If there is actually institutional racism present in the ASUO system, or anywhere, it should certainly be rooted out (“standing up & speaking out,” ODE April 30, 2007). Racism is an ignorant, archaic, hateful and shallow way of viewing life and humanity. I wish everyone felt the way I do about the matter. But what I want to debate is who and what is actually racist.
The way the protesting students feel about the matter is made apparent. However, no evidence is made to back up their claims other than various ambiguous and vague statements made about unfair budget cuts for student groups and inadequate hiring of minorities as faculty members. If these claims are true, well, then that’s really messed up, but for the sake of your own argument, give me some facts! Honestly, it reads like a bunch of whining to me.
As for “cluster hiring” of minority faculty members, the benefits are a wide and truly diverse set of intelligent professors. But don’t hire them because of their color; hire them for the culture they bring. These loud, vocal and accusatory protesters make it appear as though all they care about is color. In my opinion, it’s racist to have a preference.
And how are people feeling suppressed and discriminated against? This was not expressed, and I don’t see it. If minorities are being suppressed in Eugene, them how did the Emerald story get published? How did you get media coverage if you are suppressed?
For those who feel like “token” members of classrooms, I’m sorry, but that’s all in your head. Tokenism is putting a nice black guy on a TV program so the show doesn’t come across as Anglo-centric. Nobody put you in the classroom to make everyone else feel better. You are there for yourself voluntarily.
I’m not saying that racism isn’t still a problem in America. How about the white rednecks who brought a noose to school and purposely paraded it in the face of my brother’s friend who is black (the school is probably 99% white)? That’s racism. But I don’t see the racism that you are describing in our University. It’s all just hearsay at this point.
The quote from Zadok Taylor in the article is ridiculous: “This really is an issue and this whole idea of ‘I’m not racist’ is bullshit because everybody is racist to some degree.” The real “bullshit” is saying that people shouldn’t defend themselves against a claim of racism, especially if the claim isn’t even remotely true. People get defensive because charges of racism are extremely damaging to a person’s character.
And everybody is not a racist to some degree. You are either racist or you aren’t. I much prefer this quote from Denis Leary on racism: “Racism isn’t born, folks; it’s taught. I have a two-year old son. You know what he hates? Naps. End of list.”
So please folks, let’s drop the real bullshit, and let’s be realistic about it all. This means, if you can’t prove that anyone or anything is racist; don’t go through with a witch hunt.
Andrew Soderberg is a University student