Opinion
Diversity is more complex than race
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Also by Jaimie Chapman:
- Plastic bag law, while unrealistic, helps promote public awareness (January 17, 2010)
- Forget the Xbox, remember those less fortunate (December 10, 2009)
- Diversity is more complex than race (November 19, 2009)
- DJ contest totally out of line (November 4, 2009)
- Keep circuit court records open, free (October 21, 2009)
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Last time I checked, the word diversity did not mean race. In fact, Webster’s Dictionary simply defines diversity as “variety.”
And last time I checked, variety didn’t mean race, either.
The debates about diversity on the University of Wisconsin campus center on race, as race is the most obvious difference in all students. The question I ask then is: Is race really the biggest difference in all of us? Science tells me that it’s not. Race is just a tiny part of our double helices.
First, I must clarify my argument by asserting that race is an important subject in this university, in this city and in this country. We should always strive to celebrate our racial differences, as it holds significant value that our country has come so far with relation to race.
That being said, it seems unfair to all students to put racial diversity up on a pedestal, as if it was the only way to celebrate the differences between us. There are students at UW from all racial and ethnic backgrounds attending our university, but these are not the only types of background a student has to exhibit. I am Caucasian and I am female. These things do not define me. These things may give me certain advantages or disadvantages, but they do not define what my mind holds.
It can be said more minority students attend schools that offer a lower-quality education than most white students receive, but a lower-quality education does not necessarily mean one is destined to be less intelligent.
When the university strives to celebrate diversity and admit a diverse freshman class, race should not be a deciding factor. It is understandable we want to offer acceptance to minorities, but the grounds on which we admit them is simply prejudiced. Maybe a minority student gets accepted to college because they are a minority, but what does that celebrate other than an arrogance toward the person’s real achievements, qualifications and personality that would add to the atmosphere on campus?
By admitting minority students in order to fill a quota, the university tells those minority students that they wouldn’t be good enough otherwise. Perhaps someone is and perhaps someone isn’t, but the practice of affirmative action in college admissions sends an outward message that there is a possibility that they weren’t. Maybe minority students don’t really care about the reason for their admission so long as they get admitted.
The fact is, our campus is diverse no matter what races we represent. It isn’t just about outward appearances either. Sure, we all dress differently and talk differently, but on the inside, we are all different, too. Obvious, right? We can see this diversity when we talk to someone new or we can see this diversity on a larger scale when we imagine all the student clubs, programs and organizations available for involvement. Campus Women’s Center, Ad Club, Student Spill, WASB, The Badger Herald, ASM, Sigma Chi, GUTS and Kinesiology Club are just a small portion of the variety of opportunities at UW-Madison. Even this short list is proof enough that we are a diverse university.
We don’t have to measure our diversity by racial standards. The university is obligated to keep track of the numbers and, in fact, these numbers help rank the university. Racial diversity, however, is just a small piece of the diversity puzzle. These numbers, though, do not define our university. They do not define it as diverse or not. The human race is disparate enough without race as a factor.
While the school does applaud other types of diversity, when it comes to admissions and talk about how diverse our campus is or is not, the conversation always seems to gravitate toward race, when in fact the conversation should glorify the differences in all people. It should celebrate the fact that we have such a diverse climate regardless of race.
Maybe the university can measure us based on race and feel justified in doing so, but as students of higher education, we owe it to ourselves — no matter what our color — to measure each other based on other differences. We shouldn’t turn a blind eye toward race, but rather, we should embrace it enough to accept it as a minute part of our differences.
Jaimie Chapman (jmechap@gmail.com) is a junior intending to major in journalism.
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IP hash: e328b850
While I understand your thought progression, unfortunately, the fact is that this is NOT a diverse campus in terms of race. Take a look at the ethnicity percentages between students of color and white students. The disparity is alarming—according to CollegeBoard (year unknown) 78% of the students attending UW-Madison are white. I think that most, if not all, would agree that if any campus had only 1-5 students representing each ethnic category, that it would most certainly not be called a ‘diverse campus’. And so in the same light, I don’t really think it is accurate to state we have a diverse campus when only 22% of our campus population includes people of color.
