Whites-only scholarship created to protest Affirmative Action

[Honeykiss1974]

New scholarship created for whites only

BRISTOL, Rhode Island (AP) --A student group at Roger Williams University is offering a new scholarship for which only white students are eligible, a move they say is designed to protest affirmative action.

The application for the $250 award requires an essay on "why you are proud of your white heritage" and a recent picture to "confirm whiteness."

"Evidence of bleaching will disqualify applicants," says the application, issued by the university's College Republicans.

Jason Mattera, 20, who is president of the College Republicans, said the group is parodying minority scholarships.

"We think that if you want to treat someone according to character and how well they achieve academically, then skin color shouldn't really be an option," he said. "Many people think that coming from a white background you're automatically privileged, you're automatically rich and your parents pay full tuition. That's just not the case."

The stunt has angered some at the university, but the administration is staying out of the fray. The school's provost said it is a student group's initiative and is not endorsed by Roger Williams.

Mattera, who is of Puerto Rican descent, is himself a recipient of a $5,000 scholarship open only to a minority group.

"No matter what my ethnicity is, I'm making a statement that scholarships should be given out based on merit and need," Mattera told the Providence Journal.

His group took out a full-page ad in last week's issue of the university's student newspaper to tout the scholarship, which was for $50 until two donors came forward to add $100 each during the weekend, Mattera said.

It's not the first brush with controversy for the group. The school temporarily froze the Republicans' money in the fall during a fight over a series of articles published in its monthly newsletter. One article alleged that a gay-rights group indoctrinates students into homosexual sex.

[Honeykiss1974]

Ok, if this is such as issue with The College Republicans (the group that is sponsoring this "scholarship" , why did their president accept one of these race-based scholarships?

This makes about as much sense as Dr. Phil's portley behind selling weight loss products.

[Jill1228]

All I gotta say is WTF?
Me thinks that someone has SERIOUS issues

[Steeltrap]

Originally posted by Jill1228
All I gotta say is WTF?
Me thinks that someone has SERIOUS issues

Co-sign. But the sad thing is that this type of attention whoring is going on. Part of me says that ignore it, and it will go away, but another part of me says that it should be exposed.

[Prissfit1908]

I mean the dirty, stinking, filthy nerve!

How the h#ll is your behind attending in college thanks in part to a race-based scholarship, yet VEHEMENTLY (yes, I had to break out the 75 cent words) denounce them! Pardon you, sir!

Nerve, I tell ya'...

And who the h*ll thinks most white people are "privileged"?!?! What the...? I hate when ignant azz people try to think for me...

[Love_Spell_6]

Originally posted by Honeykiss1974
New scholarship created for whites only

BRISTOL, Rhode Island (AP) --A student group at Roger Williams University is offering a new scholarship for which only white students are eligible, a move they say is designed to protest affirmative action.

The application for the $250 award requires an essay on "why you are proud of your white heritage" and a recent picture to "confirm whiteness."

"Evidence of bleaching will disqualify applicants," says the application, issued by the university's College Republicans.

Jason Mattera, 20, who is president of the College Republicans, said the group is parodying minority scholarships.

"We think that if you want to treat someone according to character and how well they achieve academically, then skin color shouldn't really be an option," he said. "Many people think that coming from a white background you're automatically privileged, you're automatically rich and your parents pay full tuition. That's just not the case."

The stunt has angered some at the university, but the administration is staying out of the fray. The school's provost said it is a student group's initiative and is not endorsed by Roger Williams.

Mattera, who is of Puerto Rican descent, is himself a recipient of a $5,000 scholarship open only to a minority group.

"No matter what my ethnicity is, I'm making a statement that scholarships should be given out based on merit and need," Mattera told the Providence Journal.

His group took out a full-page ad in last week's issue of the university's student newspaper to tout the scholarship, which was for $50 until two donors came forward to add $100 each during the weekend, Mattera said.

It's not the first brush with controversy for the group. The school temporarily froze the Republicans' money in the fall during a fight over a series of articles published in its monthly newsletter. One article alleged that a gay-rights group indoctrinates students into homosexual sex.

Although I think Mattera damages their argument by receiving a scholarship for being Puerto Rican..I can see the point they are trying to make. Many people do ASSume that White students parents are probably paying all their tuition or are always well off..

But if you're gonna give scholarships based to blacks on race...why can't whites who may be from poor backgrounds do the same thing?? I know the get beaucoup $$ when attending HBCU's.

[Phasad1913]

Originally posted by Love_Spell_6
Although I think Mattera damages their argument by receiving a scholarship for being Puerto Rican..I can see the point they are trying to make. Many people do ASSume that White students parents are probably paying all their tuition or are always well off..

