Ryan Arthur Vann’s derisive commentary supporting a “straight Caucasian male” diversity plan is, quite frankly, abhorrent (“A plan of action to support straight Caucasian males at the University,” ODE, May 2). His insinuation that the University panders to the needs of minorities (while somehow neglecting those of the dominant culture) is glaringly opprobrious. As an epithet of prejudice, it is wretched. As an ostensible representation of the dominant sentiment, it is absolutely disgraceful.
As someone who identifies as both straight and white, I find his mockery to be more offensive to those he purportedly represents than to those he attempts to denigrate and a testament to our
necessity for an effective diversity plan in the first place.
Vann states that he is “proud-yet-frightened.” Though his pride for simply existing as a straight, white male within our straight-white-male dominant culture is unwarranted, his fear is not. When hateful sentiments like Vann’s are carried out to their ends, he will mourn the absence of his friends and the richness they once brought to his life.
Danielle Zeghbib
University architecture student