To take from your article, you used the word ‘variety’. The last time I checked, one definition of variety is ‘the absence of uniformity, sameness, monotony’. And the last time I checked, our campus seems to be uniform, the same, and monotonous, in that the majority of the students on campus are white. This reveals only ONE of the countless issues that surround ethnicity on our campus. And so I think it is needed and very appropriate to talk about the issues surrounding ethnicity and our campus. We need to solve them. We need to engage in dialogues. We need to raise our awareness and consciousness of the issues facing our campus. While I hope that one day we no longer need to have conversations about how to fight racism, the problems still exist, and so until they are solved we still do.
By turning a focus away from ethnic diversity, it would be essentially ignoring the problem. Unfortunately, we are not at a level in our society to take the path that you have suggested. Problems still exist, and action still must be taken.
IP hash: e328b850
One last comment-
The title of your article is “Diversity is more complex than race”. While you cited a few other examples, I was disheartened at the level of inclusivity within your article. While I would hope most people can realize that diversity is more complex than race, no where in your article did you mention the LGBT community or the disability community and the women’s community was barely touched on. If you’re title is that diversity is more complex, then you should talk about and discuss those complexities, not simplify it to, “…we should embrace it enough to accept it as a minute part of our differences.”
And the fact of the matter is that certain communities that I identify with are very much a part of who I am—it’s not a minute part of who I am and it’s not something I want to or am ever going to shy away from. Diversity is a wonderful thing and we should celebrate it always.
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” the women’s community was barely touched on.”
Perhaps because women are already over-represented?
Men need affirmative action before they fall too far behind!
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I hope this is sarcastic.
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Why would that be?
Women graduate high school, attend and graduate college at higher rates than men. The gap has only been growing in recent years.
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Is your argument then that graduation rates are the sole measurements of inequalities based on gender? From my personal experience that seems rather simplistic to me.
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This campus is already overly racially diverse. You say there are only 22% people of color on this campus, yet the state of Wisconsin is made up of only 10.3% people of color. Furthermore, the United States as a whole only has 20.2% people of color. So to me it looks like the UW might have already admitted too many people of color. You should really do some research before you claim this campus isn’t diverse in terms of race.
IP hash: 183bf616
Point to anonymous for statistical reasoning.
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How can you admit ‘too many people of color’? And how can something be overly diverse? Seriously?
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Well how can you admit “too few people of color”? Is it the same as admitting “too few people of non-color”?
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If you want a truly diverse campus shouldn’t the acceptance rates be line with the percentages of people that make up this state and/or nation?
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um NO! Just because Wisconsin is white as hell doesn’t mean the school should reflect that. Being a racial minority in this country has very real implications, and from birth, white people have an immediate advantage. In Milwaukee, a white male with a felony is more likely to get a job than a black male with no criminal record. It might seem “unfair” to some of you, but there is overwhelming unfairness that goes the other direction. I’m a white female too, and I think the author of this article is blind and dense.
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But the author is saying don’t treat people differently based on their race. So your example is just what the author would be against.
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22%??? I don’t know where this number came from but it is COMPLETELY FALSE. http://www.wisc.edu/about/facts/community.php#students You can see that African Americans make up less than 3% of the students on this campus and in total, African Americans, Asian Americans, Hispanics, and Native Americans only make up 12.5% of the population. That is a total of 5,260 minority students out of 42,030 students. OVER REPRESENTED??? YOU HAVE GOT TO BE KIDDING ME!
IP hash: c95d2a50
Based on admission for the Fall 2008 semester less than 3% of the student population are African American. Where did you get 22% from????????
