the independent campus newspaper of swarthmore college since 1881

Friday, October 10, 2008

« RETURN TO OPINIONS

« PREV ARTICLE | NEXT ARTICLE »

Keep closed groups

In print | October 5, 2006

To the Editor:

STAFF EDITORIAL

We would like to respond to the Opinions piece “Cause of diversity served by opening closed groups” that was in The Phoenix on Sept. 28. It expressed concern that closed groups are exclusive and prevent other interested students from learning about the experiences of people in these groups.

As white women, we find ourselves part of various power structures that operate in the world and on our campus. We recognize that at Swarthmore, as in the entire United States, we receive many unearned privileges because we are white. Because of racism, our racial identity is affirmed in all the spaces we move in. Closed groups for people of color serve an important function and should not be asked to open for the sake of white people who are interested in learning about other cultures.

There is a wealth of ways at Swarthmore to learn about cultures other than one’s own without making individual people targets.ĘThere are classes such as Introduction to Race and Ethnicity, which is going to be offered in the spring. There is the Diversity Conversation Series, the Race, Culture and Politics lecture series and Latino Heritage Month events to name a few. There are also groups that have decided to be open such as Multi, Sasa and Deshi. And we should be educating ourselves — there are tons of resources available to us through McCabe, the Black Cultural Center library, the Intercultural Center library and various departments.

It is not the responsibility of an individual or a group to educate others about themselves. That is an unfair and draining demand. If we find that we are not as well-informed as we would like to be, it is our job to find ways to inform ourselves.

Sarah Apt ‘10
Claire Galpern’10

Discussion

Comments are closed.

« RETURN TO OPINIONS

« PREV ARTICLE | NEXT ARTICLE »