Author: Mike Cahill
In past weeks, and this past week in particular, there have been a good deal of letters and articles concerning conflicting opinions over Oxy’s approach to issues of race and diversity. I think we could have a better discussion if we honed down the argument to what it really is: Oxy’s approach to race. I realize that including “race and diversity” in the first sentence of this article will cause many readers to roll their eyes and move on crying, “Dear God, enough already!” Some might call that apathy, but I don’t. In fact, I was quite turned off by the discussion of race and diversity on campus myself.
Let’s face it: unless you want to be pegged as a racist you shouldn’t voice an opinion on the issue (ref. Evan Poirson’s article on his views regarding the term “racism,” especially concerning Whiteness Week). I honestly have plaguing doubts about what people might accuse me of for whatever indiscriminate opinion I may express. I am “white.” Although the color of my skin is probably closer to transparent beige or even pink, I fall into a massive racial category called “white.” My skin color causes many people well versed in race- based political rhetoric to claim a number of racialist assumptions about who I am.
Fortunately, those racialists, those people who maintain that races exist, are a small group. Nevertheless, they are vocal, articulate and have become very effective at racially charged ad hominem attacks upon those who disagree with their beliefs (see Brandon Baruch’s satire of homophobia in his letter last week). Fortunately there is a place where conflicting opinions and differing ideas can meet each other face-to-face for a debate. I’m not calling it a dialogue because I think “dialogue” is really a misnomer for the “what the hell were we just talking about?” nature of this whole fiasco. Nobody I’ve ever met has changed their mind from a dialogue. The place for a debate is right here in front of your eyes: The Oxy Weekly.
Every week each reader can judge for him or herself what view has more merit, and anyone can participate if they are willing to put their name out for everyone to see. This creates a sense of ownership and responsibility for what is said, and is much more effective than a convoluted dialogue between a few people. Last week, Janelle Porter’s article offered to host a critic of Pauley Hall within Pauley Hall for a dialogue with Pauley residents on race and diversity. I believe Ms. Porter has missed the forest for the trees. The debate is right here. The arguments are fleshing themselves out further every week. Pauley Hall’s opinion of itself is hardly the issue. The issue is Oxy’s general approach to race and diversity. Pauley is merely an example of that policy. So, in the spirit of open and substantive debate, I hope the discussion continues without sweeping generalizations about race and hopefully with contributions from everyone. Even if you are “white.”
Mike Cahill is a junior Politics Major. He can be reached at mcahill@oxy.edu
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