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Let’s make one thing clear. That 78% only white is just first year. The percent for the whole school is definitely still in the 80 percentage area. This is because students of color are more likely to drop out or be kicked out due to extenuating circumstances and lower gpa’s. So as far as you’re education statement goes, Jaimie, when you don’t receive the same education in high school, that will affect the required 2.0 gpa you need to stay here. And also, it’s apparent that Badger Herald and The Daily Cardinal don’t care what they say. Seriously. Do some damn research. Anyone who has, will tell you even though people of color can “overcome” things, it’s easier said than done. RESEARCH!!! I’ve already had enough of this, and it’s time you and anyone else ignorant to this topic to get educated. You have not heard the last of me, Badger Herald.
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Alright Daylon, if these students of color are going to drop out or be kicked out anyways, why should we turn away qualified white students in order to let in colored students, simply to meet a racial quota? Bottom line is that the most qualified students should be admitted, regardless of their background. Admittedly, many students of color have come from disadvantaged backgrounds, but so have many white students, and saying that people of color are at a severe disadvantage simply because of their race is an overgeneralized and naive blanket statement. If you want a truly colorblind campus (and society), then the admissions process should be colorblind as well.
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get kicked out ANYWAY. anyways? how did YOU get into UW??
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I absolutely agree. Affirmative action is a means of ensuring meritocracy. Right now there are too many under-qualified white people admitted to this campus because of the privileges of being white.
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Racial quotas are illegal….so you do not know what you’re talking about. And where are all of these qualified white students that are being turned away???? Have you talked to any minority students and do you have proof that we do not have the same if not BETTER qualifications than you??? NO, you are just assuming that we did not earn our spots because we are minorities.
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They are, so the UW should drop the goal as well.
IP hash: 06a8e136
Diversity is not evil, but the lunatics who want to force it down our throats sure are. The way they gather around you and stare you down with those glow in the dark eyes, starting at you until you are hypnotized. I saw them kill people before. One day, they walked out in front of an oncoming car and almost got hit. When the driver jumped out to make sure they were OK, they stared at him with those glowing eyes for a minute or two. Then, while still in a trance, he calmly climbed back into his car and drove down the street and slammed it into a brick wall.
Then there was this other man who had a shotgun and he was gonna kill ‘em. But they did the same thing to him. They stared at him until he turned the shotgun on himself. But I’m gonna let you all in on a secret: If you ever run into one of ‘em and they start staring at you, just think of a brick wall. That’s right, for some reason they can’t control your mind if you’re thinking of a brick wall.
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Lay off the drugs.
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It can be said more minority students attend schools that offer a lower-quality education than most white students receive, but a lower-quality education does not necessarily mean one is destined to be less intelligent”
Sure, but have you ever thought about how tracking affects these students. Some people are put in classes to prepare them for college courses because they are “smart” enough for them. How do do you think those are aren’t in those classes feels. And how are these minorities often classified as while going to this lower quality schools? How do you think they feel about college since they are not properly prepared for it. Is that their fault?
An essay I read about a student who was put in tracking and was told that he was being taken off (was allowed to go to the class one more time)because of some stupid reason, and stated he actually felt “stupid” like he couldn’t answer the questions he knew because they were taking him out. He felt he if they took him out of these “college level” courses he must be stupid, when he was fully capable of doing it.
“By admitting minority students in order to fill a quota, the university tells those minority students that they wouldn’t be good enough otherwise.”
“Maybe minority students don’t really care about the reason for their admission so long as they get admitted.”
First off, quotas are illegal. This is just one of the false ideologies people have about the admission of minority students. You state that minorities don’t care about admissions as long as they are admitted. You couldn’t be more wrong. Everyday I think used to think about whether I deserve to be in this school or not because of essays like this that state “people need to be smart enough.” Do these stats (ACT, etc) really predict how successful a person will be or smart he/she is? And you do understand that universities do look at other things besides academics, right?
