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Letters to the Editor
Racism is colorblind
If I state that a black man has had a unique life experience, I have repeated myself. How? Everyone has a unique life; no two people are the same. By referring to a man or a woman, you imply that person's unique life. But some would like you to think that Elie Weisel (Nobel Prize winning Holocaust survivor) and an accountant of Jewish persuasion have an identical, greater claim to a diverse or unique life experience than any "typical" Euro-American.
Whether you propose that an African-American genius is inferior because his race has produced some thugs or that a German thug is superior because his race has produced Einstein and Brahms, you have perpetrated the same crime.
Using this same formula, Mike Lauterbach -- as well as much of America -- has concluded that "(a black applicant) has something to offer that the rest of the faculty and the other applicants do not. He can teach students what it's like to be a black man."
However, the believers of this motto have missed an important fact. In reality, a black man can only teach others his own, individual version of black life, which may or may not be more diverse, unique or beneficial to a campus as your or my version of life. This practice of basing one's life experiences on skin color is just another implementation of racist thinking.
Obviously Elie Weisel holds a life experience that rivals most others, but it is the life of the individual, not his racial, religious or ethnic background that constitutes diversity and uniqueness. Whether you're a Southern racist, a reader's advocate or Michigan Law, by exploiting race to emphasize or de-emphasize an individual's uniqueness you become the embodiment of the racist ideal.
Brian Spearman
Sophomore, Mechanical Engineering
Cut the sports instead
I think the budget needs a little more work than cutting all the ethnic, cultural and women's studies courses. This coming after we just paid millions of dollars because SCSU settled a discrimination lawsuit. I thought the purpose of getting an education was to learn about the world that we intend to work in. If everyone thinks that the world you went to high school in is the same world you will be working in you may have a rude awakening.
I think we need to spend more time learning about different people, cultures and forms of oppression so that we can avoid having to settle more million-dollar lawsuits. What about an athletic center that half of us never knew anything about (because we came after the fact) that we are devoting, for a lot of us, our hard earned money to pay for?
I just find it amazing that in a university that has been harshly criticized for years over their lack of sensitivity to diversity that your only suggestion was to cut the classes that it seems we need the most. If you want to save money, maybe start looking at all the things that aren't necessary. After all, this is supposed to be an educational setting.
Carrie Hewitt and Renee Ormson
Juniors, Community Psychology
Byma plan political as MGMs
I agree with (Justin) Byma that we need to somehow rethink the SCSU budget to make up for the $2.5 million cut, but I firmly disagree with his plan. Why does Byma find it important to cut MGM classes and those that are taught by "left-wing" professors?
Two reasons. First because, if we are talking about politics, he is "right-wing," which takes care of the so-called "left-wing" classes. Second, because he is like millions of other Americans: ethnocentric.
What is the point of taking these MGM and Race and Ethics classes anyway? The same reason an Accounting major has to take lab classes: to experience many different interests, to become "well-rounded" individuals and to see all that is out there.
I think what bothers Byma and those like him is that they want to live in their own little one-dimensional world. God forbid they learn of some of the travesties committed by their idols. Even if the truth hurts, it is still the truth. Maybe the guilt is getting to him. I am not simply speaking to Republicans, but to anyone who looks at the surface and one side of an issue.
Maybe Byma should look at it this way: if you look at both sides of an issue you can make your case greater. Why does Byma want to cut only "left-wing" or MGM classes? You never hear anyone talk about cutting sports or (gasp!) any classes that are "right-wing." Every class has a purpose.
If Byma doesn't want to go to a college that gives both sides of an issue, explores differences in cultures and genders, challenges his beliefs and provokes thought, than perhaps he should create his own college -- one that denies the very essence of reality, only has "right-wing" or non-controversial classes, doesn't challenge his beliefs, lives on stereotypes and always agrees with the status quo. Perhaps it could be called Sheep Afraid of the Unknown University.
Cheyenne Malcolm
Social Work
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