Sally_Rubenstone

This fall Mount Holyoke college will hold a new orientation program for white students only. See Orientation group created for domestic white students - News

My local newspaper, the Daily Hampshire Gazette explained it like this:

Mount Holyoke College is launching a yet-to-be-named, optional, preorientation session for white American students. The two-day program will feature dialogues and workshops on race and social justice issues as they pertain to white people, as well as how various races interact with each other.

Few, if any, colleges offer such a program.

Tanya O. Williams, the college's coordinator of multicultural affairs, said it is important for students to understand their own racial and personal identities as well as how to effectively communicate with people about race issues. For years students of color have had these opportunities, but it was assumed white students didn't need them.

While I get the principle behind this initiative, it just doesn't sit well with me. Note, however, that I am not a big fan of most any college preview or orientation endeavor that breaks down along racial lines. I find such things to be divisive. I think that there are better ways to address important issues about race and culture.

Also, in this day and age, there are many students who do not identify with one particular race. My son, who is 12, has lots of friends who could check half the boxes on any college application. Will they get to go to six or seven orientation sessions when their time comes?

egolikestomach

Talking about race is very challenging, particularly for white women who have spent most of their lives in privilege, which is probably a majority of the white women at mt holyoke. they are bound to encounter all kinds of difficult discussions of race in their college careers, and a lot of them probably don't have any background with such critical discussions, which can be really overwhelming when they're having these discussions with women of color. i think that having a forum for white women to begin to understand concepts of white privilege isn't automatically a bad thing, as it might help alleviate some of the guilt that often comes along with "unpacking the invisible knapsack." as long as this is a sort of primer course that is followed up with a discussion between women of all races and identifications, i don't neccessarily see a problem with it.

that said, i'd really have to see the content of this orientation before i passed a judgment either way.

and even "in this day and age" where students identify with multiple races or no race at all, the discussion of race and racial identity, whether your own or other people's, is incredibly important. in order to address racism, we must first address race.

PlattsburghLoser

Good grief.

mcb52

^ seconded. If they're going to have a special orientation for whites, shouldn't they also hold special orientations for all the other different races?

nysmile

I think many schools do have special orientation type weekends for other students such as Multi-cultural weekend and Students of color weekend.

mcb52

yea, but the question is whether or not Mount Holyoke does

Sally_Rubenstone

If you read the article I included in the original post, you'll see that Mount Holyoke DOES offer separate orientations for international students and for students of color. But, to me, all of this is divisive. Why not offer a program where these issues can be aired but without the invitations breaking down along racial or ethnic lines?

leah377

maybe this is a program examining white privilege? (to be honest, i sometimes think EVERY white college student should have to take a seminar like that..)

stargazerlilies

Oh, who cares. I know at my college they have all these special programs for colored people (of whatever race, just not white). they have orientation programs and clubs specifically meant to exclude whites, so why not give the white folk their own stupid orientation so they can sit around and talk about their social issues or whatever. it's not like it's a Klan meeting, guys.

leah - why should every white student have to take a seminar on privilege? you're acting like all whities grew up in an upper-class prep school environment...not that I know anything about the demographics at Mt. Holyoke (although i'm guessing a pricy elite all-women's school like that will attract an middle to upper class white demographic).

PlattsburghLoser

It seems like a walking lawsuit.

stargazerlilies

^ there are plenty of orientation programs for African, Hispanic, Asian, Arab students and special clubs for minorities. In my college we have the Undergrad Law Society, and then the Minority Undergrad Law Society, and several other clubs specifically for colored people. Plus there's the whole concept of Affirmative Action and giving students a boost for skin color. And if colleges are able to get away with all of that (which I personally support, but others dislike) then they can get away with a white seminar on social issues....what's there to sue over? if a non-white student tries to file a lawsuit, then millions of whites can files similar ones on Minority Orientations, Minority Clubs, and AA....lawsuits don't make sense for this.

leah377

maybe the fact that virtually EVERY OTHER club is "white club."

Northstarmom

I like the idea of having a multicultural orientation that's open to everyone. During that orientation, there could be aspects that break people into groups with people ethnically, racially, etc. similar to themselves, but the bulk of the program could be done with the students being together. I believe that's the way that things are done at my S's college, Rollins College.

PlattsburghLoser

Suing McDonalds because someone gained weight from eating the food doesn't make sense either. Lawsuits don't have to make sense.

If little Maria Velasquez accidentally receives and misreads this invitation and, as most easily lost and confused freshmen do, she shows up to the wrong the orientation and is denied entrance because she's not white—there's your lawsuit.

Despite the other clubs (which are needed as Leah as pointed out since most of the others are predominantly white) it's unlikely a student would be denied access to that club. At my former college, the vice president of the Asian Society was white; in fact, most members of the Asian clubs were white.

stargazerlilies

I doubt this will end in a lawsuit. The McDonald's fatties "proved" that they got fat directly as a result of stuffing their pudgy faces with burgers and that McDonald's failed to make it clear how fattening the food is. Maria Velasquez got a little boost into college for being a URM and has her own special clubs and orientation for URM students, she can't complain. Mt. Holyoke says they offer these programs for ALL races so people have nothing to complain about, and most minorities aren't stupid enough to think this is "racist". This is coming from a minority student, btw. Give us some credit, we're not irrational and cry "racist" at everything. Mt. Holyoke is not setting up a KKK club here, it's just a seminar for white students to talk about social issues that specifically pertain to them...believe me, the URMs are not dying to go, it sounds boring anyhow. Orientation should be about parties and fun