Also, you have another false ideology about Affirmative Action. You do know that affirmative action also helps white females right?
And what about other programs that aide individuals in admissions: Athletes, legacies, residencies? Have you thought about how this advantages certain individuals? Mostly whites? And did you know on average athletes are not as qualified as the average student? Yet there is no “Controversy” about this criteria. You believe there is an issue with Affirmative Action because minorities are not “qualified.” You should take a step back and learn more about these things.
-Toast
IP hash: 552fc6fa
The article never said anything about “athletes, legacies, legacies” and the writer never said that is was correct to admit people based on those characteristics. Furthermore, it seems that you are assuming all minorities are people who have gone to “lower quality schools” which simply isn’t the case. If you are going to bring up the lower quality school point then shouldn’t a white male who hasn’t had the same opportunities as his peers also be given preference in the admission process? If you would actually be objective about your arguments instead of blindly standing up for the racial diversity you want to see on campus your points would be much more relevant.
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I never said all minorities are at lower quality schools and I never said whites should not be given a chance if they are from the same school.I meant most minorities. I’m stating that if she has a problem with Affirmative Action which admits “unqualified” minorities(which by the way would not make much of a different for whites even if it was not here)then she should look at other things that most whites benefit from. I’m not blindly standing up for anything. Should a white person without many opportunities be given a chance? Yes. But if he does not get in the university is it because of his race? You tell me.
IP hash: 552fc6fa
Even if it doesn’t make much of a difference to most whites, there are some who it does matter to. Also, if a minority student and a white student apply with the same disadvantages and the minority student is admitted then yes he didn’t get into the university because of the color of his skin.
IP hash: 183bf616
I think the argument is more that SOME minorities are not qualified and are admitted on the basis of diversity. Just as the same argument is true for whites. Some whites are not qualified to succeed at UW-Madison and they are not admitted but no one is working through campus committees to establish a dialogue about including these people on this campus.
I’m sure many people on this campus have stories about friends that were denied entry here when they were more qualified on paper than others that were admitted. My roommate freshman year was a hmong man from Minnesota, who had a 22 ACT score and was not involved in any extra-curriculars in high school. His essays couldn’t have wow-ed the admissions people because he was in English 100 first semester, and nearly failed it.
On the flip side, my friend was an all-state tennis player with a 29 ACT and graduated with honors from our high school, yet she was denied immediately. Not even waitlisted.
I know this is anecdotal evidence and shouldn’t be considered a serious argument but I really don’t think the basic argument is that controversial. It’s simply asking whether any discrimination is legal or necessary. While some may disagree and say that discrimination towards non-minorities in these situations is ok, it is still a valid argument and conversation to be had.
IP hash: b491f581
So a diverse student body, based on your terms, could in effect be made up of all white people… huh, interesting.
On another note, I have three words for you: research, research, and more research: QUOTAS ARE ILLEGAL IN THE UNITED STATES: THIS UNIVERSITY, AND NONE FOR THAT MATTER, CAN NOT ESTABLISH A QUOTA FOR ETHNICITY.
THIS IS BLATANTLY MISLEADING: “By admitting minority students in order to fill a quota, the university tells those minority students that they wouldn’t be good enough otherwise.”
In the Supreme Court case Bakke vs. California decided upon in 1978, racial quotas were ruled ILLEGAL.
More information here: http://www.soyouwanna.com/site/pros_cons/affaction/affaction.html
IP hash: 09151768
What the fuck qualifies someone to be an opinion columnist for the student newspapers? The whole lot of you fucking suck. Shut up.
IP hash: 74a28603
My, what pointed criticism.
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you’re an idiot
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Racist.
IP hash: 552fc6fa
way to play the race card
IP hash: 12f01c81
what do you expect from a school in WISCONSIN. Bunch of racist pricks, especially you idiot opinion columnists.
IP hash: 060f8452
It’s just that it gets cold in Wisconsin.
