Posted on 11/09/2006 8:42:50 AM PST by CharentonChina
A group of black students at Indiana-Purdue University-Indianapolis is threatening to sue the college over alleged discrimination.
The IUPUI Black Student Union said it would file a lawsuit Monday unless officials agree to provide a new black cultural center, more black faculty and $78,000 for black student groups.
The group also wants sensitivity training for administrators and an undergraduate degree program in African-American studies.
"We're not asking for anything outlandish," said IUPUI senior Dominic Dorsey, 24, who heads the group. "We're asking for what's due to us to make us feel comfortable on a Euro-centric campus."
In a nine-page letter delivered to administrators this week, the group complained that officials turned down black students' requests to use a student activity fund and that some white officials have been disrespectful to black students.
It also complained that black students were not consulted before the Mary Cable Building was torn down this year to make room for a parking lot. Cable founded the Indianapolis chapter of the NAACP.
However, not all blacks on campus feel discriminated against. Freshman Nashunda King, 18, said she feels more comfortable at IUPUI than she did at her predominantly white high school in Avon.
"I like this environment," she said. "Everybody gets the same treatment. To me, it's fair."
IUPUI officials have made racial diversity a top goal, aiming to boost the school's minority student enrollment from 15 percent to about 18 percent. Officials also want to boost minority graduation rates at the 30,000 student campus.
"People are working hard to make IUPUI a diversity-positive campus," said Karen Whitney, IUPUI's vice chancellor for student life and diversity. "We evaluate ourselves harshly, and we've not been satisfied."
"Student Union said it would file a lawsuit Monday unless officials agree to provide a new black cultural center, more black faculty and $78,000 for black student groups.
The group also wants sensitivity training for administrators and an undergraduate degree program in African-American studies."
They wouldn't settle for Bill Cosby and Juan Williams to occasionally stop by for lectures on how the black youth are destroying themselves with unwed pregnancies and thug culture, and an incredibly unhealthy focus of time and energy on sports, rather than getting ahead in life? Oh, and how true africans in america are hired in greater numbers than african americans. Splain that, takisha.
Gotta be kidding. White males have more standing to sue for discrimination than any other demographic.
Are they afraid that without this new cultural center they will forget how to be black? How about we call it an American Cultural Center and make it open to all, and focus on being an American.
The problem with countering such demands is that the race card has already been played - to counter it would automatically brand one a racist. Grrrr....
Entitlement ! It's what's wrong with America !
What is a nice engineering school doing in the cultural diversity world? This must be all because of some federal funding requirements for student diversity.
I guess that since Julian got fired from Fox and Friends he went back to Purdue to stir up trouble.
Curious if Howard University has a White Student Union to give whites what's due to them, to make them feel comfortable on a historically black campus.
If you want black studies, go home and talk to your Mom and Dad. Better yet, go to an African University and see how Africa fares. See what happened to the tribes who sold your ancestors into slavery.
At least Nashunda seems to have some sense.
Again no backbone.
In other words, SEPARATE BUT EQUAL. Hmm.
We rioted at NC State to prevent becoming UNC at Raleigh. The Carolina controlled legislature relented and changed the name To North Carolina State of the University of North Carolina at Raleigh. That's where I graduated.
It was later changed to the ratiopnal North carolina State University.
No such cool heads in Indiana
Separate, yes...but equal would assume that there are other student unions based solely on ones race....
Hammers, nails, and wood are racist tools of the white man.
As I Christian, I find those words to be very hurtful to me because of what happened, historically to My Savior, and I didn't like it when you assaulted me with your words. I need a heartfelt appology and a new activity center.
Owl_Eagle
If what I just wrote made you sad or angry,
it was probably just a joke.
Maybe 15 years ago in the IU system, not anymore. They aren't willing to take a tough stance on anything. Myles Brand started the downfall and it continues to this day.
Is there a White Cultural Center at Howard?
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