Spring Break
Letters to the Editor
Issue date: 11/13/07 Section: Forum
Response to Taylor letter
I really appreciate the letters that have been published regarding 'the black-face incident' over the past week. It makes me feel good to know that our university is represented by so many well-educated people with diverse backgrounds, opinions and ideas.
I'm writing in response to a litter you printed Friday (11/2) by Jerred Taylor. Taylor argued that white people live in privilege, and therefore aren't tuned in to the disadvantages of marginalized minority groups. If so, does that mean that all minorities are conditioned to be paranoid about racism?
The truth is, there hasn't been a time when people both white and minority weren't faced with issues of racism. While studying history as a young man in public school, a great deal of emphasis was placed on learning about the abuses of Jim Crow and segregation. We learned about the successes of the Civil Rights Movement. I'm sure a majority of my fellow white students have similar memories and backgrounds. With how race has become institutionalized in our society, it's ridiculous and silly to claim that there is any ethnic group attending school in the U.S. that is truly ignorant of racial issues.
It is also possible in a society that is organized along racial lines, that people can become too sensitive toward issues of race. In particular, I believe the white student body has been the target of unfair accusations of discrimination related to the blackout. The students that painted their faces black were not being ignorant of race, they were displaying school pride. If people like Renee Roman Nose want to defeat racism, I ask them to find it in policies like Affirmative Action and racial profiling, not by starting witch hunts among a campus of intelligent people who are aware of their perspective.
Dwight Wozich
Junior, history
Roman Nose column
This letter is not an attack on the white race. This letter is simply a "thank you" from one minority to another. Ms. Roman Nose, your article was a wake-up call to the thought "Racism is dead!" I believe that the problem with racism nowadays is that many feel it is not a problem. Only through cultural awareness can we learn about others that are different from ourselves. It is important to learn this lesson on a first hand basis, and not from the stereotypes that our society has shown us.
I have recently had the privilege of talking with Ms. Roman Nose at the Native American Longhouse. This wonderfully spirited woman shared her concerns about the present state of racism. She stresses education as a way of learning cultural awareness. In light of different racist situations around the country, education is what we all need, right now! There are different cultural organizations around campus. I encourage everyone to stop in and learn about others who are of a different race, culture, education, sex and economic background from your own. I encourage everyone to be a part of these different activities.
The most dangerous thing to do when faced with racism (either intentional or unintentional) is to ignore it. If a problem is avoided, the bigger it will become. Racism is an uphill battle, but someone has to do it. I am calling people of all races to take a strong stand against ignorance, intolerance and racism. Every single student on this campus is better than racism and is better than hate. As a member of the mighty 264 I support your stand against racism and respect your courage to speak out!
Victoria Lynn Burton
Non-degree student in agricultural science
Saturday's football game
The Washington Husky game has made me a cynical OSU fan on the verge of defecting. I must remember that the students and the players are still just children. It is to the Beavers' advantage that I was not an official. Otherwise there would have been 11 OSU players ejected from the stadium, with only one OSU player allowed on the field for the next six ball snaps. Washington would start with the ball on the one yard line, first and goal. The players are just children, I gotta remember that. As for the booing fans on the fourth. Okay, you are just children, I keep forgetting. I am ashamed of this day as a now wavering 40-year Beaver fan. And that not so well done censorship conducted by someone in the sound control booth for the two-question interview with Coach Riley as they ran in just at the half. The questions regarded the just-occurred heated verbal exchange between Coach Riley and a stripe shirt. Someone from OSU managed to get into the control booth and switch the audio switch off at the moments that Coach Riley was speaking. That was the crudest attempt at social and political correctness and censorship that I have ever witnessed. Come on OSU, if you are going to extend your liberal foot to squash something, then please send the most skilled and talented you have to do it. Your inept attempt at self-protecting liberal censorship not only makes me embarrassed for OSU, but sickens me. The Husky game was the worst OSU football game ever played in my 39-year memory of all the games played. Shame on you OSU.
Donald Vosberg
Philomath, Ore.
