BU group offers white scholarship

[ckramer]

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."

http://media.www.dailyfreepress.com/media/storage/paper87/news/2006/11/21/News/Bu.Group.Offers.White.Scholarship-2505837.shtml?sourcedomain=www.dailyfreepress.com&MIIHost=media.collegepublisher.com

[Viva_La_Revolution]

1. cause those white people never get a fair break

:sarcasm:

[Donnachaidh]

2. seig heil BU!

This is soooooo evil! A paper on your ancestry? Most kids today couldn't REALLY write about their ancestry beyond a generation -- WTF? The second paper requirement is STUPID.

Boston University should be ashamed this is beind done.

[Tesha]

19. Boston University probably has very little official control.

They *SO* have the "Bully Pulpit", of course,
and could choose to denounce this charade if
they wished.

Write the Board of Trustees.

Tesha

[demnan]

3. I hope a pale-skinned black person applies, saying

"Since my ancestors were the victims of rape I am 25% white, and therefore qualify"

[Donnachaidh]

7. ROFL!

And I hope he/she documents it well for these nazis. :rofl:

[knitter4democracy]

13. I thought of that, too.

It would be funny. ;)

[BlueManDude]

4. who cares, ignore, they just want attention.

[Hosnon]

5. I see nothing wrong with this. nt

[Bandit]

24. So I take it you oppose Affirmative Action as well?

After two centuries of discrimination and seclusion they are just supposed to have same advantage as those who discriminated against them for so very many years...:shrug: buy a clue would you?

[Hosnon]

25. Nope...I generally support affirmative action.

But I see nothing wrong with a white scholarship. The two ideas are related only minimally, at best.

Edit: I should probably clarify and clear up a mistake. I originally said that I see nothing wrong with this. I should have used a less absolute term there or qualified the statement. I see nothing wrong with a white scholarship if the purpose is to help white people go to college. I express no positive or negative opinion in a situation, such as this, where that is not the purpose.

[EnviroBat]

6. Maybe someone could explain this then.

This is not an invitation for a personal attack, so please try to form an intelligent answer. But what really is the difference between this and what the United Negro College Fund has been doing for years? Double standards anyone?

[Le Taz Hot]

8. A calm, intelligent discussion on this subject

is impossible. Notice how many people have looked at the topic but there are few responses, at least at the time I'm posting this. Just for the record, you will now be labeled a bigot/racist/xenophobe, take your pick, the terms are all interchangeable around here.

[EnviroBat]

22. Please to clarify...

Are you saying that you label me a racist, bigot, whathaveyou, or are you stating that is a risk I am taking by speaking my mind on the subject? Secondly, do you agree with the underlying premise of my question? Either way, thanks...

[Le Taz Hot]

30. I'm saying you will be labeled

a racist, etc., not by me, but by others. And to answer your second question, I'm not stating an opinion here. I've already been labeled a racist because:

a) I do not support with Barak Obama and
b) I do not support unfettered illegal immigration.

Welcome to the club by the way. We're getting T-shirts next week. :P

[EnviroBat]

47. Thanks...

I appreciate the support... I've got to go take a hot shower and try to scrub myself clean of this bigotry before dinner...

[MikeNearMcChord]

9. If a private group wants to offer scholarships to white students

(especially those from the working class, who get the shaft most of the time)I don't have a moral problem with it.

[Bridget Burke]

11. The student's economic status is not a qualifying factor

The criteria: 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."

"Caucasian" as a racial category is rarely used nowadays. Will people whose ancestors actually came from the Caucasus qualify? The Young Republicans may consider Georgians & Chechens too swarthy.

Many Americans not considered white have at least 25% "Caucasian" blood. I foresee many "interesting" application essays.

The Chickenhawk Young Republicans certainly have a right to make themselves look even more foolish.

[jayctravis]

48. They did it to make a point, and it's actually valid.

If there can be a United Negro College Fund...technically there should be a Caucasian College Fund.

While I hate when the pundits try play the "reverse racism" card I can see their point on this.

Perhaps it wouldn't be a bad thing to eliminate race from scholarships and awards, since the point is eliminating barriers by race altogether.

All they would have to do would be eliminate the racial requirements from the application. Make it a scholarship about inner-city youth or advancement of the underprivileged. They can award the scholarships to whom they want but at least let everyone apply.

