If the Boston University College Republicans were looking for attention, they've succeeded. If they were looking to do something that would result in their fielding accusations of blatant racism and general irresponsibility, they've hit the jackpot.

In an effort to dispute affirmative action programs in the United States, and more generally minority scholarships altogether, the BU College Republicans, headed by President Joe Mroszczyk, developed a whites-only scholarship. The requirements to receive the $250 Caucasian Achievement and Recognition Scholarship? Simple. Just write two admissions essays, have a 3.2 grade point average and be 25 percent Caucasian.

Although alarming, and what I would consider to be an immature way to garner national publicity, this isn't the first time a group of students has attempted something like this. The College Republicans at Roger Williams University in Bristol, R. I., made headlines in 2004 when they attempted an almost identical plan. Their scholarship was also limited to white candidates and, even more shockingly, the group admitted that the scholarship was formed to be a "parody" of other similar minority scholarships.

Just two years later, it seems as though the BU College Republicans have followed suit, and by doing so, have provoked another heated debate on the always controversial topic of affirmative action. Mroszczyk didn't even hesitate to admit that the scholarship was created in an effort to demonstrate how the student group feels about affirmative action policies. In fact, he said it was "ridiculous" to have any kind of scholarship based on race. Why, then, did they decide the best way to get their point across was to develop exactly what they are arguing against so passionately? Creating another race-based scholarship was surely not an effective way to amass opposition to affirmative action.

While the opinion of these BU students may not be one I agree with, it is certainly one that many hold, and obviously have the right to express. That fact is one I will not dispute. However, Mroszczyk and the other College Republicans projected their thoughts on the issue in a way that could not have lacked more taste if they tried.

Although they claim that the scholarship was an effort to get people to talk about the issue and hopefully join together against affirmative action, they instead only added fuel to a fire that definitely didn't need any. It is incomprehensible how Mroszczyk and friends could not have realized the type of attention they would receive following the development of the scholarship; they were certainly aware of — and had admittedly mimicked — the incident in Rhode Island, and certainly knew that uproar would ensue. To act as though they are completely surprised by the reaction is almost as irresponsible — and illogical — as the scholarship itself. No sensible student organization should submit itself to the kind of attention they have received in the past weeks.

Most important to note is that by creating this scholarship, the College Republicans have only reinforced the racial divide that lingers in today's society. Whereas many student organizations campaign for various causes in ways that do not offend but educate others, these students at BU wasted time and money on a demonstration that is not only now considered by many to be a joke, but also insulting.

If their intention was to promote dialogue about affirmative action, they certainly did, but not in the way they intended. Instead of spurring a debate (one that had they executed properly would have had a good chance of being taken seriously, considering their prestigious university affiliation as well as their organization's reputation), they failed miserably and have only embarrassed themselves.

While there are hundreds of thousands of minority students who work hard each year to find a spot at a university, let alone muster up the funds to be able to attend one, the BU College Republicans are disregarding the genuine need for such scholarships. What's more, they are further perpetrating the "rich white kid" stereotype — and their seeming disregard for the less fortunate — and are making a complete mockery of the system and those who benefit from it.

Emily Friedman ([email protected]) is a senior majoring in journalism and legal studies.