Barometer decisions
Last week I was interviewed by the Barometer for a story in response to the Reser blackout with the understanding the article would run by Oct. 31. When it was not published by Nov. 2, I called the Barometer to inquire. I was told the article did not and would not run because "they" felt the topic was covered sufficiently in the letter-to-the-editor section. I was also told if I wanted to address something further to submit a letter to the editor. One week later, I discovered the Barometer was not printing any more "oppositional" submissions about the blackout.
I think it is unfortunate that students' voices can be silenced so quickly when they have views that do not agree with the dominant group. Even more unfortunate is that at an institution of higher education where diversity is promoted, students do not have an understanding of what diversity or cultural competency truly is and do not feel the need to educate themselves about the issues.
Why is the Barometer quick to run a "Letter to the Black Community from a White Male" but not an article informing students about why blackface is inappropriate regardless of intent? Why did the Barometer finally run Roman Nose's article after a week alongside a response dismissing her statements? Why did the Barometer interview students about their responses to the blackout, encourage students to write letters to the editor and then say they will not print more "oppositional" stories about the blackout?
How do these actions provide and "excellent learning environment" or "strengthen our performance" as students? How can respect and diversity be promoted when organizations do not have the sense or decency to consistently provide both sides of an argument?
The solutions: get involved, get educated and learn your history.
Amber Wilburn
graduate student, public health
Racism
While reading coverage of the alleged racism at OSU in the Oregonian today, I was reminded of my college days in Bozeman, Mont. - a community not unlike Corvallis. I was the editor of our student newspaper and although nothing like nooses or face paint caused controversy back then, there was plenty of racism on campus. It wasn't on behalf of the students, rather the administration. An investigative story I wrote showed the vast majority of black students at Montana State University attended on athletic scholarship - only handful were there on academic scholarship or by their own decision to attend. I suspect a similar epidemic at OSU - very little recruiting of black students outside of athletic interests. And, there is likely very little support for black student athletes academically after their eligibility expires. MSU's graduation rate for black students was dismal. I suggest a similar investigation at OSU. If it follows MSU, black students will have a very good reason to cry foul and likely will receive the support of their classmen (and women). Considering apologies already have been made, black students should seek out real intentional incidents of racism and dismiss things that are accidentally offensive.
Marcus Hibdon
Portland, Ore.
Sensitivity issue
I really appreciate the letters that have been published regarding 'the black-face incident' over the past week. It makes me feel good to know that our university is represented by so many well-educated people with diverse backgrounds, opinions and ideas.
I'm writing in response to a litter you printed Friday (11/2) by Jerred Taylor. Taylor argued that white people live in privilege, and therefore aren't tuned in to the disadvantages of marginalized minority groups. If so, does that mean that all minorities are conditioned to be paranoid about racism?
The truth is, there hasn't been a time when people both white and minority weren't faced with issues of racism. While studying history as a young man in public school, a great deal of emphasis was placed on learning about the abuses of Jim Crow and segregation. We learned about the successes of the Civil Rights Movement. I'm sure a majority of my fellow white students have similar memories and backgrounds. With how race has become institutionalized in our society, it's ridiculous and silly to claim that there is any ethnic group attending school in the U.S. that is truly ignorant of racial issues.
It is also possible in a society that is organized along racial lines, that people can become too sensitive toward issues of race. In particular, I believe the white student body has been the target of unfair accusations of discrimination related to the blackout. The students that painted their faces black were not being ignorant of race, they were displaying school pride. If people like Renee Roman Nose want to defeat racism, I ask them to find it in policies like Affirmative Action and racial profiling, not by starting witch hunts among a campus of intelligent people who are aware of their perspective.
Dwight Wozich
Junior, history
Roman Nose column
A thank you
This letter is not an attack on the white race. This letter is simply a "thank you" from one minority to another. Ms. Roman Nose, your article was a wake-up call to the thought "Racism is dead!" I believe that the problem with racism nowadays is that many feel it is not a problem. Only through cultural awareness can we learn about others that are different from ourselves. It is important to learn this lesson on a first hand basis, and not from the stereotypes that our society has shown us.
I have recently had the privilege of talking with Ms. Roman Nose at the Native American Longhouse. This wonderfully spirited woman shared her concerns about the present state of racism. She stresses education as a way of learning cultural awareness. In light of different racist situations around the country, education is what we all need, right now! There are different cultural organizations around campus. I encourage everyone to stop in and learn about others who are of a different race, culture, education, sex and economic background from your own. I encourage everyone to be a part of these different activities.