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we dont care what youre opinion is Jamie. Go travel and get some worldy experience of other peoples ethnicity. maybe you’ll change your racist mind.
IP hash: 5bf83dc9
Intending major in journalism? CHANGE YOUR MAJOR! Your article doesn’t make sense. Do SOME RESEARCH!!!!! Learn how to if you want to become a journalism major.
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I agree. If you want to even have a chance at being a journalism major learn this word RESEARCH and try utilizing it.
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How embarrassing. Yikes. Couldn’t let the Daily Cardinal spew bullshit all by themselves, huh Badger Herald?
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Thats it. I’ve decided to hate all white people.
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word
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I wanna see a person of color write an opinion article in response!
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word.
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Do people of color have a particular viewpoint? I’d like to see how a blue-eyed person would respond.
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It is not the responsibility of people of color to end racism. The oppressed must never be held responsible for their own oppression. It is the responsibility of white students to call out other white students for their racism.
That said, how telling it is that all of these types of columns seem to be written by white columnists.
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In other words, white people are racist because they’re white.
Sounds like you called yourself out.
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11:17am you can’t make those types of statistical arguments (especially when only analyzing first year admission rates) based off of a simply non-white vs white distinction in order to understand the lack of diversity on this campus. Much of this state is, in fact, not very diverse. That is true. And perhaps this university has more people of color than do a lot of communities in our state. However, did you ever consider where the majority of these people of color are coming from? Most are international students if you look at the breakdown, and many POC students are from out of state as well. So maybe the question of diversifying our campus isn’t just about making the stats look “right”, but rather about giving equal access to our campus and its resources to all the residents of our state, including the people of color. I’m sure that if you look at the statistics in terms of the proportionality of POC folks from within our state to the number of Wisconsin folks of color at our University the stats would then no longer serve your racist purpose. I mean really, if you weren’t applying anonymously, and everyone on this message board knew who you were, would you still stand by your comment that this campus is “overly diverse”?
Didn’t think so. Racist.
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I think that the color of a person’s skin shouldn’t be used in admissions unlike you who obviously think race should be used to distinguish among applicants. Looks like you’re the racist.
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Sure, the definition of diversity can encompass a vast array of things, but when campuses talk about diversity, it’s obviously most often directed towards cultural diversity (which it should be). I agree that you have a point saying that biologically, race doesn’t matter. However, it’s a white privilege to take that same idea and apply it on a social scale. Like others have said, racial and ethnic quotas are illegal and it would be pretty hard for a university as large as this one to skid by under the radar in regards to admission policy. The university won’t accept someone unless the applicant has what the university deems to make a student successful. The odds have been working against people of color for hundreds of years, since (in general) U.S. high schools’ curriculum (and standardized testing) is centered around white culture! Race is only one small factor that legally cannot and will not sway an admission decision.
This campus is NOT diverse. Statistics may say that the university has a more racially diverse campus than the state as a whole, but then again, Wisconsin isn’t a very diverse place.
Oh, and your article only moderately pissed me off until I read this, “Maybe minority students don’t really care about the reason for their admission so long as they get admitted.” PLEASE talk to someone that isn’t white and ask them if they care how they got admitted, maybe throw that line out there too, see what happens. Don’t be surprised if you get punched in the face.
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word
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I don’t really understand how academic institutions are “centered around white culture”. Could you please explain this please?
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the thing that bothers me about the whole issue of people of color coming from disadvantaged schools is that plenty of white, small town Wisconsin kids do too. I came from a tiny high school, with no AP classes offered, nor a math class higher than Algebra 2, but I’m still excelling at UW. No matter what your background, if you have the drive to do well, you will succeed.
