What are you saying?
Issue date: 11/17/05 Section: Opinion
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In the comedy "White Men Can't Jump," Sidney Deane tells Billy Hoyle, "...listen to me. White men can't jump."
Black Student Union, "E" Pride, Hawaiian Club, International Club, Isanglahi Club and Latinos Unidos are all active clubs found in the student handbook.
All these clubs exist and serve as admirable outlets for representation of minorities on campus and throughout the Notre Dame community.
These clubs represent the people and cultures of the student body very well.
With recent discussions of hate crimes and race on campus, many feel that this university does not reflect the surroundings or make-up of this campus community. They may be right.
Take a look around campus and you'll notice people of all colors.
With all of the ethnic and minority groups on campus having repre- sentation in clubs, why does the largest make-up of this university not have any representation on campus?
Why is there no White Student Union on campus? Is it because of the double standard that involves the promotion of diversity by adding clubs on campus, rather than solving the root causes of racism.
So let me offer an allegory.
While this idea is very far-fetched, a question worth asking is if a club on campus was started by a white student to promote and represent the culture of "whiteness," would that club be shunned by other clubs on campus?
If the WSU were to hold an event in the quad during Oktoberfest, whose single purpose was to serve classic white food in order to promote the culture of average white people living in America, would the club be well taken?
Would dishes such as beans and franks, grilled cheese sandwiches, hot dogs, pot roast, corn dogs, and old-fashioned apple pie be celebrated for the culture that these foods represent? Or be seen simply as "white boy food"?
Food is one aspect that sustains culture by its creation of social interaction among the participants that make and create the food.
If all this seems over the top, take time to settle your thoughts and think of the situation.
White men can indeed jump!
Black Student Union, "E" Pride, Hawaiian Club, International Club, Isanglahi Club and Latinos Unidos are all active clubs found in the student handbook.
All these clubs exist and serve as admirable outlets for representation of minorities on campus and throughout the Notre Dame community.
These clubs represent the people and cultures of the student body very well.
With recent discussions of hate crimes and race on campus, many feel that this university does not reflect the surroundings or make-up of this campus community. They may be right.
Take a look around campus and you'll notice people of all colors.
With all of the ethnic and minority groups on campus having repre- sentation in clubs, why does the largest make-up of this university not have any representation on campus?
Why is there no White Student Union on campus? Is it because of the double standard that involves the promotion of diversity by adding clubs on campus, rather than solving the root causes of racism.
So let me offer an allegory.
While this idea is very far-fetched, a question worth asking is if a club on campus was started by a white student to promote and represent the culture of "whiteness," would that club be shunned by other clubs on campus?
If the WSU were to hold an event in the quad during Oktoberfest, whose single purpose was to serve classic white food in order to promote the culture of average white people living in America, would the club be well taken?
Would dishes such as beans and franks, grilled cheese sandwiches, hot dogs, pot roast, corn dogs, and old-fashioned apple pie be celebrated for the culture that these foods represent? Or be seen simply as "white boy food"?
Food is one aspect that sustains culture by its creation of social interaction among the participants that make and create the food.
If all this seems over the top, take time to settle your thoughts and think of the situation.
White men can indeed jump!