I hate racism, but you eliminate it by removing racial persecutions and well as racial benefits.

And yes...I know. Minorities have less opportunities for advancement. But the reasons for granting a scholarship should be merit and need, not parentage, race, or color.

I hope they decide to give these $250 "caucasian" scholarships to someone who needs the money...a student struggling to make ends meet who needs books or something.

[struggle4progress]

60. What do you know about the history of the UNCF?

[EnviroBat]

20. Thank you for saying that, but now it appears that I'm a "racist bigot"...

For agreeing with you.

[treestar]

10. The past discrimination against the black race

They needed to fight to get into colleges. Whites are already there.

[knitter4democracy]

14. If all things were completely equal, then I would understand.

But they're not.

Minorities, including women of all colors, have historically had a harder time getting into college and staying there and still do. Now, having grown up in rural Michigan, I also understand the problems poor whites have in higher education, but whites in general still have an easier time getting into any college and getting enough money to stay in.

I went to a college that had all of five African-Americans in it when I was there. It was a small evangelical college, and there were many mostly African-American churches in the region. Their kids didn't come to our college, in part because of the smaller numbers and in part because of the disparities in test scores and high school background. I saw first-hand the problems that small numbers of any minority cause. My friends were treated pretty badly. A couple left at the end of my freshman year to get away from the racism. When there are fewer of any minority, the majority can act pretty badly and not worry about consequences.

[Tansy_Gold]

18. "Institutionalized" bigotry

When bias against -- or for -- certain groups becomes ingrained in the institutions and traditions, there need to be explicit measures taken IF that bias is to be overcome.

There have been no institutionalized biases against white straight christian males.

Have there been individual cases? Yes, probably so. But those cases are a minuscule portion compared to the individual cases of bias/bigotry/racism/sexism perpetrated by the white male majority against women and people of color and other "minority" groups.

When affirmative action is taken to lessen institutionalized inequalities, that is one thing. When affirmative action is taken to exacerbate existing inequalities, that is an entirely different thing. This "caucasian" scholarship is the latter.



Tansy Gold, who once was awarded a scholarship because she is of Czechoslovakian descent

[knitter4democracy]

27. Great point.

Much better written than mine. Thank you!

[Lance_Boyle]

23. one important untruth in your statement

"women of all colors, have historically had a harder time getting into college and staying there and still do."

Omitting the "and still do" part would correct the error. Women today comprise a higher number of college students (and recent graduates) than men.

[knitter4democracy]

26. It depends on the major and the grad school.

Ask about the numbers of women in engineering or physics. I was in education, and yes, we were the majority, but women were not in the majority in the pre-med program Hubby was in.

All is not equal yet.

[Lance_Boyle]

28. I did not delve into program-specific numbers, but

what I posted is dead-on accurate in terms of undergraduate education. More collegiate women than men. I understand what you're saying, though. I guess all will be truly *equal* when the numbers in the education major are just as 50/50 as the numbers in the engineering major. ;-)

[Tansy_Gold]

31. Yes, there are more women in college and getting

first degrees. The inequality really begins with graduate and professional schools and in the professions themselves.

I don't have the stats at my fingertips, but the news had fairly good distribution a few years ago when a substantial majority of graduates in journalism were women but an even greater majority of the newly hired journalism graduates in the journalism field were men.

Similarly, there are many women graduating from law school, but a lower percentage of them are hired in major law firms than men.

And I believe there was just recently a news item about the disparity in doctors hired by major research facilities. I'll look for these stats and post if I find them.


Tansy Gold

EDITED TO ADD:
(from 12-15-2003)
http://www.freedomforum.org/templates/document.asp?documentID=17784

Gender equity elusive, surveys show

<snip>
Two striking statistics were reported last Summer in separate sessions at the annual meeting of the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication.

In the first of these sessions, Dr. David Weaver and his colleagues at Indiana University reported that 33% of working journalists now are women.

In a session following Weaver’s, my colleagues and I reported that 64% of the students enrolled in journalism and mass communication bachelor’s degree programs across the country are women.
<end snip>

There's much more analysis in this article. I'm not sure if there is any particular political slant.

I couldnot find the article on the racial disparities in hiring doctors for research facilities, but I'll keep looking.