I also agree with earlier posts…the admissions process should be colorblind. It shouldn’t even be on the application in the first place. Admissions should ALWAYS be based on
IP hash: 679090a1
the thing that bothers me about the whole issue of people of color coming from disadvantaged schools is that plenty of white, small town Wisconsin kids do too. I came from a tiny high school, with no AP classes offered, nor a math class higher than Algebra 2, but I’m still excelling at UW. No matter what your background, if you have the drive to do well, you will succeed.
I also agree with earlier posts…the admissions process should be colorblind. It shouldn’t even be on the application in the first place. Admissions should ALWAYS be based on * your qualifications.
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I just hope the day comes when this country is no longer in diapers when it comes to race. It makes me sad that people are still squabbling over this after all these years. If we get invaded by aliens tomorrow, they will not give a damn about what color any of us are.
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the alien card. wish i had thought of that.
IP hash: 6c74ea99
“Campus Women’s Center, Ad Club, Student Spill, WASB, The Badger Herald, ASM, Sigma Chi, GUTS and Kinesiology Club. Even this short list is proof enough that we are a diverse university.”
This is a list of diverse INTERESTS not necessarily diverse people. People enrolled in these organizations may not have significantly different life experiences and values, they may just be inclined to express their common life experiences in different ways. The University may actively pursue students of color because they typically have another experience to share other than the Midwest Caucasian experience that is the majority of our campus. You would do well to take the hint and broaden your horizons and network of people on campus.
IP hash: 6c74ea99
“Campus Women’s Center, Ad Club, Student Spill, WASB, The Badger Herald, ASM, Sigma Chi, GUTS and Kinesiology Club. Even this short list is proof enough that we are a diverse university.”
This is a list of diverse INTERESTS not necessarily diverse people. People enrolled in these organizations may not have significantly different life experiences and values, they may just be inclined to express their common life experiences in different ways. The University may actively pursue students of color because they typically have another experience to share other than the Midwest Caucasian experience that is the majority of our campus. You would do well to take the hint and broaden your horizons and network of people on campus.
IP hash: 3412785f
There is no such thing as “the Midwest Caucasian experience.” Individuals have different experiences depending on what they do, the ideas they hold, the activities the engage in, etc. This is not a function of being Caucasian.
And since when does someone’s experiences indicate that you can learn something from them? It says nothing. The fact that someone has experienced living in Africa says nothing about whether they understand that culture at all. Likewise, a professor who has never set foot out of Wisconsin may be an expert on the subject.
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The US is 20% non-white, but the rest of the world is 80-84% non-white. UW isn’t only admitting US citizens. Therefore, the 22% of non-white students is less than what it should be.
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But how many brown-eyed people do we have? Isn’t that important too?
IP hash: 43dff6a3
UW is the state school of the state of Wisconsin. Wisconsin is 91 percent white, per Census data. Ergo, UW is doing better than the rest of the fucking state.
Chancellor Wiley was always criticized for taking this view, but he’s right. We have to stop concentrating on numbers—“diversity” is much more complex than that.
IP hash: 9128663d
First of all Jamie because you are white, you have the privilege of deciding whether or not to use your race to define yourself. Read “White Like Me” by Time Wise. The idenity of most, if not all, people of color is defined in part by their race. In America, race affects every aspect of your life including the opportunities you are afforded.
Secondly, why do people think that colorblindness is a good thing?! It is not! To be colorblind is to ignore the things that make us different and unique. To be colorblind is to disregard one’s identity.
IP hash: 3412785f
How does your race make you different in a way the should cause people to treat you differently?
Say there’s a white man and a black man who are identical in every way except their race. Should they be treated differently? If so, how?
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People should not be judged or treated differently based on their color. But the fact is, they are. Like it was said, as a white person, you have the privilege to not define yourself by your race, but that is only because you are the majority racial/ethnic group in this country. If you were a minority, this would affect every aspect of your life living somewhere where everybody does not look like you, talk like you, and yes, think like you. Only a white person in the US could be so naive as to think that their way of thinking is not determined by being white, because we are mostly sheltered from people of other races and backgrounds, and we are taught a subconscious pity of minorities, in terms of “white man’s burden.”
