Posted on 11/21/2006 6:24:05 AM PST by LurkedLongEnough
Looking to draw attention to what they call the "worst form of bigotry confronting America today," Boston University's College Republicans are circulating an application for a "Caucasian Achievement and Recognition Scholarship" that requires applicants be at least 25 percent Caucasian.
"Did we do this to give a scholarship to white kids? Of course not," the scholarship reads. "Did we do it to trigger a discussion on what we believe to be the morally wrong practice of basing decisions in our schools and our jobs on racial preferences rather than merit? Absolutely."
The scholarship, which is privately funded by the BUCR without the support of the university, is meant to raise awareness, group members say. BUCR member argue that racial preferences are a form of "bigotry." The group has a similar view on affirmative action.
The application for the $250 scholarship, due Nov. 30, requires applicants be full-time BU undergraduate students and one-fourth Caucasian and maintain at least a 3.2 cumulative GPA. Applicants must submit two essays, one describing the applicant's ancestry and one describing "what it means to you to be a Caucasian-American today."
BUCR President Joe Mroszczyk said he spoke to Dean of Students Kenneth Elmore before publicly releasing the scholarship to make sure it would be legal. Mroszczyk said BUCR members also talked to others beforehand, some of whom were initially "agitated or upset" but understood the point after members explained themselves, he said.
"If you give out a white scholarship, it's racist, and if you give out a Hispanic scholarship, it is OK," the College of Arts and Sciences senior said. "It is the main point. We are not doing this scholarship as a white-supremacy scholarship."
La Fuerza Co-Chair Sara-Marie Pons, who is also on the Admissions Student Diversity Board, said although she agrees with BUCR's claim that racial preference is "contradictory to our American ideals of freedom and equality," she feels American history justifies today's affirmative action." Our country oppressed people of color for centuries while everyone else who was 'preferred' continued to succeed and lead our country in all aspects," the School of Management senior said in an email. "The goal of a university in striving to admit more students of color is a positive movement to increase the diversity of its institution."
Pons said the university's diversity creates a "better learning environment" and "dynamic discussion." She said she believes minority-specific scholarships serve an important function.
"While I can see the controversy over scholarships toward specific ethnic groups, we need to keep in mind its intention," she said. "The [group-specific] scholarship is there to increase the interest of students in that group to continue their education and reach the equality that we all strive for."
After the recipient is chosen, BUCR plans to host an event to honor the winner and speak about the award, as well as hold a forum discussion about racial preference, Mroszczyk said.
Mroszczyk said the BUCR borrowed the scholarship idea from the College Republicans at Roger Williams University in Bristol, R.I., which sponsored a similar award in 2003. Former RWU College Republicans President Jason Mattera said the "whites-only" scholarship was meant to be a parody, but it brought harsh media attention to their campus.
Mattera, now the Young American's Foundation National Spokesman, a group supporting the conservative movement, said the idea was spurred when RWU administrators "compiled a list of scholarships for people of color only." Although Mattera, a Puerto Rican, would have been eligible for some of these scholarships, he said he still wanted to "expose the inequities."
RWU College Republicans adviser June Speakman said the organization started receiving complaints as soon as it released the scholarship. Despite protests, 15 students applied for the scholarship.
"It was a way to make their protests highly visible, provocative," she said. "They stuck to their guns. They were steadfast."
Speakman said the scholarship was discontinued after its first year when the national and state Republican parties severed ties with RWU College Republicans.
Mattera said people were aware the scholarship had "nothing to do with racism," but the Republican National Committee still did not want to be affiliated with the scholarship.
"The RNC under [former chair] Ed Gillespie disagreed with me," Mattera said. "For Ed Gillespie to be dismissive or to imply that there was racism, he lacked any type of -- to put it bluntly -- balls in standing up against racial preferences. It would have been a great opportunity."
Regarding BU's adaptation of this scholarship, Mattera said he is glad the BUCR is interested in continuing to promote awareness.
"I guarantee that once this happens, be ready for hypocritical charges of racism, and be ready to be attacked," Mattera said, "but once they attack you, the hypocrisy is exposed."
Didn't you know? All white people are wealthy and come from priviledged backgrounds. They don't have to work for things in life, everything is handed to them, and life is a piece of cake for them. Gosh, I thought EVERYONE knew that!
susie
It actually sounds more like she's implying that *people of color* wouldn't strive for education if someone wasn't handing them free money. That sounds pretty racist to me, but I doubt she will be called on it.
susie
uh, I didn't. My father spent my entire childhood laid off, laid off, and yet again laid off. He did however manage to make 9 children he could not afford and expected his sister and his brother to pay for our upbringing.
When they fell through, as a teenager, 13, I babysat and my mother stole my money I earned claiming I owed it to her. My grandmother brought groceries in , and periodically brought us big pots of cooked spaghetti and chicken for dinner. I continue to grateful to her for her love and attention.
I was forced to move out of my parents house and not contact them for a very long time cause all they wanted me for was to take the few bucks I got cleaning houses, babysitting and working on the college campus to pay my way through college. I got NO financial aid because they wanted my parents financial information and since I left and didn't want to contact them, I was on my own.
Working two jobs carrying 12 units a semester, I worked my way through community college, and the 4 year university. They did nothing to help me. The state did nothing to help me. I had to earn everything myself.
Of course I was kidding. I was the first one in my family to get a college degree, my husband put me and himself thru (altho I did get a small merit based scholarship that covered some of my tuition) and then we both put 3 sons thru college as well.
If we ever really want to be a color blind society.... well, never mind, because there are alot of people who don't really WANT that to happen.
BTW congratulations on getting thru college the hard way. I admire what you did, and I suspect you got alot more out of it than alot of kids who get it handed to them do.
susie
As so often to be found in the world of politically correct liberalism today the very remedy offered disallows the achievement of stated goals. How can one have a "dynamic discussion" when to do so could so easily trigger the "hostile environment" offense (yes, offense) enshrined in campus speech codes. The BC Republicans are actually the ones creating the opportunity for a "dynamic discussion" but will be sacrificed on the altar of not offending anyone.
And it goes without saying that the idea of diversity is quickly forgotten when it comes to conservative (or Christian) opinion.
In Orwellian terms: All 'dynamic discussion" is equal but some "dynamic discussion" is more equal than others.
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