What is Gregory J. Vincent, the vice provost for institutional equity and diversity, doing to the University? Does diversity really mean segregating students of color into classes where they can be with other students of color and share their “student of color” experiences with minimal non-color students present (“Officials defend class enrollment restrictions,” ODE, May 12)?
Where does that leave white students on your list? This is segregation; it is just labeled something different.
Vincent is acting in a racist manner. He is judging people based on their skin color, not by the content of their character. Diversity is more than skin color; diversity is of the mind.
Try being white, conservative and heterosexual on this campus. I am devalued more and more every day when my feelings and experiences are ignored because of my skin color. Self-identified conservative students are still afraid to speak because of what may happen to their education, careers and physical safety.
I have a dream that one day, I can say something and not be taunted as a middle-class white girl. I have a dream that one day, I will be able to talk to people without being blamed for their problems. I have a dream that one day, my experiences will be recognized as equal to others and that classes at the University will be truly diverse in thought, not just in skin color.
I am white. I am a woman. I am conservative. There is no reason I should feel bad about that or face barriers because of my skin color. My rights to register for a class are equal. My rights to speak my mind are important. Stop segregating this campus into colored and white, Greg Vincent, and start being colorblind.
Melissa Hanks lives in Eugene