I’m not blaming you for being privileged, but you should recognize it as such. I am also white, but living in a non-white country taught me the basics of what it means to be looked down on for no other reason than, not my race, but my background, which is exemplified by my appearance. The reason we need diversity on campus is because universities are a place to achieve higher learning and enlightenment, and being exposed to people who are not like you, and could never be like you, is a valuable experience for everybody. More importantly, discrimination is very real, and as your article demonstrates perfectly, it is often practiced unconsciously, through lack of experience. We are nowhere near the point where a minority student could count on being admitted along with a white student of completely equal qualifications. There are many white students on campus who appear to be wholly unqualified to be admitted into any university, but who am I to judge? Nonetheless, if a few “unqualified” minority students get admitted, and succeed at obtaining a degree, it will move us a little closer to a society where racial inequalities do not exist. Until then…
IP hash: 3412785f
“If you were a minority, this would affect every aspect of your life living somewhere where everybody does not look like you, talk like you, and yes, think like you.”
Where is this place where everybody looks like me, talks like me and thinks like me? I’ve never found such a place. It would be a wonderful place, that’s for sure!
“Only a white person in the US could be so naive as to think that their way of thinking is not determined by being white”
I personally know many black people who are this “naive,” so there goes your theory.
“I’m not blaming you for being privileged”
Considering that you don’t know me, I am blaming you for the injustice of judging my character based on my race. This - racism - is what we need irradiate.
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The “you” was the author. If I am judging her, it is based on her article, not on her race. If you (the commenter) wrote it, or if you agree with the article, then yeah, what I said applies to you: you are ignorant of your own privilege. Maybe the Black people you know do not identify with your idea of being “Black,” but I highly doubt any of them would say that being a minority in a very racial society has not affected the way they think. If they would, let them say so for themselves. You don’t get it. Part of your privilege as a white person is that you are allowed to think of yourself solely as an individual, not as a member of a race. It probably never even crossed your mind that someone might not want to admit to a white person how much not being white affects their lives. That with your privileged upbringing you might not be able to handle it. It’s just like how rich people don’t often have poor friends, because they don’t like being reminded of their unearned privileged place in society. Show me a rich person who claims to have poor friends, and I’ll show you a rich person who doesn’t know what poor people are.
You’re making a great case for increased diversity on campus.
IP hash: 06c2d8f0
I am not sure which is more disgusting, the article or the comments. A little lesson for all of the white racists who are commenting on this article: Racism is race prejudice AND institutionalized power. People of color in this nation have been shut out of any institutionalized power since Europeans landed on this continent and systematically raped, kidnapped, and killed Africans and Native Americans. It continued throughout our history and still continues today.
You, my fellow white people, are NOT experiencing racism. Stop trying to be the victims here and recognize that your white privilege played a big part in getting you where you are today, as did mine.
No one is color blind. To act as if we are only perpetuates racism. People of color have experienced the world differently than we have. If you have any meaningful relationships with people of color, sit down and have a conversation with them about this.
Who is the idiot who compared diversity of race to having someone who is mentally retarded (not my words) attend the school? How dare you compare race to the inability to learn at a higher level of cognition?!?!?!
Are you all afraid of making this campus more diverse? of seeing people that don’t look quite like you? Ask yourself those questions and do some major self-reflection. In the mean time, the university needs to step up its efforts at making this campus diverse!
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“You, my fellow white people, are NOT experiencing racism.”
Nope, no racist accusations here.
“No one is color blind. To act as if we are only perpetuates racism.”
Translation: Ignoring race perpetuates racism.
Interesting logic.
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Agreed with this original comment. ‘Reverse racism’ makes it seem as if white are on a level playing field as other races, when they enjoy benefits throughout life (some subtle, some not so much) that students of color have not….