TG

[lumberjack_jeff]

51. Should this surprise?

Accepting your stats; a large percentage of women never take jobs in the career for which they are trained, to what degree does the decision of many women to marry, have kids and stay home affect the statistics?

Given the anecdotal evidence of women attending schools largely to find husbands with above-average earning potential, I find this gap unsurprising.

I would be interested in what percentage of men and women work full-time (in any field) after graduation.

[Tansy_Gold]

57. Why women don't make careers in their field of training

There are many reasons, only one of which is that women historically (and we're talking about a history that is less than a century old) have lacked both mentors and contacts with the power to get them into those fields. Frequently the only option left for a woman with advanced training and a desire to work in that field was to teach it.

Lacking opportunities to work in their chosen fields, many women have historically accepted the route of marriage and family as often the only viable means of support. Remember that as recently as the post-world-war-two era, women were forced out of good-paying jobs because "men" needed them.

Anecdotal stories of "women attending schools largely to find husbands with above-average earning potential" are hardly solid evidence, especially given the numbers of already-married women in higher education, the divorce rate, the numbers of women who simply choose not to marry at all, and the growing number of "mature" women (over 40) who return to college to complete educations that were interrupted by marriage and family or other obligations. College as a place primarly for women to earn an MRS degree may have been a valid description two or three generations ago, but no longer. Women now attend college and graduate school to get an education that will help them make a career.

Men often don't go into their chosen fields because they have more contact with others who are able to get them into related or semi-related job opportunities -- or opportunities that are better than what they'd find in their field of training. There is still a significant "good ol' boys' network" operating out there that gives talented (or sometimes not so talented) young men more chances to obtain the crucial contacts and mentoring than young women.

I have a friend who did her doctoral research in 2004 on the mentoring opportunities for women in half a dozen or so professional fields, including law, medicine, higher education, engineering and I can't remember the others. What she found was that not only did women going into various fields lack mentors, but that often those women who were willing and able to act as mentors were not allowed to because of restrictions placed on them by employers.

In one specific example -- and this was not my research so I don't have the details of names, etc. -- a woman who was a junior partner in a law firm was not permitted to hire other women as assistants because the senior partners didn't want the firm to get a reputation for discriminating against men, specifically the sons and grandsons and nephews of the senior partners. This woman partner was allowed to hire secretaries and clerks who were women, but not if they had any legal training, such as law school students or paralegals, for fear that they might not be satisfied with the "menial" tasks allotted to them.

I have another friend who has been a legal secretary and paralegal for over 40 years and she has worked in both large and small firms. She currently works for a two-woman partnership that specializes in medical malpractice, personal injury, and small business law. The firm receives calls almost every day from individuals and other lawyers who are looking for a "family law" firm and who think that because it's two women, they must be divorce/custody/child support lawyers. Both women left large law firms because of the lack of opportunities for women partners.

My niece graduated a year ago with a degree in Journalism -- not communications or public relations or what have you, but Journalism. Despite two years' experience on the college newspaper as reporter and editor and having several articles published elsewhere, she has been unable to get even an interview with any newspaper or newsmagazine or even any semi-related publication. (Yes, this is anecdotal. Deal with it.) She is currently working in the public relations department of a large hospital. All three of her male co-editors during her senior year have found jobs with print media. Two of them obtained internships while in college; my niece applied but was not accepted for either of those internships even though she had grades as good as or better than the young men who did.

There are success stories, to be sure. We need only look at women like Nancy Pelosi (whose father was in congress), Hillary Clinton (whose husband was also a law student and politician), Janet Napolitano, Sandra Day O'Connor (who could only get a job as a legal secretary after graduating from law school), and so on to know that yes, women can succeed against the odds. But why should those odds even be there? Why shouldn't it be a reasonably level playing field for everyone?


Tansy Gold

[knitter4democracy]

33. Why not?

Why can't we work toward the different colleges in a university demonstrating that they reflect the society at large? Is it a good thing that the majority in education colleges is white privileged female (and I was one of those)? I don't think so. Yes, we need teachers, but more than that, we need good teachers who can really reach their students. I have taught in areas in which I was in the minority, and I came to the conclusion that, while I did my best, it would've been better for my students if I had been more like them due to all the cultural issues. How would engineering be any different?

[DerBeppo]

49. same for average income as well. nt.

[lumberjack_jeff]

50. three out of five college students are women.

What would be required for things to be "equal"?

