<p>Argh!</p>
<p>Dumb. Just plain dumb. The actions of the organizers at South Puget Sound Community College fly in the face of earnest efforts to promote honest discussion.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.washingtontimes.com">http://www.washingtontimes.com</a></p>
<p>No comments? Hmm. I guess the “I Too am Harvard” thread wore out the only three CCers who don’t just care about discrimination when it’s against black people, but against anyone. I knew about this happening, but chose not to post about it there, since the accusations of white privilege were already flying fast and furious.</p>
<p>It also does not help that the link does not go to the article (as opposed to the Washington Times’ home page).</p>
<p>I didn’t have the patience to search for the article so don’t know what you are talking about. Don’t ASSume too much GFG!</p>
<p>Looks like they cancelled it: <a href=“http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2014/mar/13/college-groups-diversity-event-canceled-after-excl/”>http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2014/mar/13/college-groups-diversity-event-canceled-after-excl/</a></p>
<p>In another source, the organizers were quoted as saying white people can organize their own event to talk about white privilege, among other suggested topics, but that this event was only for people of color. </p>
<p>Here’s an excerpt from the e-mail explaining the reason for the exclusion of whites:
“If you want to create space for white folks to meet and work on racism, white supremacy, and white privilege to better our campus community and yourselves, please feel free to do just that."</p>
<p>Wow, BrownParent, an insult so early in the thread! Sneaky one, too.</p>
<p>I read about it elsewhere. What can one say? I can only sigh. I think there is a certain validity to a support-group-like atmosphere that requires limiting attendance, but ultimately the amount of difference such a group makes on anything other than an individual basis will probably depend on how the participants bring their insights to the general population.</p>
<p>I can understand there being a feeling that a “support group” might want to limit its membership to "victims’ but at the same time I don’t think much is going to be accomplished that way.</p>
<p>And, what if the majority group formed a group to “deal with matters of diversity on campus” intended to come up with strategies to improve relations with minorities on campus (ie., at group with sincerely good intentions, not a “white power” kind of group) that banned others from joining in the group – obviously this would not be seen as a good idea, nor should it be.</p>
<p>I think what bothers me the most is the secretive manner in which the invitation was sent out.</p>
<p>It’s hard to comment when the idea leaves me speechless. </p>
<p>If anyone wants to attend a meeting on diversity and to combat racism, I assume it’s because they share the goals of the group. It would be enough for me to simply say that anyone who supports this cause is invited.</p>
<p>The group’s comments were racist, no matter what their intentions.</p>
<p>Probably trying to make sure the KKK stays out of their midst. I can’t say I agree with their decision, but I can understand.</p>
<p>Tulsa, Oklahoma 1921: <a href=“Tulsa race massacre - Wikipedia”>http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tulsa_race_riot</a></p>
<p>The Pacific Northwest circa 1940s: <a href=“Portland and Portlandia, Two Worlds of Whiteness – Guernica”>http://www.guernicamag.com/daily/kiran-herbert-portland-and-portlandia-two-worlds-of-whiteness/</a></p>
<p>The Problem of Indian Administration / The Indigenous Indian (American) Genocides: <a href=“American Indian Boarding Schools Haunt Many : NPR”>American Indian Boarding Schools Haunt Many : NPR; | <a href=“http://www.underamericasrug.com/native-american-genocide.html”>http://www.underamericasrug.com/native-american-genocide.html</a></p>
<p>The Trail of Tears 1830: <a href=“Trail of Tears - Wikipedia”>http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trail_of_Tears</a></p>
<p>Act of Congress August 5th, 1882: Town of Pendleton: <a href=“http://www.trailtribes.org/umatilla/shrinking-reservation.htm”>http://www.trailtribes.org/umatilla/shrinking-reservation.htm</a></p>
<p>Not much of this content is available in school history curricula where I live. “History is written by the victors.”</p>
<p>This is the first time all day since early on that I’ve had more than 10 minutes at a keyboard. Typing on my phone makes me want to toss the thing out the window. So when I look into this more, I may have more to say. But I have to go with Consolation here-I think there was a positive intent, but it was handled badly and it backfired. Not much else to do but shake one’s head.</p>
<p>It is only South Puget Sound Community College after all …</p>
<p>I dont understand how preaching to the choir is the best way to effect change, but the northwest sure seems to enjoy it.</p>
<p>“I guess the “I Too am Harvard” thread wore out the only three CCers who don’t just care about discrimination when it’s against black people, but against anyone”</p>
<p>I am having trouble with that sentance. Is it late? Is it just me? </p>
<p>I think you are saying you can tell something about “CCers who care about racism against anyone”, based on what was posted on a thread related to some students at Harvard. Is that what you’re saying? </p>
<p>I AM curious about the Puget Sound experience compared to others I have known. </p>
<p>Apparently I can’t react to my own post. </p>
<p>I dont think the lack of response is because the meeting was excluding whites, but because it was happening in Washington state, not DC & not only that, it was in Olympia not Seattle. :-/</p>
<p>Most people on cC seem to live on the east coast, and the ones that dont, want to send their children to school there. </p>
<p>I would love something on this board that tells us about “most people on CC” vs “most people you know the opinion of” on CC.</p>
<p>FWIW, born in Brooklyn, raised in Queens, college + in DC and SoCal, military and everything that followed in a N Cal.suburb, and checked out schools in the Pacific NW. </p>
<p>PS; don’t knowcanyone who wanted to send kids back east, but also can’t think of many who talked about sending their kids ANYwhere! </p>
<p>No, I expect most people in Ca, send their kids to school in CA. Its a pretty big place with lots of public schools to choose from. </p>
<p>It was indeed an awkward sentence, skrinkrap. I was just frustrated that only certain posters and certain groups seem to get defended here on CC. I don’t believe my posts on CC have merited that charge that I am a clown or someone with vibrant racist tendencies. </p>
<p>Archer, all those events happened decades before I was born, and well before the majority of students and staff on a college campus were born. Sadly, genocide and war is part of the human condition. Sadly, it is happening all around the world now, and is being done by many races. Rwanda? </p>
<p>The idea of a discussion wasn’t a bad one. The decision to exclude anyone in the campus community willing to talk about the subject was foolish and hurtful.</p>
<p>Oh, sorry about the faulty link to the online report.</p>
<p>Shrinkrap, the Pacific Northwest is sort of a mixed bag these days regarding race relations, in my opinion. Traditionally, the PNW had a very healthy dose of the old “Rugged Individualism” creed paired with a wide streak of political liberalism. That made the Seattle area in particular a great place to live in the 1960s to the end of the century. That’s not to say the PNW was without egregious discrimination. My parents found more than one neighborhood covenant promoting discrimination in housing when they purchased their first home in Seattle. But the the PNW was not Jim Crow Alabama. These students at the community college do not seem to have a firm grasp of the culture of the PNW.</p>
<p>There are so many things wrong here but I want to say first that the admin reacted well by canceling the event but they really need to find out how this happened at all. I hope this was the reaction go a misguided individual and not endorsed by the administration. I graduated as an URM from the top tech school on the east coast in the early 80s. I do understand students wanting to create a “safe space” for discussion thus affinity housing and student groups. But the minute that faculty or staff or public space is involved it is an indication that the greater community is inviting public, civil discourse. And such a group should be inviting public discourse. The rejection of sincere members of the community is divisive and ultimately destructive. </p>