Ervin changes welcome
Dear Editor,
I applaud the decision of the Supreme Court in the University of Michigan cases and Washington University’s decision to change the John B. Ervin Scholarships. Any scholarship that singles out persons of a certain skin color or ethnic background for benefits not available to the general population is certainly discriminatory and racist in nature. Minority scholarships send the wrong message to students and to the world. They tell the minority student that they are inferior to other students so they deserve to preferential treatment. They degrade the self-esteem of minority students and rob other, more deserving/needing students, of resources that should be made available to them. What we should be pushing for is “Equal Opportunity” programs that treat all people equally regardless of race. “Affirmative Action” is just the politically correct way of saying “Racism against whites.” I hope we can truly seek Justice For All, and not for a system of double standards and preferential treatment.
Cameron Brown
Graduate Student
School of Engineering
Black oppression still pervades
Dear Editor,
I was extremely saddened after reading David Garvin’s letter in the Monday edition of Student Life. I can accept his opinion, but I refuse to accept the opinion of someone who has never experienced injustice from being black.ÿNo, I am not an Ervin Scholar, but I strongly believe in the advancement of my people.ÿ
I have to admit that he was right on one point.ÿ The Ervin Scholarship Program is technically discrimination for it is only inclusive to blacks.ÿYet centuries of discrimination has kept blacks in America from being on an equal level of politics, economics, and overall wealth.ÿI assume each student is aware of slavery, Jim Crow laws and segregation; yet, discrimination is still well alive today.
Take for instance the numerous accounts of police brutality and racial profiling.ÿ Clearly, this is unfair. This practice has wounded and killed many blacks such as Amadou Diallo, who was shot 41 times after reaching into his pocket for just a wallet.ÿNow look at urban schools contrasted against white schools. Black-dominated schools lack resources such as “working” computers, an ample supply of “new” textbooks and money to pay “qualified” teachers. Clearly, this is unfair. I could write endlessly about the examples of discrimination against blacks but the limit of time and words does not allow me to do so.
So finally, I ask, “Is every American given equal opportunities?” No. To me America symbolizes everything except equality for all. Until it fulfills this vision of equality there must be programs in place like the Ervin and Rodriquez scholarships or at least strong recruitment programs to equal the playing field. Affirmative action is not enough compensatory justice.
Brenda Bea
Class of 2007