Galliano (Getty)

Anti-Semitism is out of style at Parsons.

Students at The New School of Design are angrily protesting the schools’ controversial new hire: designer John Galliano, the notorious deliverer of a hateful, pro-Hitler tirade in 2011.

The world-renowned design college has reportedly hired Mr. Galliano to teach a short workshop on “emotion” this May. Upon hearing the news, an anonymous group took to Change.org to start a petition that would block the designer from teaching at the school. 

“This is a person who was fired from Dior for his anti-Semitic remarks, who Natalie Portman refused to work with because of his remarks, so why is Parsons The New School for Design hiring him?” the petition demands.

“[Parsons] plans to hire John Galliano for a 3-day workshop,” the petition continues, “It doesn't matter if its for three months or three days, hiring someone who has made such horrific comments shows that the school values Galliano over their entire Jewish student body. It shows they value him over their students' respect, peace of mind, and heritage.” The petition later likens the hiring of Mr. Galliano to hiring a member of the KKK.

Supporters of the petition angrily voiced their disgust with Mr. Galliano. Most commenters were students, disgraced and offended that their school would hire an instructor with his track record.

“As president of the Jewish Student Union (the oldest and largest club on-campus), I am shocked that The New School hired John Galliano,” one Jennifer Kaplan commented on the petition’s webpage.

“I find it appalling that a known Anti-Semite like John Galliano could be hired to teach at The New School,” wrote Alex Goldblum, a Parsons alumnus. “I am demanding his immediate termination.”

The petition was supported by Parsons parents, too.

“My in-laws are survivors and lost their parents and many relatives in the Holocaust,” wrote Sally Baerman, whose daughter is a Parsons freshman. "Galliano, who debases himself with anti-Semitism, is NOT an instructor that is worthy of educating students ~ no matter how talented he may be.”

Mr. Galliano made headlines in 2011, when his anti-Semitic rant in a Paris cafe was caught on tape. “I love Hitler,” Mr. Galliano says in the video. “People like you would be dead. Your mothers, your forefathers, would all be f------ gassed.” Following his actions, the designer was promptly fired from Christian Dior.

Mr. Galliano made waves again last Fashion Week, when he stepped out in a questionably-offensive outfit that channeled Hasidic Jewish garb.

Still, the school stands by its decision. 

"The planned master class with John Galliano will be a dynamic and intimate opportunity for our students to learn from an immensely talented designer," a statement released by Parsons read.

"We believe that over the past two years Galliano has demonstrated a serious intent to make amends for his past actions, and as part of this workshop, Parsons students will have the opportunity to engage in a frank conversation with Mr. Galliano about the challenges and complications of leading a design house in the 21st century."

The  petition aims to collect 500 signatures. Stay tuned to find out if Mr. Galliano will be permitted to walk the runway, or whether the school will decide he’s simply out of fashion.

Update: An earlier version of this story said the petition was started by an anonymous group of Parsons students started the petition. It is not known whether they are students.

The 'selection.' (YouTube)

Georgia Braithwaite wanted to have a black Barbie-themed party for her fifth birthday. A pretty reasonable request if you ask us, considering the real-life Barbie Dream Houses that some of her fellow toddlers have been receiving lately.

But when her mother Karen Braithwaite went hunting for party supplies, she came up empty-handed. Although Mattel offers a range of diverse Barbie dolls, it turns out that Mattel’s cups, tablecloths, napkins, banners and decorations were lacking ... to say the least.

Now Ms. Braithwaite is spearheading an online petition on Change.org, calling for Mattel to offer a more multicultural range of Barbie accessories.

“Even though it seems like a small thing, featuring the white Barbie so prominently on the banners, cups, napkins, plates, party favors, and invitations, while relegating the 'ethnic' Barbies to near-invisible cameos sends a clear—and troubling—message to young girls,” the petition reads.

The petition has garnered more than 2,600 signatures.

