[Drolefille]

Originally posted by Marie
Are you saying that you haven't seen any universities that are majority white?

Really people...I don't know what the fear is about being considered white these days. PWI is a commonly used term. Just because an institution does not refer to itself as such does not mean that the term doesn't exist nor does it mean that the term isn't valid. PWI is simply a term that is used to distinguish schools that are in fact majority white from those that aren't. Since it is not likely that we'll all go around saying HBCUs v. All The Others, then an appropriate term was created to give these institutions some sort of classification.

There are many studies that observe the experience and effects of minority students attending schools that are majority white. Any simple google search will turn these up. The term PWI is used repeatedly as a descriptor for these institutions. It isn't used to bash or cast any judgement on the study or the institution. It is simply a classification for the purpose of simple understanding.

No one is saying that PWI = 'We only want/cater to/target white students' or 'We are comprised only of white students'. Infact no one even thinks that except, of course, other white people (who I'm honestly not sure actually believe that the term is offensive or are just so afraid of being considered racist that they regect anything and everything that sounds 'too white') . PWI = just what it says PREDOMINANTLY WHITE INSTITUTION. In case we aren't all clear on what that 1st word means then here is the definition.

predominantly

adv : much greater in number or influence; "the patients are predominantly indigenous"

Are you saying that you don't think that there are schools for which this definition applies (white students are greater in number)?

Honestly, I can see the argument against WGLO b/c it could imply that these organizations are in place to attract and serve whites only. I can even see the argument against HWGLO b/c inspite of the accuracy of this term, the titles IFC and NPC are in place to make the distinction, and maybe deep down we're all just a little uncomfortable about the fact that these orgs were founded with what we may today consider to be non-PC policies/clauses. However PWI? Come on people.

If you can see an issue with WGLO the same argument can exist for PWI or HWCU or whatever. My only real issue with PWI is that DSTChaos keeps saying that universities use it to describe themselves and has not provided evidence to support her assertation.