I am appalled at the university's insensitivity to its Asian/Pacific American community, as reflected in its invitation of the London City Opera to perform Madame Butterfly at Eisenhower Auditorium. In doing so, the university supports the 19th century racist stereotypes portrayed in the opera, of people of Asian/Pacific descent, especially of Asian/Pacific women.

For those of you who don't know the story, Madame Butterfly is an opera about a 15-year-old girl, named Butterfly, living in Nagasaki, Japan, who falls for a sham marriage to an American naval officer. Butterfly, the stereotype of the "exotic" and submissive "Oriental" woman then renounces her family and her people to be with this man who does not care for her.

He later returns to America, abandoning her and their son. However, he returns three years later with a new wife to claim his son, which causes Butterfly to commit suicide in disgrace.

The university's allowing of this performance is tantamount to allowing a remake of Al Jolson's blackface acts to be performed.

This type of message is harmful to the Asian/Pacific American community here at Penn State. It is also inexcusable.