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LESS THAN 3% OF ALL STUDENTS ON THIS CAMPUS ARE AFRICAN AMERICAN Try being one of the small handful of minority students in your class. Then you will understand that skin color does make a difference in the classroom and in the self-esteem and performance of those minority students.
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How? Please explain.
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This article is irresponsible. Jaime gives misinformation about how affirmative action actually works. As one commentator already noted, it’s completely false that there is any sort of quota system because that would be illegal. This perpetuates myths that makes it seem as if students of color are somehow less qualified, even though they aren’t.
Jaime also uses false logic to make a universalist argument about racial identification and racialized experience (that it’s a choice and that it doesn’t much or shouldn’t much matter) that often only applied to whites who enjoy racial privilege in our society.
Jaime also fails to look at how the university HAS expanded the idea of diversity. In the last couple of years, the UW has advocated a more holistic vision of diversity they call “inclusive excellence”. Basically, they have expanded their initiative to advocate diversity of disability, nationality, gender, sexuality and class as well.
Ultimately, this article simply diminishes a tolerant campus climate for students of color by spreading myths, universalizing the particular privilege whites experience, and generally participating in [cleverly subtle]racist political discourse.
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Quotas are illegal because they discriminate based on race. “Diversity” programs discriminate based on race. Even the Chancellor has indicated that, while they must comply with the law, they don’t agree with it. Their goal is to target people based on race. Whether this technically means the criteria of a quota is irrelevant - it’s the racism that’s the problem.
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Diversity programs perform outreach and give a variety of incentives to underrepresented students…how is this racist? And it’s definitely different from a quota system that would require universities to have a certain NUMBER of students from groups, no matter what. Your point is unclear and uninformed.
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In regards to this article, it composes EVERYTHING a greedy “American” would say. This whole article was factioned in such an arrogant racist judgemental direction. Everything you stated in here was derogatory ironic and there were no important points. It sounded more like am immature hate letter. If you’re going to be an effective journalist, think about what the hell you’re writing. This country is FAR from diverse and even opening their damn minds about being diverse. This country is too caught up on races, what society fricken thinks and people like YOU who speaks on behalf of all those who DO NOT have a voice. Who are you to make any judgement about races and diversity. This article clearly proves you know NOTHING about it. Because it’s biased and stereotypical. Your ideas aren’t credible and you as an individual need some diversity in your sheltered life.
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word up daaawggzz. shits wack fo shooo
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this is an article rooted in sociological theory. As flawed as affirmative action is, so are the theories that you have applied in discouraging it.
it’s a double edged sword.
we can look at the pros and cons of affirmative action all day and never come to a uniform conclusion. affirmative action simply has to go beyond race. to do that, we it must become an economically based program in which race is not a determining factor, but an individual’s economic standing.
racism will never go away, but as chris rock once said:
“Black people yelling “racism!” White people yelling “reverse racism!” Chinese people yelling “sideways racism!” And the Indians ain’t yelling shit ‘cause they dead. So everybody bitching about how bad their people got it: nobody got it worse than the American Indian. Everyone needs to calm the fuck down.”
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How is it rooted in sociological theory? I’m pretty sure if you asked a sociologist to read this article, they would dismiss it as biased and non-objective. It’s an opinion article - which is why it’s in the Op-Ed section…
I do agree that the debate has become polarized and unproductive in certain ways (when it’s just people shouting at each other), but I think the way this article is written - with false assumptions and an ethnocentric lens, is meant to be provocative. And I think that debates about these kinds of things can be fruitful (if people were more willing to stick to facts).
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UGHH. This is why i left Wisconsin.
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“It can be said more minority students attend schools that offer a lower-quality education than most white students receive, but a lower-quality education does not necessarily mean one is destined to be less intelligent.”
Self explanatory. I wonder how ignorant ppl can be.
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I am pretty sure affirmative action has helped white women more than anyone else it is intended for.