But if you're gonna give scholarships based to blacks on race...why can't whites who may be from poor backgrounds do the same thing?? I know the get beaucoup $$ when attending HBCU's.

Love Spell:

Not that I believe all whites who go to college do so because their parents are paying for it, but the situation here, as you have spelled it out, is not the same. Now I have heard all sides of this undying issue and nod my head in contemplation toward both opinions, but I still don't agree that a black student receiving financial assistance based on their being in our particular minority group is wrong and, therefore, warrants the creation of the same type of assistance to whites.

History in this country did not happen mutually and both ways between whites and blacks. Whites were not put down and kept out solely because of their being black. Even today a black student and/or the black employee may not receive the same consideration because of their race or what their name is and even with affirmative action programs in meaningful areas (basically excluding areas such as sports) affirmative action initiatives pretty much only amount to tokenism. So this white student that you used in your post who is poor doesn't find himself not able to attend college because he/she is white, but because he/she is poor or in a lower income bracket for which there are many scholarships, grants, etc. that they can apply for. So while I may receive a UNCF scholarship based on my history and place in American society as a black person, they can receive one of many scholarships available for students who demonstrate financial need due to their socio-economic status. Also, there ARE scholarships available to Catholics, Irish descendants, etc. etc. etc. This isn't only a "black and white" issue...it is only depicted that way through articles and groups like this one who present so-called protests like this one.

One more point, now that I think of it, someone else posted, either on this site or somewhere else where this was discussed, that a white student, despite his or her economic background can still advance due to certain "privileges" allotted them in our society (for an expansion on what I mean by privileges, see White SKin Privilege thread in the News & Politics forum). This has been the case all throughout American history, i.e. Europeans coming to America during and before the industrial boom and after a relatively brief period of ethnic turf war assimilating to one solid White American demographic. A black student, regardless of how wealthy he or she may be or become, will experience racism at some point in their life, not to say this is an excuse for failure or anything like that, just simply that this is the reality in our country. I suppose this note can serve as further justification for my argument against the experiences of a black student and poor white student both applying to college being the same.

[UpPinkies]

Originally posted by Prissfit1908
I mean the dirty, stinking, filthy nerve!

How the h#ll is your behind attending in college thanks in part to a race-based scholarship, yet VEHEMENTLY (yes, I had to break out the 75 cent words) denounce them! Pardon you, sir!

Nerve, I tell ya'...

And who the h*ll thinks most white people are "privileged"?!?! What the...? I hate when ignant azz people try to think for me...

Soror, I totally agree.

I as an undergrad I worked at the financial aid office and several times I would encountered white students who would make the remark that all the aid is going to the black students. Well, no where on the application did it say race so they always got my "look of ignorance". Sometimes if you would do your RESEARCH you find all sorts of scholarships for different minorities, interest, height, dominate left hand, community service, etc. But soooo many people want handouts.

[AchtungBaby80]

This just seems kind of petty to me. If they're really wanting to protest affirmative action, then the scholarship they offer should be up for grabs to anyone, regardless of race.

[Marie]

Also, there ARE scholarships available to Catholics, Irish descendants, etc. etc. etc.

Thank You! There are scholarships for many many different groups of people. As was stated, you can receive a scholarship for being Irish or Italian or Jewish or left-handed or tall or blind or a decendant of a member of the Sons and Daughters of the Confederate. All of these scholarships exclude other groups of people, but no one complains about these. How is the scholarship that this group is giving out any different from a scholarship that is only for Irish people. I agree with the person who said that if they really wanted to do something different, then they should have had a scholarship that was open to anyone. Some people are so stupid that you just want to slap them. The real problem is that stupid people grow up and become politicians and lawyers and media personalities. Then they start to influence other stupid people who don't know any better.

Marie

[ClassyLady]

Originally posted by Phasad1913
One more point, now that I think of it, someone else posted, either on this site or somewhere else where this was discussed, that a white student, despite his or her economic background can still advance due to certain "privileges" allotted them in our society (for an expansion on what I mean by privileges, see White SKin Privilege thread in the News & Politics forum). This has been the case all throughout American history, i.e. Europeans coming to America during and before the industrial boom and after a relatively brief period of ethnic turf war assimilating to one solid White American demographic. A black student, regardless of how wealthy he or she may be or become, will experience racism at some point in their life

Good Points!!!

What makes me so mad about this kind of stupidity is that the people complaining really don't have much to complain about. Whether it is admitted or not, being White in America does hold certain privileges. My grandmother always said that it is easier to be White and poor than it is to be Black and rich. While I don't agree with this sentiment 100%, it does hold some merit. I just don't understand why some people are staunchly opposed to letting others get a little help.