Scholarship for Whites Only?

[Paco]

http://www.cnn.com/2004/EDUCATION/02/15/whites.only.ap/index.html

BRISTOL, Rhode Island (AP) – A student group at Roger Williams University is offering a new scholarship for which only white students are eligible, a move they say is designed to protest affirmative action.

The application for the $250 award requires an essay on “why you are proud of your white heritage” and a recent picture to “confirm whiteness.”

“Evidence of bleaching will disqualify applicants,” says the application, issued by the university’s College Republicans.

Jason Mattera, 20, who is president of the College Republicans, said the group is parodying minority scholarships.

“We think that if you want to treat someone according to character and how well they achieve academically, then skin color shouldn’t really be an option,” he said. “Many people think that coming from a white background you’re automatically privileged, you’re automatically rich and your parents pay full tuition. That’s just not the case.”

The stunt has angered some at the university, but the administration is staying out of the fray. The school’s provost said it is a student group’s initiative and is not endorsed by Roger Williams.

Mattera, who is of Puerto Rican descent, is himself a recipient of a $5,000 scholarship open only to a minority group.

“No matter what my ethnicity is, I’m making a statement that scholarships should be given out based on merit and need,” Mattera told the Providence Journal.

What do you guys think of this? Agree or disagree?

[John_Mace]

College kids stage stunt with political overtones? Hold the presses!!

I have no problem with private individuals or instituions offerring scholarships for any reason that person or instiution desires. That is a simple consequence of living in a free society. I do have a serious problem when the government offers scholarships that are restriced to people of a particular race or ethnic background. That is publicly enforced racism.

[Jackmannii]

<allan sherman>

“We must unite, and fight! fight! fight!
For good old stoopid-i-ty!”

</as>

[KarmaComa]

Wow. Knock me down with a feather. They put a whopping $250 towards a political message (looks like we’re going to have to give up the krispy kremes for a few weeks), while their president accepts a scholarship which is in direct opposition with that message.

For meritorious hypocrisy, Jason Mattera gets 5 out of 5: :rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes:

[Jayn_Newell]

I agree, for the reasons cited in the article. Scholarships should be given out based on need, ability, or whatever criteria they want to add on. However, race shouldn’t come into it.

On the other hand, they didn’t have to be that controversial with it. Any normal scholarship based on academic ability with the added stipulation that you msut be white to apply would have worked fine.

[Mr.Moto]

@KarmaComa

Wow. Knock me down with a feather. They put a whopping $250 towards a political message (looks like we’re going to have to give up the krispy kremes for a few weeks), while their president accepts a scholarship which is in direct opposition with that message.

For meritorious hypocrisy, Jason Mattera gets 5 out of 5: :rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes:

I cry foul.

It’s perfectly legitimate for him to accept the scholarship while advocating that it be opened up to other students.

Kid’s gotta go to school, after all.

[Achernar]

@Jayn_Newell

On the other hand, they didn’t have to be that controversial with it.

Isn’t the whole point to be controversial about it, though? Obviously, their goal is not to establish a whites-only scholarship. Their goal is to end affirmative action. While I disagree with their opinion, I think that this is a reasonable means of voicing it.

[MMI]

Are there any ethnic groups that do not have existing scholarships effectively limited to (or at least favoring) that group? My guess is that the local lodge of the Sons of wherever your ancestors are from probably has some modest stipend to promote the education of some worthy young man or woman.

Do most ethnically-concerned whites tend to self identify as “whatever- Americans” or “whites”? (I am using the hyphenated Americans in the sense of a someone who has pride in his ancestry as well as America, without any divided loyalty) Is there a difference between the two groups? Further, is there any difference between those who fly the “white” flag due to a lack of other options and the ethnically paranoid?

[Jayn_Newell]

@Achernar

Isn’t the whole point to be controversial about it, though? Obviously, their goal is not to establish a whites-only scholarship. Their goal is to end affirmative action. While I disagree with their opinion, I think that this is a reasonable means of voicing it.

I was refering to some of the thing mentioned in the article, such as the one about the essay and ‘evidence of bleaching’. Any scholarship that was whites-only would have gotten media attention, and they would probably be better recieved by the public. This seems too adversarial to me.

I see your point though. Media junkie (flunkie?) signing out.

[SnoopyFan]

Who cares why someone gets a scholarship? As long as it’s funded by a private citizen/organization, I could care less if they give money to a left-handed black lesbian from Georgia simply because she’s a LHBLFG. Ditto for some white kid in Minnesota who applies for a scholarship for whites only. Big whoop.

[robertliguori]

IMHO: I consider this a stupid stunt because the people who haven’t made the connection between the stupidity of all-black scholarships and all-white ones probably won’t make the connection with this. There’s a line between fighting ignorance and moron-baiting, and I feel that this crosses the line.