[jamesinca]

46. There is a difference, not a double standard.

Helping somebody pay for school who does not have the financial means is one thing. From the United Negro College Fund website:

"Access to a college education has never been more important for individuals and society! A college education opens up unlimited possibilities and helps students to discover and foster their unique gifts. It also demonstrates that students are willing to make an investment in their own futures. However, for many young people this investment cannot become a reality, because they are unable to afford the rising cost of college tuition."


This scholarship is based on something else.

"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."

This scholarship has a few requirements that are not based on financial need:
1) Full time BU student
2) Undergraduate
3) 25% caucasian
4)3.2 cumulative GPA.

You can't have a cumulative GPA unless you have completed a semester. To complete a semester you have to have been admitted, and paid your fees. To continue being a full time student with a cumulative GPA, you have to be at least on your second semester. Maybe BU is different, but most colleges have you pay fees at the beginning of the semester.

The BUCR say they are raising awareness of what is wrong because of the injustice directed at the poor white kids on at least their second semester. I think it raises an awareness of how far down minorities in this country have been, and how a few individuals at BU are not dealing with it well. Tommy Smith, of 1968 Olympics fame, said that there is something really wrong when a college graduate wins the Olympics and the only job he can get is at a car wash. The BUCR have a problem with it to, so they think minorities should not even get in, because of a break an actual chance.

[Bill McBlueState]

53. No, it's not a double standard.

I'm surprised nobody answered your question yet; it's pretty simple. The United Negro College Fund aims to make it easier for members of a group that's underrepresented on college campuses to go to college. "Caucasian-Americans" aren't underrepresented on college campuses.

That's the difference.

on edit: got confused about the thread structure; it appears several wise DUers beat me to the punch

[NaturalHigh]

58. There is no difference.

I have no problems with this proposed scholarship.

[struggle4progress]

59. Do you know what the United Negro College Fund is and how its scholarship

programs actually work? Can you cite a United Negro College Fund scholarship program that requires a bullshit essay on ancestry and a bullshit essay on "what racial classification means to me"?

[Redbear]

12. MInority scholarships exist to remedy past (and present) discrimination.

Why Republicans object to that, I don't quite understand.

[sniffa]

15. FINALLY!!

my peopLe for too Long have been heLd back and oppressed. this is just a first step LeveLing the pLaying fieLd for white peopLe.

[SlavesandBulldozers]

56. that's what I was thinking too.

i really could have used this to get into college. instead i'm abandoned by society to the whims of these cruel suburban streets. every day's a goddamn struggle, my brother. keep ya head up my cracka, a change is gonna come. by and by Lord by and by.

[Jim__]

16. the "worst form of bigotry confronting America today,"

I might grant these pubbie children a point about scholarships that are race-based. But, the statement that race-based scholarships are the worst form of bigotry confronting America today shows their complete lack of understanding of the issue.

[mainegreen]

17. These kids bring up a valid point, and based on the $ amount it's clearly a protest.

I doubt there's very much I agree with the BU College Republicans on, but I firmly believe that America needs to reevaluate it's entire educational funding formula. Something is wrong with financial aid in this country. Of course, I believe that if there was to be a reformulation, I would totally disagree with this group on what standards of the new formula should be.

Of course there will always be private small scholarships based on all sorts of specific criteria.

Not that I expect much rational thought on this issue. It tends to devolve into racist/nazi terms rather quickly.

[stepnw1f]

38. What's Valid is Their Ignorance of What Affirmative Action Is

and what it is meant to do. All they do is reaffirm the right wing mythological stereotype of affirmative action.

[struggle4progress]

61. What role does the UNCF play in America's "entire educational funding formula"?

[Tesha]

21. CARS? They ought to offer sub-grants named AUDI, BMW, LEXUS, and PORSCHE

Caucasian Achievement and Recognition Scholarship -> CARS

They ought to offer sub-grants such as:

AUDI -- Arise Up and Defeat Immigrants

BMmW -- Bring Me My Workers!

LEXUS --> Loans EXemplifying Upperclass Status

PORSCHE --> Poor Old Republican Students; Cheated Here Everytime

[fleabert]

32. that's funny :-)

nice levity and point made-

[qwlauren35]

29. Actually, I can live with this.

It's not really all that different from an Italian or Catholic scholarship.

However, I'd LOVE to see some of those essays!!!

