At Roger Williams University in Bristol, R.I., Jason J. Mattera founded the campus’ College Republicans. In order to stir a debate, Mattera’s club created a parody of scholarships available only to minorities. He said he thought of it after he learned the university had compiled a list of such scholarships.
"If you are a white student on campus, you don't have anyone helping you, there is no one compiling a list of scholarships just for you," Mattera said in the New York Times. "Why is it that only students of color have this?"
The $50 scholarship is only available to those who are white, asking, “In 100 words or less, write why you are proud of your white heritage and explain what being white means to you.”
I want change, but is this really a constructive way to form a debate? Does anyone remember the bake sale that occurred in front of the HUB at the University of Washington a few months ago? That was supposed to stir discussion about affirmative action, but I don't hear anyone talking anymore.
I’m a minority, but I’ll admit I don’t like affirmative action. I believe that any categorization of peoples, even if it seems to promote good at the forefront, only continues to show inequalities. When we keep proclaiming differences between races and continue to promote one race over another, we will never overcome this problem.
It’s interesting to note that Mattera received a $5,000 Sallie Mae Fund scholarship for Hispanic students. That is typical, people using the system while preaching that the system is ineffective. It’s good that Mattera tried to stir a debate, but his outrageous actions and lack of credibility ruin the discussion. Two wrongs don’t make a right.
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