"There’s a longstanding notion that little girls of color needs to have their self-image reinforced by things they see around them, and it can be really damaging to a little girl to see an image that’s so far from anything she is," Ms. Braithwaite told The Observer.

Karen Braithwaite, 40, with daughter Georgia, 4. (YouTube)

While the first black Barbie hit the stands in 1968, it wasn’t until 2009 that Mattel launched its first black Barbie doll line, with dolls featuring fuller lips, wider noses and more pronounced cheekbones.

Yet despite these steps towards inclusiveness, Barbie party supplies remain whiter than the crowd at a Jon Bon Jovi concert.

"If all Barbie dolls were still blonde-haired and blue eyed it would make sense,” said Ms. Braithwaite. “But they’ve diversified the brand so much that little girls of color have no concept of Barbie only being white."

In an email to The Observer, Mattel spokesman Alan Hilowitz defended the company’s record on diversity, while expressing a willingness to engage in dialogue with consumers.

"We work closely with various partners to develop and distribute Barbie-themed products, such as party supplies, and we will be sharing this valuable feedback with them to start conversations and evaluate the business. We listen carefully to our consumers and take all feedback seriously."

While young Georgia Braithwaite might have to make do at her party next week, hopefully it won't be long before more ethnically diverse Barbies are given their rightful place on cups and tablecloths nationwide.

Come on Barbie. Let's go party.

(h/t DNAinf0)

"Don't call us the W-word!" (Wikipedia)

Take a look at yourselves. Seriously, did you even read this petition before you self-righteously signed it with your artisanal ink well and ironic quill? Because we did:

we petition the obama administration to:
Peacefully grant the neighborhood of East Williamsburg to secede from Williamsburg and create a new, hipper neighborhood

The founding hipsters first arrived on Bedford Avenue two decades earlier convinced that the East Village was "overpriced" and that more generally, Manhattan was "so over."

In recent years, the trustifarians have turned the Bedford Avenue area into a disneyland of fashionable shops and expensive cocktail bars. The baby-bankers living in the glass, waterfront towers have pushed out the smack junkies and complain to the police about "noise" from rock musicians.

As such, the grittier East Williamsburg would prefer to disassociate from Williamsburg as a fully separate and independent neighborhood. The people of East Williamsburg actually have real jobs. Their shops are not particularly fashionable. Some of the bars are genuinely dangerous dives. Please allow the neighborhood to secede.

A couple things:

1. "East Williamsburg"

Up for debate. You know that right? You guys live in Bushwick, for the most part. Most of you were duped into thinking you were living in some subset of Brooklyn's hippest neighborhood be clever real estate agents, but the borders of "East Williamsburg" are forever in flux. Yes, East Williamsburg is a neighborhood on the city's map. But since "Neighborhood names are not officially designated," the arbitrary boundaries are meaningless. You can change the name whenever you want, silly!

2. "Founding hipsters"

Please. You guys are the worst. And you do understand that those same people also believed that they were making the trek to define themselves as "grittier" (hello, Cokie's!) while inadvertently gentrifying Bedford Avenue? Which is exactly what you are doing to your self-titled portion of Bushwick. Also, re: grittier comment...you know that a Wall Street Journal trend story already claimed that you were making the neighborhood "less gritty," right?

3. "The people of East Williamsburg actually have real jobs."

DJ'ing at Roberta's is not a real job.

4. "Some of the bars are genuinely dangerous dives."

How authentic are you guys! Very authentic. It's like you guys are the Spanish colonists writing home to your families boasting about "genuinely dangerous" Indian tribes. Except instead of smallpox-infested blankets, you just bring bedbugs.

5. "(They) have pushed out the smack junkies and complain to the police about 'noise' from rock musicians."

Wait, do you think being a smack junkie or rock musician is what constitutes a "real job?" Are you nostalgic for the days of smack junkies on Bedford? Were you even alive two decades ago?

6. "The baby-bankers living in the glass, waterfront towers..."

Take it away, Chris O'Dowd:
http://youtu.be/sWsovTuub8g