I decided to contact The Echo because of a rather offensive comment in the graduation edition. I was reading the Restaurant Guide and when I reached the review for Dalat, a Vietnamese restaurant downtown, one line jumped out at me:

“Unlike many Asian restaurants, Dalat is clean and smells appetizing.”

This is a rather backhanded compliment for a restaurant I frequent, but I was more offended by the baseless jab at Asian restaurants in general. It’s a small statement, but stereotypes are built of such accumulated verbal slights. Considering the celebrated diversity of Eastern Michigan University’s campus, I was surprised at the ethnocentric message of that particular sentence; it suggests Asian restaurants are more likely than others to be dirty and foul-smelling. I would appreciate a printed apology.

Thank you for your time.