Posted on 11/21/2006 2:46:58 PM PST by Seamus Mc Gillicuddy
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."
mark for meltdown.
What's surprising is where the scholarship is being offered.
Boston University's College Republicans
What's NOT surprising is by whom... ;)
I'm still waiting for that day when a man is judged not by the color of his skin but by the content of his character.
I would appreciate it if they had not attributed this to the GOP. Too damn bad the GOP is not smart enough to put together front organizations like the Dems do to take the heat for this kind of thing.
25% Caucasian? Even Henry Louis Gates, Jr. is 50% Caucasian....
Let me know when they hold the Miss White America Beauty Pageant, the White Music Awards and the Congressional White Caucus.
This is clever, just like the affirmative action bake sale. Can't recall the college who did the bake sale...
wow- in the lion's den, too
Agreed. They could use some other name. College Republicans will be associated with the GOP in general.
Stupid, stupid move.
Make or break time: are we going to favor certain races or not? You can't have black only/hispanic only and argue that it's a step towards "equality".
Only intellectual diversity will achieve this. And from what I have seen they are only interested in diversity of skin pigmentation.
Modern liberalism can be defined as a desire that everyone look different but think the same. Watch what happens when someone voices a non-liberal opinion amongst a liberal crowd.
I`m not black like Barry White, no I am white like Frank Black is.....
8^)
Most Excellent!
Too ad it's only for 250. but the point is well taken.
A friend of mine while he was in college told me he posted signs for a white study group or something along those lines.
When confronted by the administration he played coy, I don't see the problem, there's tons of groups for every type of person, why can't we have a white group on campus.
Long story short, he was EXPELLED.
the same group at BU had the affirmative action bake sale a few years back.
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