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Affirmative action has been a hot topic since it first hit the scene. Proponents and opponents of affirmative action, defined by the American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language as “a policy or program that seeks to redress past discrimination through active measures to ensure equal opportunity, as in education and employment,” have had countless heated debates and written numerous opinion pieces on the topic. The issus has even been debated by the highest court in the country, the Supreme Court.
The latest, most publicized recent event dealing with affirmative action was the decision by Roger Williams University’s College Republicans group to offer a “whites-only” scholarship as a way to protest affirmative action and race-based scholarships. Jason Mattera, president of the Roger Williams College Republicans, said that the scholarship was offered as a way to ridicule minority scholarships.
Mattera, who is of Puerto Rican descent, is himself the recipient of a $5,000 minority-based scholarship, further adding to the intrigue of the story. According to CNN.com, he said that his eligibility for such scholarships, “gives him an inherent advantage over [his] white peers.”
The whites-only scholarship, amounting to $250, is not sponsored by Roger Williams University. Mattera said that his group has received $4000 for future scholarships. The application must contain an essay on “why you are proud of your white heritage” as well as a photo proving your “whiteness.” The scholarship has been criticized by the state Republican Party as having racial overtones.
Some members of the Bentley College community have their own take on the matter. At a recent discussion on the issue, Dr. Gregory Hall, professor of psychology, pointed out, “most people take on an emotional position” when arguing affirmative action. He said of the Roger Williams College Republicans, “I’m not sure if they’re arguing from of point of knowing what affirmative action is.”
Matthew Revan, president of the Bentley College Republicans, disagreed with the state Republican Party’s characterization. “We must first define the term ‘racism,’ which is a belief that race is the primary determinant of human traits and capacities, and that racial differences produce an inherent superiority of a particular race,” he said quoting the definition of racism given in Merriam Webster.
“I didn’t see anything within the rules of the scholarship which said that white students are inherently superior to other students, any more than a scholarship for Hispanic students would say that Hispanic students are inherently superior to others,” continued Revan. “The goal was to point out that all scholarships based on race are wrong and unfair, precisely because they exclude other students based on race, and we know very well that race is not the primary determinant of human traits.”
Dr. Earle Avery, the president’s assistant for Equal Opportunity, said the scholarship, “is racist. There is no other way to put it.” He also said it was “mean-spirited.” His initial reaction when he read about the scholarship was, “here we go again.”
Avery emphasized repeatedly that he was not criticizing the College Republicans here at Bentley or at Roger Williams. Instead, he was most critical of the ultra-conservatism that was pushed on these organizations by outside forces and ideologies. He said the scholarship is just part of the obsession that ultra-conservatives in this country have to continue to find ways to inappropriately address such issues.
He cited previous examples of similar actions, such as the cookie sales that took place at Rice University. One group organized the sale and sold cookies at various prices depending on a person’s race. Avery said this was done, “in an effort to demonstrate affirmative action.” He added that actions like that are “not trying to educate” anyone. Instead, they are an answer to the question, “how do we keep a group of people subjugated and in their place.” He said such actions create a hostile environment for students, which is something that must play in the back of student’s minds as well as their parents as they apply for schools.
“I do not believe that race, something which we have no control over, should qualify (or disqualify) a student for a scholarship; any more than eye color or hair color should,” countered Revan. Having said this, he admitted that the wording that the organization used as they were staging their protest was questionable.
“By using the expression “whites only,” I think it brings to mind images from the era of segregation,” said Revan. “My guess is that the intent of offering a scholarship for white students was supposed to be viewed within the context of other race-based scholarships, such as the ones for Hispanics, African Americans, Asians, and any other scholarships which use race as a qualification. In spite of this, I think it was overshadowed by the images brought to mind by using the phrase “whites only,” and rather than address the issue at hand-the fairness of race-based scholarships-people in the national media will try to demonize Republicans as being a bunch of xenophobes. For those reasons, I do not believe that putting forward a “whites only” scholarship is an effective way of demonstrating that race-based scholarships are unfair.”
Avery said that inequality was not the issue at the heart of these protests. “If your issue is inequality, then why aren’t you consistent?” He pointed that the “right-wingers” never bring up the old-boy network and schools that take into consideration the alumni status of the applicant’s parents. Avery added that such tactics are hardly fair considering that for many years a lot of schools didn’t admit black people. This turns alumni status into a “race-based factor.” He added, “I don’t see any outrage over that.”
