White scholarship spurs debate

Junior Eric Saunders was running down the street one day when he heard a voice.\n"Someone said 'run nigga, run,'" he said. "I was like, 'what?'"\nSaunders, who is black, was surprised because the person was white. He admits he puts up with similar experiences on a regular basis, but he is actively involved in the Black Student Union and is majoring in African American Studies to combat racism. \n"I'm trying to break down the system that has been instilled on this society," he said.\nThe goal of affirmative action is to overcome those ethnic differences and inequalities in campuses and workplaces across the nation. The policy, however, is coming under fire across the country. The College Republicans at Roger Williams University recently offered an exclusively white scholarship, parodying minority scholarships and protesting affirmative action. \nWhile IU has not felt this fierce fire of protest and debate, people continue to voice their respected opinions.\n"I don't try to defend affirmative action against people like that," said Charlie Nelms, Chief Student and Diversity Officer. "They are in denial of and misunderstanding all of the reasons affirmative action exists."\nThe scholarship, which awards $250 to the chosen winner, requires each contestant to write an essay about why they are proud of their white heritage and a picture to confirm their whiteness. Although Nelms has a difference in opinion with people and groups against affirmative action, he said he respects their views and doesn't want to stop them from expressing them.\n"We live in a democratic society," he said. "People have the right to pursue the goals and aims they have, and I have no interest in stopping them."\nAmong those on campus opposed to affirmative action is IU College Republicans Events Director Andrew Lauck. Although he said the student organization has nothing planned to protest minority-favored scholarships, he said similar protests on campus have positively reinforced his beliefs.\n"I understand and respect the benefits," he said. "But I think anyone who meets the same requirements shouldn't be treated any differently."\nLauck said an anti-affirmative action bake sale, which was planned and coordinated earlier this year on campus by the Committee for Freedom, was a positive event which shed light on his opinion. The event priced cookies at $1 for white males, $2 for white females and 25 cents for blacks.\n"I think it was a good idea," he said. "It attracted a lot of attention. There needs to be continuesd attention."\nIn contrast to Lauck's opinion, Saunders attended the bake sale and said he didn't like the way it was handled.\n"I think it was a display of ignorance," he said. "They were even surprised with some of the information that we provided them."\nSaunders said some people at the bake sale were unaware that affirmative action aims to help all minorities, not just blacks. But although he didn't agree with the event, he's not quick to judge other people.\n"I wouldn't say it was racism," Saunders said. "That's a heavy word. I don't think they were doing anything they thought was racist."\nSaunders said he would want to read the white scholarship essays to make sure they are awarded for a legitimate effort. He said the affirmative action scholarships are available for those who are treated unfairly and that they serve a good purpose.\nAlong with Saunders, Nelms is in favor of minority scholarships and disagrees with strictly white scholarships.\n"They already have them," he said. "There are already a disproportional amount of whites who receive scholarships."\nFurthermore, Nelms said it is important to realize why minority scholarships should exist before trying to pass them out.\n"It came in existence to address inequality," he said. "The people that want to do the white scholarships are blind to the existence of racism."\nWhile Lauck didn't say he was in favor of white scholarships and couldn't speak for all Republicans, he did defend anti-affirmative action policies. He said most Republicans disagree with affirmative action because they strongly believe in equal opportunity and other people tend to only like at the positive effects.\n"A lot of people only look at the good," he said. "Nobody looks at the harm, such as your average white, middle-class student."\n-- Contact staff writer Jess Huffman at jerhuffm@indiana.edu.