The BU College Republicans Are Right
By Bob Parks (11/25/06)
So we have this latest uproar because the Boston University Republicans have dared start a scholarship for white students to illustrate the immorality that is racial preferences. The usual suspects have criticized the group and those who should be supporting them, have fallen victim to the cowardice of political correctness. Are we really surprised?
"We are trying to convey the absurdity of any race-based scholarship. I don't think race should be part of any scholarship. It should be based on merit or economic need."
- Joseph Mroszczyk, president of the Boston University College Republicans
According to the Boston Globe, "The $250 scholarship, which will be funded by the chapter and will do little to meet the university's base tuition of $33,330, has ignited a debate on campus about whether it is the right way to address views on race-based scholarships and affirmative action."
In my humble opinion, the Boston University Republicans are right, and sometimes an blatant illustration is necessary to ask those who advocate a policy, how does it feel? Those who support Affirmative Action, or "diversity", obviously believe that minority students need a leg up on other students because of socio-economic conditions or the prevalent racism that they say still exists today.
I'll get back to that in a minuteā¦.
"It appears to me that they're trying to push a debate as it relates to affirmative action and American society. I want students to know that I encourage debate and will help students foster creative debate around the university. I hope the College Republicans and other students will try to do the same."
- Statement by Kenneth Elmore, Boston University Dean of Students
Dean Elmore seems to be implying that by the college Republicans even bringing up the subject, that they're not fostering creative debate, but inciting intolerance. Where have we heard that beforeā¦?
It would appear that Affirmative Action, because it deals with minorities, is a taboo subject at Boston University, and other institutions as well. But the very notion that minorities are intellectually unprepared for college and need to receive brownie points is insulting at best. As a so-called minority, I believe that blacks and Latinos can achieve like any other group, and for that, liberals have called me a black supremest.
But why would one perceive that minorities need an advantage?
Is it the media-supported perception that minorities who study are "acting white", thus putting a scarlet letter on any that do? Is it the media-supported perception to minorities that the only way out of poverty is basketball, hip-hop, and drugs sales, so one can achieve a nice car, sex, and bling? Who supports these perceptions? Maybe the very people who support Affirmative Action today?
Maybe if our politicians, who send their kids to private schools yet won't work to foster competition in public schools (Mend It, Don't End It), would push for all the improvements requested by education reformers, minority kids may enter college on a more equal playing field. Maybe if pop-culture would spend less emphasis on bling and more on books, maybe minority kids may enter college on a more equal playing field. Maybe if liberals would stop treating minorities as if they weren't capable of doing the work, and demand more of those students and their parents, maybe minority kids may enter college on a more equal playing field.
We have high school seniors who need remedial study just to be ready for college. We have schools that emphasize bilingual education vice immersion, and those kids aren't ready for college, if they graduate at all. Will landing on the Go-to-college square remedy this situation, or will more minorities fail to reach their sophomore year? Why should some minority kids be set up for a rude awakening just because some liberals want to feel good about themselves? When are we going to expect more from kids who are capable, and stop making excuses based on liberal prejudices?
There are way too many white, Asian, and minority kids who are poor, yet get good grades to blame an overall college lack of representation on socio-economics. To claim that racism is keeping all minority kids down, is a cop-out. There are way too many successful blacks to support that. To the BU Republicans' credit, they assert that racial preferences are "one of the worst forms of bigotry in America."
They conclude in a note within the three-page application, "Did we do this to give a scholarship to white kids? Of course not. Did we do it to trigger a discussion on what we believe to be a morally wrong practice of basing decisions in our schools and our jobs on racial preferences rather than merit? Absolutely."
These college Republicans deserve kudos for critical thinking and the balls to stand up for what they believe. Unfortunately, those who should be supporting them are not.
"Their actions are misguided and offensive."
- Brian Dodge, executive director of the Massachusetts Republican Party
With all due respect, the lack of state Party support for these kids is misguided and offensive. These college students are the Republicans of tomorrow, and show more guts to stand up to college political correctness than the executive director of the Massachusetts Republican Party. But it didn't stop thereā¦.
According to the Globe, "A national party spokesman called the scholarship 'highly inappropriate.'"
The national party spokesman should refer back to the recent Republican midterm drubbing, and ask himself if he really has the pulse of the party and true conservatism?
I hope the Boston University Republicans stand by their scholarship, and not succumb to "tolerant", "free-speech" liberals who only encourage and support free speech they agree with. I hope that other Republican groups contact and support these students who have put on the line their beliefs. Race-based preferences help no one
We need more like them, and we need more real Republicans supporting them as well.
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