<p>Orientation</a> group created for domestic white students - News</p>
<p>Not sure how I feel about this. Who decides who fits into this? How many generations does it take to be considered "domestic" or "white" for that matter? I've got so many questions about how this makes much sense.</p>
<p>“The new group will focus on education and white racial identity.” </p>
<p>I was hoping to see that this was an April Fools day issue, but seems like this is for real…</p>
<p>Eeek! I think I understand the logic here, but any organization specifically for white people, as opposed to people in general, makes my skin crawl. Don’t these people have any understanding of the disgraceful history of other “whites only” organizations? This has the potential to become a significant cause for celebration and public comment by KKK members and other racists.</p>
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<p>Oh heavens, I hope not.</p>
<p>Did I read this wrong ? Do they have seperate orientations for different ethnic groups as well as a seperate one for internationals ?
I don’t see the point of seperating anyone, but none is worse than the other. None of it seems to make sense</p>
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<p>No, I don’t think you read it wrong, exactly. They have pre-orientation orientations for international students, for students that are African American/Latina/Native American/multiracial, and now this for white students. Then I think they have another orientation for everyone together.</p>
<p>I don’t get it. I’m six feet tall. I’ve known people four feet tall who participated in the “Little People” organization to discuss the special challenges of living in a world in which their issues are not shared by the majority. I’d suppose seven-footers might find it helpful to talk about their challenges with other tall people. I’ve never considered forming a group of people of average height to talk about . . . heck, I don’t have a clue what we’d talk about! </p>
<p>I’m also white, but since the majority of the culture in which I live is the same race as I, I feel no kinship with them based upon on shared race. I don’t spend any more time defining myself by my predominant racial background than I do my average height.</p>
<p>I have no doubt that students might call for this, but why would the college throw it’s support behind it? Clearly, MHC isn’t just accommodating it, they’re touting it as a model.</p>
<p>My guess is that the article is simply very inept marketing of an orientation that’s almost surely going to deal with some of the ideas that grow out of whiteness studies</p>
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<p>The tip-off is the jargon “white racial identity,” a term for some theories in this field.</p>
<p>This is surely going to be an introduction to ideas of race and class privilege, less overt forms of racism, cultural difference, and unacknowledged bias and prejudice. My STRONG suspicion is that there’s no need to worry that they’re recruiting future clansmen here!</p>
<p>[Washington</a> Post Article on Whiteness Class/Whiteness Studies](<a href=“Homepage : Women, Gender, Sexuality Studies : UMass Amherst”>Homepage : Women, Gender, Sexuality Studies : UMass Amherst)</p>
<p>I suppose the orientation will cover things like this as well
[Stuff</a> White People Like](<a href=“http://stuffwhitepeoplelike.com/full-list-of-stuff-white-people-like/]Stuff”>Full List of Stuff White People Like | Stuff White People Like)</p>
<p>jk</p>
<p>^^ Ahhh yes, good one! But I’m thinking in terms of gearing towards the Bible Belt students… :)</p>
<p>For more context:</p>
<p>[Mount</a> Holyoke College :: Intergroup Dialogue Project](<a href=“http://www.mtholyoke.edu/offices/dos/12586.shtml]Mount”>http://www.mtholyoke.edu/offices/dos/12586.shtml)
[Mount</a> Holyoke College :: Coordinator of Multicultural Affairs](<a href=“http://www.mtholyoke.edu/offices/dos/12582.shtml]Mount”>http://www.mtholyoke.edu/offices/dos/12582.shtml)</p>
<p>Mount Holyoke has a sophisticated approach to this concept. I’m disappointed in the student newspaper’s explanation. As an alum, should I tip them off that they’re about to be the subject of a 55-page thread on CC? :)</p>
<p>So the question is if the black or latina or Asian students have their own orientations and the white students didn’t, would the white students not have an orientation? If every other group has a private orientation either the white kids do too, or they don’t have one at all, right?</p>
<p>The purpose of the “white student” orientation is not to just have different people of different groups to come together and commiserate. The white students orientation is an “orientation for white students with a commitment to anti-racism and social justice.” It is to teach a willing group of students about issues of race and racism and make them aware of how their white privilege ties into the institutional racism that still exists.</p>
<p>ALANA orientation exists for students of color who choose it to act as an event that allows them to get accustomed to a predominantly white environment, or one in which their racial group is not well-represented. Not all ALANA students go to this event, since it is only for those who choose to go. It is done to allow these students to have an easier transition into Mount Holyoke life. </p>
<p>International student orientation is to allow international students to adjust to an American style of living. All international students are required to attend.</p>
<p>Oh, and these are all PRE-orientation programs. Actual orientation is a few days later, is fully integrated, and everyone <em>must</em> attend.</p>
<p>The white student orientation is new this upcoming school year, as a response to years of complaints from white students who have thought it was “unfair” that their “international or ALANA” roommate got to move in first. Mount Holyoke just sought to make it educational for these incoming students, instead of rewarding them for somebody else’s childish complaints, without also providing a pre-orientation program. To have a more general “White students orientation” would be pretty nuts.</p>
<p>Are we sure this isn’t a joke?</p>
<p>hmom5, as a current student, I can assure you it is not a joke. There is no reason it would be a joke. It is a social justice orientation geared towards white students who have an interest in learning more about what impact their white privilege has on institutionalized racism. It is a program centered around awareness and social justice.</p>
<p>I got your social justice right here. No wonder the place as a high transfer out rate and has been going south for 20 years.</p>
<p>Can you expound on your comment, barrons? No agenda or ties to MHC beyond considering it for dd.</p>
<p>Scratch another one off the list for my hs junior daughter.</p>
<p>If they’d said, “intended primarily for nonminority students interested in exploring ideas of privilege, social justice, and racism” there would be no thread. I’d love my daugther to be exposed to these ideas during orientation (oops . . . . that second sentence belongs in the cafe in the political forum :)</p>
<p>Did anyone read the links I posted above? Or did you read what mtholyoke2010 had to say? If you had, you would have a clearer understanding of what the college is trying to do and this thread would not be going so off track. This is one of those CC threads I end up staying away from: I know something about the subject and am astounded at the misinterpretation and misinformation that builds through the thread. Trying to steer the discussion back into reality is just pointless.</p>