Univ. of Vermont holds privilege retreat for students who 'self-identify as white'

campusreform.org ^ | 11-18-2015 | Peter Hasson

[boycott]

The University of Vermont held a three-day retreat so students who “self-identify as white” could confront their own “white privilege.”

“Examining White Privilege: A Retreat for Undergraduate Students Who Self-Identify as White” took place last weekend, November 13-15, and was “specifically for white students.”

According to the university, the self-identifying white students who attend the retreat will come to “recognize and understand white privilege from an individual experience” and have the opportunity to “conceptualize and articulate whiteness from a personal and systematic lense as well as the impact of white privilege on the UVM community and beyond.”

The self-identifying white students also tackled tough questions such as “What does it mean to be white?” and “How does whiteness impact you?”

The university website features testimonials from past attendees of the retreat, who praised the way the event was a “safe space.”

According to the school’s website, the University of Vermont offered the retreat at no cost to its privileged white students, covering all expenses including meals. The retreat was hosted at the Common Ground Family Center in Starksboro, Vermont. The center advertises its use of solar power and “green construction projects” on its website, and offers its services for everything from family reunions to civil unions.

The University of Vermont does host a retreat for “women of color” as well but it focuses on building leadership rather than confronting one’s own privileges. Aside from the women of color retreat, the university does not appear to offer similar race-specific retreats.

Additionally, the university’s Center for Cultural Pluralism recommends various readings for its students, including "The Invention of the White Race," "White Privilege, Male Privilege in Race, Class, Gender," "The Feminist Classroom," and "The Abolition of Whiteness."

[Exit148]

These students should really take another step to denounce their ‘whiteness’. Maybe by coloring their faces with black color so they could -————— Oh wait ———— .

Guess not.

[MeshugeMikey]

now according to Revrunt Farraklown....a Bulack Egyptian Signtist had done invented the “white man”!!

No.. word.. on who may have invented the “white woman”....

This self indentifyin is a trend we can do without I M H O.

Between Rachel the “black woman” and Caitlyn..the New Woman..we have had just about all the self identimoficationin we the market can bear.

[Politicalkiddo]

I don’t “self-identify”. My genetic code proclaims me to be white. Just as my genetic code determines that I am female. My feelings on the subject, which are in accord with reality, are irrelevant in any case.

[Vermont Lt]

I have been looking for work for years.

I find that I am too old, overqualified, and when someone is picked, they are women of color who are significantly under qualified.

[bgill]

I identify as purple. I demand a special retreat, too.

[B4Ranch]

I believe these students should do the right thing. These spoiled white brats should reject their inheritance from their families. They should commit that money to the state.

They need to rise above being hypocrites. They need to overcome their white privileges and reject their inheritance. They should also stop receiving any support from their white families. Keeping their inheritance and living off their white parents should violate their principles.

Hey students, show you mean what you say and stop living off your white privilege.

If they reject their inheritance. and also stop receiving any support from their white families these youngsters will have to go on public support so that you and I will end up footing the bill. No, just leave them alone and be thankful their parents gamed the system properly to feed their children.

[UCANSEE2]

Whatever happened to classes in THE ZEN OF MOTORCYCLE REPAIR ?

[cookcounty]

Vermont, The White-est state in the union, would like to lecture the rest of us whiteys about living with "people of color."

[RegulatorCountry]

Isn’t the entire state of Vermont a privilege retreat for self-identified whites?

[Svartalfiar]

The man that interviewed me was honest and said to me, “I really wanted to hire you. I thought you were the best candidate but home office says I need to hire a minority.” That’s what my “white privilege” got me. They hired someone less deserving.

I would argue that the hiring process shouldn't include race/sex/etc, but unfortunately a face-to-face interview is a mostly necessary part of every hiring process, which reveals that info. The interview can reveal info about people's personality/company fit better than just a resume.

[Svartalfiar]

If mankind originated in Africa, how are we not all African-Americans?

If that theory is even true, that still doesn't make anyone African-American. Your heritage might be, but the only people that truly are African-American, would be someone who was born in Africa and moved to America.