraid that these oversimplified views and stereotypes were being perpetuated, which, according to statistics, contributes to preconceived judgments laid on the Asian diaspora and mental illnesses such as depression.

    I simply implore the Punch Bowl to understand this and know that these are the consequences of their actions.

  • Asian Kid at Penn

    Hardly anyone at Penn demanded an apology or even a radical change of procedure of Punch Bowl. So there is no reason for anyone to retaliate when some of us expressed our distaste in response to its recent publication. Why do the members of Punch Bowl and its advocates malign us for simply stating the facts? We never tried to speak on behalf of the entire Asian-American population but let me assure whomever may be reading my comment that there was a substantial group of us that were offended and afraid that these oversimplified views and stereotypes were being perpetuated, which, according to statistics, contributes to preconceived judgments laid on the Asian diaspora and mental illnesses such as depression.

    I simply implore the Punch Bowl to understand this and know that these are the consequences of their actions.

  • Michael J. Weingarth

    Seriously, if guys are that upset or really concerned that people should “understand” your position, why don’t you write a nice editorial to the Daily Pennsylvanian demanding that someone pay more attention to what Punch Bowl is doing?
    I mean, that way everyone’s a winner, including Punch Bowl.

    Michael J. Weingarth
    Former Editor-in-Chief 06-07
    http://www.TheDoppleGang.com

  • Michael J. Weingarth

    Seriously, if guys are that upset or really concerned that people should “understand” your position, why don’t you write a nice editorial to the Daily Pennsylvanian demanding that someone pay more attention to what Punch Bowl is doing?
    I mean, that way everyone’s a winner, including Punch Bowl.

    Michael J. Weingarth
    Former Editor-in-Chief 06-07
    http://www.TheDoppleGang.com

  • Michael J. Weingarth

    Seriously, if guys are that upset or really concerned that people should “understand” your position, why don’t you write a nice editorial to the Daily Pennsylvanian demanding that someone pay more attention to what Punch Bowl is doing?
    I mean, that way everyone’s a winner, including Punch Bowl.

    Michael J. Weingarth
    Former Editor-in-Chief 06-07
    http://www.TheDoppleGang.com

  • spoon

    What a lot of you are missing about the illustrious punchbowl magazine is that in reading blunt stereotypes in such a humorous setting several things occur. one, you might laugh, two you might cry, three, you might decide to endorse the magazine by advertising it for free. Regardless in the end, you realize how silly these stereotypes really are. how could they be true? for one, i’ve seen plenty of asians in math 104. its inviting us to contradict the stereotypes, its criticizing society and most of all, its making my day just a little more bearable. Plus who doesn’t like transexuals and culturally inclined conservative americans hanging out together and making happy?

  • spoon

    What a lot of you are missing about the illustrious punchbowl magazine is that in reading blunt stereotypes in such a humorous setting several things occur. one, you might laugh, two you might cry, three, you might decide to endorse the magazine by advertising it for free. Regardless in the end, you realize how silly these stereotypes really are. how could they be true? for one, i’ve seen plenty of asians in math 104. its inviting us to contradict the stereotypes, its criticizing society and most of all, its making my day just a little more bearable. Plus who doesn’t like transexuals and culturally inclined conservative americans hanging out together and making happy?

  • spoon

    What a lot of you are missing about the illustrious punchbowl magazine is that in reading blunt stereotypes in such a humorous setting several things occur. one, you might laugh, two you might cry, three, you might decide to endorse the magazine by advertising it for free. Regardless in the end, you realize how silly these stereotypes really are. how could they be true? for one, i’ve seen plenty of asians in math 104. its inviting us to contradict the stereotypes, its criticizing society and most of all, its making my day just a little more bearable. Plus who doesn’t like transexuals and culturally inclined conservative americans hanging out together and making happy?

  • Facing Facts at the DP

    seriously, please write an editorial to the DP. God knows we’ve got nothing else to write about.

  • Facing Facts at the DP

    seriously, please write an editorial to the DP. God knows we’ve got nothing else to write about.

  • Facing Facts at the DP

    seriously, please write an editorial to the DP. God knows we’ve got nothing else to write about.

  • d11

    So why is this tagged under Dartmouth?

  • d11

    So why is this tagged under Dartmouth?

  • d11

    So why is this tagged under Dartmouth?

← Older Comments