RECENTLY, the American press has been carrying stories about Bangladeshis as "model minorities", working hard to realize the American Dream. However, not all the stories are quite so positive. This week, two incidents reminded us of the dark side of the dream. In both cases, stereotypes about Bangladeshi immigrants were used in shameless manifestations of racism.

The first incident involved 22 year-old Kabir, a computer science student at Wichita State University and a popular waiter at nearby ’Chili's'" restaurant. A 50-year-old couple were waiting for dinner when Kabir came to take their orders. As Kabir started telling them about a special contest "Chili's" was holding, the lady interrupted: We dSi't want to hear about a ... contest!"

Before Kabir could regain his composure, the lady (and there could be no doubt at this point as to what kind of a lady she was) continued. "We would like a white waiter."

If this were New York, one of two things would have happened: either Kabir would have thrown them out. or the manager of the restaurant would have done the same. But this being Kansas, a white waitress intervened (you might call her Dorothy from Oz) and a badly hurt Kabir walked away. The couple asked if "Dorothy" was going to be their waitress. She said yes and they were visibly pleased.

Kabir's co-workers were furious, but the two managers on duty decided "not to make a scene". Later, when the Wichita Eagle newspaper contacted him, general manager Sean McLachlan, defended the decl-

"Maybe they were racist and ignorant, but I thipk it was best that we avoided some kind of scene or trouble because cf our other guests. We have tn lie concerned about all our guests. In 14 years in this business, and four as a manager. I've never heard of this happening before. It's unfortunate there are people HI"' that out there."

The Wichita Eagle did not

share Sean's sense of caution. In an outraged article, reporter Bob Getz wrote:

"Myself, I think it's unfortunate that McLachlan didn't toss these sorry racists out of the restaurant. And instead of worrying about making a scene, making so much commotion that even the customers in the restaurant's most distant corner knew exactly why these people were getting the old heave-hoe."

When reached for comment. Kabir sounded a conciliatory note:

"I love to work at Chili s, I work my butt off. But I enjoy it. I've never had anything like that happen to me before. Yes. I felt really bad. I was very frustrated. But I didn't react It happened very suddenly and surprised me."

*****

In another corner of the country, Mohammad Matiur Rahman was in anything but a conciliatory mood. Unlike 22-year-old Kabir, 50-year old Rahman was determined to make as much fuss as possible. A Chemistry instructor at Grand Rapids Community College. Rahman was fired from his S62,000-a-year position a year after he started work. In a lawsuit against the College. Rahman's lawyers argued that he was discriminated against because of his Bangladeshi accent and nationality.

Rahman told reporters that: "It's because of my nationality that many of the students have been manipulated to complain against me." Named in the lawsuit were science instructor Tom Neils, former acting Dean Roberta Schrader and former acting head of physical science. Leslie Edmondson. The lawsuit alleged "severe emotional distress. lost wages and benefits, embarrassment, as well as impaired earning capacity)”

Rahman has been a U.S. citizen for several years. A former teacher in Bangladesh, he taught at various small colleges in the US before being hired as a Chemistry instructor at his present job in August 1998.

The papers filed with the

court argue that Tom Nells was after Rahman from his first day:

"Even before (Rahman) began teaching in Grand Rapids. Defendant Tom Neils ... began questioning (Rahman) about his salary schedule. Dr. Neils made it very clear that he was not pleased that (Rahman) started at a higher salary than he (Nells) was currently being paid."

"I was treated like a foreigner (by Neils)" said Rahman to reporters.

When contacted by the Grand Rapids Press newspaper. Dr Neils vehemently denied the accusations:

"I did nothing wrong. I'm not Jealous. I'm not anything. Somehow there was a huge misunderstanding between what I said and how he • interpreted it...I don't understand why I'm being sued in the first place. I'm not mad at him."

A month after he was hired. Leslie Edmondson said students started to complain about Rahman's accent. Lawyers for Matiur Rahman stated that he had been working to fix this problem: "(Rahman) stated that he would attempt to raise his voice and speak more clearly. He is aware that he has an accent and he is continuously trying to improve his accent."

After this meeting. Rahman alleged that Edmondson actively began looking for information against him:

'They were asking the students behind my back to get as many complaints as they could from the students. They completely interfered with my instruction and tried to do things to make me look ineffective."

Dean Roberta Schrader later told Rahman that one of his students told her. "I paid tuition to come to GRCC. I want to be taught by white faculty, no matter what."

- When the case comes to court, I hope Rahman's lawyers will remember to ask this:

If being White and speaking English without an accent were the two main criteria, how many immigrants would have succeeded in America over the last century?