The most dangerous thing to do when faced with racism (either intentional or unintentional) is to ignore it. If a problem is avoided, the bigger it will become. Racism is an uphill battle, but someone has to do it. I am calling people of all races to take a strong stand against ignorance, intolerance and racism. Every single student on this campus is better than racism and is better than hate. As a member of the mighty 264 I support your stand against racism and respect your courage to speak out!
Victoria Lynn Burton
Non-degree student in agricultural science
Saturday's football game
OSU players
The Washington Husky game has made me a cynical OSU fan on the verge of defecting. I must remember that the students and the players are still just children. It is to the Beavers' advantage that I was not an official. Otherwise there would have been 11 OSU players ejected from the stadium, with only one OSU player allowed on the field for the next six ball snaps. Washington would start with the ball on the one yard line, first and goal. The players are just children, I gotta remember that. As for the booing fans on the fourth. Okay, you are just children, I keep forgetting. I am ashamed of this day as a now wavering 40-year Beaver fan. And that not so well done censorship conducted by someone in the sound control booth for the two-question interview with Coach Riley as they ran in just at the half. The questions regarded the just-occurred heated verbal exchange between Coach Riley and a stripe shirt. Someone from OSU managed to get into the control booth and switch the audio switch off at the moments that Coach Riley was speaking. That was the crudest attempt at social and political correctness and censorship that I have ever witnessed. Come on OSU, if you are going to extend your liberal foot to squash something, then please send the most skilled and talented you have to do it. Your inept attempt at self-protecting liberal censorship not only makes me embarrassed for OSU, but sickens me. The Husky game was the worst OSU football game ever played in my 39-year memory of all the games played. Shame on you OSU.
Donald Vosberg
Philomath, Ore.
Barometer decisions
Silencing of voices
Last week I was interviewed by the Barometer for a story in response to the Reser blackout with the understanding the article would run by Oct. 31. When it was not published by Nov. 2, I called the Barometer to inquire. I was told the article did not and would not run because "they" felt the topic was covered sufficiently in the letter-to-the-editor section. I was also told if I wanted to address something further to submit a letter to the editor. One week later, I discovered the Barometer was not printing any more "oppositional" submissions about the blackout.
I think it is unfortunate that students' voices can be silenced so quickly when they have views that do not agree with the dominant group. Even more unfortunate is that at an institution of higher education where diversity is promoted, students do not have an understanding of what diversity or cultural competency truly is and do not feel the need to educate themselves about the issues.
Why is the Barometer quick to run a "Letter to the Black Community from a White Male" but not an article informing students about why blackface is inappropriate regardless of intent? Why did the Barometer finally run Roman Nose's article after a week alongside a response dismissing her statements? Why did the Barometer interview students about their responses to the blackout, encourage students to write letters to the editor and then say they will not print more "oppositional" stories about the blackout?
How do these actions provide and "excellent learning environment" or "strengthen our performance" as students? How can respect and diversity be promoted when organizations do not have the sense or decency to consistently provide both sides of an argument?
The solutions: get involved, get educated and learn your history.
Amber Wilburn
graduate student, public health
Racism
The real incidents
While reading coverage of the alleged racism at OSU in the Oregonian today, I was reminded of my college days in Bozeman, Mont. - a community not unlike Corvallis. I was the editor of our student newspaper and although nothing like nooses or face paint caused controversy back then, there was plenty of racism on campus. It wasn't on behalf of the students, rather the administration. An investigative story I wrote showed the vast majority of black students at Montana State University attended on athletic scholarship - only handful were there on academic scholarship or by their own decision to attend. I suspect a similar epidemic at OSU - very little recruiting of black students outside of athletic interests. And, there is likely very little support for black student athletes academically after their eligibility expires. MSU's graduation rate for black students was dismal. I suggest a similar investigation at OSU. If it follows MSU, black students will have a very good reason to cry foul and likely will receive the support of their classmen (and women). Considering apologies already have been made, black students should seek out real intentional incidents of racism and dismiss things that are accidentally offensive.
Marcus Hibdon
Portland, Ore.
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