[OKthatsIT]

34. $250 Scholarship? That's just dumb.

[yellowcanine]

39. That was my reaction. That doesn't even buy books for a semester.

And how does someone prove they are 25% white? Are Hispanics white?

[jpgray]

35. Affirmative Action is meant to offset repressed or stunted merit

Not to give "lazy blacks" a free ride. When there is a vast socio-economic disparity between racial groups caused by injustices past and present, why not try to remit it? Doesn't this improve things for everyone?

[stepnw1f]

37. There Ya Go again with Those Inconvenient Facts

They don't want us all to have equal opportunity. That's the point.

[stepnw1f]

36. This is to DO What?

Reaffirm the right wing talking point against affirmative action.

"If they can do it I can too.... nya"

Really, really juvenile and will backfire.....

[CRK7376]

40. Disgusting Jackass Repugs!!!!

I'm Caucasian, but at this moment I gladly claim more kinship with my Native American ancestry than the Caucasian side....

[Zhade]

41. "BU offers racist scholarship, lawsuits to follow"

Bigots!

[HuffleClaw]

42. the sad thing about this is they really don't understand their folly

and how truly offensive the concept is.

[Election]

43. Philosophically, they make a valid point.

Legally, they're treading on shaky waters.

Practically, we need affirmative action to fix injustices over the past 400 years.

[struggle4progress]

62. What philosophical point do you think they are making?

[Moloch]

44. so... like...

are you going to change your screen name now because of.. you know?

[ckramer]

45. You don't think I'm funny on stage?

Get over it, people, it's just a comedy show!

[ismnotwasm]

52. So we've come this far have we?

The downtrodden whites can get scholarships based on race, while affirmative action for people of color is deemed no longer necessary or is considered plain wrong. Oh, I get it, it's a "protest"

I usually look at cause and effect for social situations, which means having a basic understanding of history. Just a basic one.

Here's my fucking essay; What is means to me to be a Caucasian American is that I have social and moral obligation to fight racism wherever I find it. To acknowledge it, root it out from under every nasty filthy rock I find it under to pointing it out when it's blatantly in my face.

If not for that, I'll enjoy white privilege no doubt without giving it a second thought. I don't have too do I? Think that is.

Think I'll get the scholarship? Hell no, that's not what they want.

This to me is posturing bullshit. Racism exists. A lot of it. I'm so tired of white people denying racism either personal or institutionalized. And talking about "reverse racism" or the fact that other races practice racism just gives white folks a pass. We're come a long way sure, but we're also backsliding. Pretending that we have an even playing field now as a salve for white guilt makes me sick.

This kind of action does nothing to promote improved race relations, help poor whites go to school, or anything else. It's as racist an action I've seen recently, including asshole TV and movie stars spouting off their racist shit and then saying "But I'm not a racist, really" No doubt followed by some of my best friends are black/Jewish/Hispanic--whatever.

[Bill McBlueState]

54. it's the College Republicans; of course it's racist. n/t

[ckramer]

55. (ABC News) Whites Only Scholarship Creates Outrage

BOSTON, Nov. 22, 2006 — Joe Mroszczyk, president of the College Republicans at Boston University, admits he set out to stir up a hornet's nest when he came up with the idea of offering a whites-only scholarship at the school. But he got a little more buzz than he bargained for.

"To tell you the truth, we didn't see this coming," Mroszczyk said. "The Drudge Report picked it up yesterday, and today I just finished a round of national interviews. It's kind of overwhelming."

All the media attention is focused on a $250 Caucasian Achievement and Recognition Scholarship offered by Mroszczyk and the BU chapter of the College Republicans. Applicants must have a cumulative grade point average of 3.2 or higher; they must write two essays; and, here's the kicker, they must be at least one-quarter Caucasian.

The application itself offers an explanation: "We believe that racial preferences in all their forms are perhaps the worst form of bigotry confronting America today."

According to Mroszczyk, his group is offering the scholarship to point out "how ridiculous it is to have any sort of racially based scholarship."

http://abcnews.go.com/US/story?id=2674267&page=1

LOL! They are in trouble!!!!

[Trajan]

63. This would be like ...

Rich citizens demanding free bread because the poor are hungry ....

Numbskulls ....

[Jamastiene]

64. Well, we see what the Repugs are all about now.

As if we didn't already know.