11.22.2015

campus racism part 2: white student unions

See PART ONE.

This, which is occurring right now in 2015, national student "white rights" organizing is very troubling. It can't possibly lead anywhere good.

I'm sure this does not represent all of them, and I'm sure also the list will grow and grow, but for now here (below) is a list of American and Canadian colleges and universities that have "white student unions" (that I was able to discover easily - they are networking like a fraternal organization on Facebook).  Most of them are copy/pasting their mission statements from UCLA's, which someone has worded very carefully if not stolen from a minority student union text (but in the context of expressing "white rights" – which historically have not suffered systemic oppression – the tone of the statement is clear, the organization is obviously meant to be provocative, and the page contains obvious white supremacist interaction, as well as objections from international students and students of color).

See what Wikipedia has to say about the White Student Union.

Example mission statement posted below.

Meanwhile, write to the dean's office of some schools with white student unions and ask how they intend to address the threat these organizations imply to students of color.  (Many universities have several dean's offices corresponding to school of business, school of arts and sciences, etc .. generally I have picked the one that best corresponds to the liberal arts campus, or when possible, a direct link to student affairs)

(update Dec 24/15 - I am excising the contact info - see "campus racism part 3" for explanation, but what follows is the original list of schools that I posted)

UCLA, UC Berkeley, Penn State, U of Illinois, Georgia State U, Tarrant County College, Ohio State, Princeton, University of Western Ontario, Florida International University, U of Central Florida, University of Florida, Loyola Chicago, Washington State U, Rutgers, University of Cincinnati, University of Missouri (Mizzou), NYU, Umass Amherst (boo!), Stanford, U of Minnesota, McMaster University, NC State, University of Arkansas, UT Austin, University of Tennessee Knoxville, Occidental College, UC Davis, UC Santa Barbara, Texas Southern University, University of British Columbia, CSU Fullerton.


*DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT CONDONE THIS CONTENT* - SAMPLE WSU STATEMENT (I have just copy/pasted this, removing a repeated paragraph, but the emphasis is mine):
We welcome students of European descent (and allies) to follow and contribute to the ____ White Student Union. We were inspired by the new White Student Union at UCLA and hope that our initiative will move our brothers and sisters across the country to do the same.European-American students on college campuses face unique and immediate challenges that are ignored or even actively denied in today's cultural climate.We unapologetically provide a safe space for white students to air their true feelings about the future of our nation, discuss and reflect on the lessons laid down for us by our great European writers, philosophers, and artists, and develop a positive program to restore the pioneering will and greatness of our unique and virtuous people.
We affirm the dignity and ancestry of our proud people who have gifted the world with countless works of beauty, science, and wisdom, and are committed to promoting a dialogue and political resistance that will secure a future for our posterity and spirit.
At the same time, we do not wish to denigrate or harm any other group or ethnicity.
We condemn the cowardly campaigns of moral subjugation and propaganda that seek to instill self-hatred and surrender within European-American youth and justify the continued invasion and degradation of the lands, institutions, and cultural heritage that is rightly ours.
We seek to honor our past while promoting a positive, peaceful vision of the future; one in which every ethnic group has the right to organize and represent themselves and their interests.


Now if you'll excuse me, I think I'm going to be sick ...

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