He pointed out the example of President George W. Bush. Avery said that he got into two institutions based on the connections that his parents have. President Bush didn’t get into them based on his merit, yet he insists that this is the only correct way to do things.
Avery stressed numerous times that this problem of favoritism and needing connections to succeed is not restricted to one political party, rather it spans party lines to include Democrats and Republicans. He pointed to the companies doing work in Iraq and said, “All of them have been awarded contracts based on governmental connections,” whether it be Republican or Democratic members of government. Avery added, “Women and people of color can’t compete with that.”
Avery pointed out that conservatives know that whites still enjoy advantages over minorities. He issued a challenge to conservatives, asking, “How many of them would be willing to trade places with a person of color.” He guessed that not many of them would because, “they are aware that the playing field is not level.”
Avery said that students who are part of conservative organizations are often invited to nice conferences where these ideas are suggested and even pushed on them. He added that speakers such as Ann Coulter and The Ultimate Warrior, both of whom have visited Bentley College in recent years, are promoted at these conferences.
Avery said pointedly, “I really believe that the neo-Nazis and the Ku Klux Klan have found a way, through legitimate conservative politics and religious causes” to continue the destructive tactics that they have always promoted. Of the Klan, Avery said, they are just more sophisticated. “They don’t wear the sheets, they find other ways to demean people of color” and to ruin relationships between blacks and whites.
Instead of falling to victim to these schemes, society should look to the benefits of diversity intoned Avery. He pointed to the benefit of the mix at Bentley. “How beneficial is it to all of our students to have an environment that mirrors what the real world looks like. [It] broadens horizons and better prepares the students for the world they will face.”
Avery recalls when he first arrived on campus. He said that he received hate mail and constantly heard, “he’s an affirmative action hire.” He was no stranger to such comments because he heard them constantly when he told people that he received a degree from Harvard University. He pointed out, “it doesn’t matter how I got in, the criteria to get out was the same for everyone.” In other words, the work and effort that students put into college once they get in is the same, regardless of race.
To support his point that affirmative action hasn’t had that great of an impact on the lives of white Americans, Avery spoke of a study printed in “USA Today” (September 9, 2003). The study showed that, despite what some might believe, race plays a higher factor than education in terms of unemployment. Statistics in the study revealed that blacks with higher educational attainment than whites were still more likely to be unemployed than less-educated whites.
In fact, “the unemployment rate of blacks with a college degree was virtually the same as that of whites who attended college but left before obtaining a bachelor’s degree, according to the Census Bureau.” Also, blacks who graduated high school were more likely to be unemployed than whites who are high school dropouts. The income earned was similarly disparate.
“How is it that [white] people who don’t graduate can make more than [blacks] can at every level?” asked Avery. All this adds up to say affirmative action isn’t hurting white Americans as much as conservatives would have you believe he said.
All respondents were concerned that Mattera’s role as spokesman for the scholarship was the height of hypocrisy. Jeanette Hixon, director of the Multicultural Center at Bentley College, said, “I find it ironic that he has benefited from a $5,000 scholarship, I would assume that he would not accept such a scholarship if he and his organization were against such practices.” If Mattera really felt that strongly about it, “he would have gotten rid of this scholarship,” said Avery, “That would have been the honorable thing to do.”
Revan admitted that he initially felt that by accepting the scholarship, Mattera was damaging his credibility, but after some thought said, “At the same time, I think it takes more courage to criticize a program from which you gained, than one from which you had no advantage from. It shows that he is a principled individual, especially if he gives the money back.”
The recipient of the whites-only scholarship did just that. After receiving the scholarship, Adam Noska from Weymouth, Mass., donated the money to a fund benefiting The Station nightclub fire survivors and victims’ families. He has also pledged to raise $750 to add to his donation. Although Noska said he didn’t “necessarily” agree with the aim of the College Republicans, he accepted the money because he needed financial assistance to fund his education. He hadn’t anticipated the reaction of his fellow students upon learning he had accepted the money. After donating the money, Noska said, “I’m just trying to do something good here.”
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