‘Survivor’ gets controversial

This Thursday, CBS will begin the search for its sole survivor.

But this time producers didn’t mix and match possible team combinations using differences in personality traits, strengths and weaknesses or abilities of the cast; this season’s teams were determined by each tribal members’ skin color and ethnic background.

“Survivor” tribes will be separated into teams of blacks, whites, Asians and Hispanics fighting to survive on the Cook Islands.

The Commonwealth Times asked students what they thought about the controversial change to the show.

Names: Cathy Chang, freshman psychology and premed major, and Wendy Alabastro, freshman pre-dental hygiene major.

How do you feel about teams divided by color and ethnicity? WA: I’m kind of shocked about it, but then again it causes for great publicity. Everybody loves controversy. CC: I think it’s quite interesting. No one has ever done it before.

In your experience, what are the stereotypes associated with Asian people? CC, WA: Being really smart. Oh, the Asians can’t see, they can’t drive well. They will drive super slow and get in an accident.

Do you feel you’re supposed to support your ethnicity’s team? CC: Sort of. It’s like the World Cup. A lot of the Koreans supported the Koreans, and everyone supported their own country.

Do you think it will cause tension among ethnic groups who watch “Survivor?” WA: Some people do tend to hang out with people who mirror them, mirror their own values and mirror their own culture.

Do you think every team will be represented fairly? WA: I bet you the director or the editors will think of something having to do with the stereotype so that the stereotype is blatantly right there in your face. CC: There are a lot of stereotypes out there, and not a lot of people want to be told they’re wrong. They want to see the stereotypes.

Do you think we live in racial segregation today? CC: I think there’s going to be racial segregation until the end of time. Everywhere I go, there are people who only hang out with their own race because they have things in common. They’re afraid they might be made fun of, so they tend to stay with their own race.

Names: Anthony Newton, freshman undeclared major, and Brooke Bernard, freshman Art Foundation major.

How do you feel about the teams divided by color and ethnicity? AN: I think it’s going to cause trouble, but I think it’s definitely for ratings-they’re trying to get everyone interested again. BB: I think it’s a bad idea. You can’t think of anything else to make people watch?

Do you feel you’re supposed to support your ethnicity’s team? AN: I think they’re going to naturally end up rooting for their race, but that’s because that’s how history falls. People usually go with their race.

In your experience, what are the stereotypes associated with white people? BB: They can’t get along in the forest, and they’re whiney, snobby and can’t catch any lizards to eat. AN: They might think they’re better than everybody. They might have some nerds, some rednecks. Somebody who gets everything they want.

Do you think it will cause tension among ethnic groups who watch “Survivor?” AN: I think they will unless they are smart enough to realize it’s just a show, and we’re not seeing the whole picture. BB: It’s set up as stereotypes, and I think it is going to cause problems.

Do you think every team will be presented fairly? AN: I think they are going to edit toward the stereotypes just to make good television. BB: It’s supposed to be entertainment, so they will do what’s going to make people watch the most. If you make it fair and balanced, people aren’t going to watch it as much.

Do you think we live in racial segregation today? AN: I do. Look at the churches, and obviously everybody goes toward their comfort zones in the real world. It just seems that way. BB: I think sometimes people do it unintentionally. People go with their own kind of group.

Names: Juan Mojica, junior criminal justice major, and Enzo Diaz, freshman mass communications major.

How do you feel about teams divided by color and ethnicity? ED: I think it’s a bad idea. You shouldn’t judge people by their race. JM: I think it’s good to a certain extent because you feel more comfortable with your own race. Maybe they can understand you at a cultural level. But I also think it’s bad because it’s segregating by race, which is definitely not the signal we want to send out.

In your experience, what are the stereotypes associated with Hispanic people? JM: We’re loud, obnoxious, aggressive, macho, independent. ED: We like Taco Bell, we can jump over walls, we can swim.

Do you feel you’re supposed to support your ethnicity’s team? ED: I think the producers want to separate the audience. JM: It’s not that you’re supposed to. I think it’s just a common interest or more common ground with your race. The roots! That’s your people. That’s your history.

Do you think it will cause tension among ethnic groups who watch “Survivor?” JM: I think it will definitely bring animosity to the game.

Do you think every team will be presented fairly? JM: I think there are going to be fights among the groups, not because of race but because of competition. But the TV show will make it seem like it’s because of race.

Do you think we live in racial segregation today? ED: Yes. If you look at the groups, usually the blacks hang out with the blacks, and the whites with the whites and so on.

Names: Anthony Frazier, sophomore forensic science and biology major, and Janet Robinson, freshman Art Foundation major.

How do you feel about teams divided by color and ethnicity? JR: I think it’s strange. It’s just for controversy to get more viewers. AF: Personally I don’t think it’s a good idea. In the past, “Survivor” was everyone working together as a whole, but here we go, breaking it down into races, which will lead to controversy.

In your experience, what are the stereotypes associated with black people? JR, AF: Fighting, yelling, loud, athletic.

Do you feel you’re supposed to support your ethnicity’s team? AF: I think that is with anything. With “American Idol,” a lot of black people wanted a black contestant to win, and white people wanted a white contestant to win. I think it’s good to support your race, but maybe they’ll take it too far.

Do you think it will cause tension among ethnic groups who watch “Survivor?” JR: I think it will make people see other races differently. Maybe they don’t hang out outside of their races, and maybe they’ll see what they’re really like.

Do you think every team will be represented fairly? AF: I think editing will play to the stereotypes. That’s what gets the ratings up, and that’s what will get viewers to watch the season.

Do you think we live in racial segregation today? JR: For the most part. Certain places there are going to be people who hang out with their own race because they don’t know what people in outside races are really like because of stereotypes.