An individual claiming to be a West Virginia University student wrote the following comments on a Charleston newspaper Web site last week:
"I am a senior at WVU here in Morgantown, and I have never seen a black student in any of my math or science classes here not one time. They shy away from the more difficult classes and majors here, and that’s just the truth.
"As for this racial divide: The NAACP just opened up an office here at WVU to assist the black students and why we need that organization here is also beyond me.
"WVU treats all students equally regardless to their ethnic origins, but the blacks always feel segregated and complain about everything."
The comments were forwarded to me and numerous University administrators.
Since last semester, I have used my column to speak on issues that affect students of color at this University.
It is important to shed light on topics such as race and discrimination as opposed to pushing them under the rug.
But some people feel my columns and those that highlight racial issues on campus are complaining and starting unnecessary controversy.
I have been e-mailed that people like me are just trying to find the bad in people when we should be looking for the good.
Some feel discussing race and racist acts does nothing but perpetuate the problems, and talking about them keeps the issues in the forefront of thought – which prohibits people from moving past racism.
But I ask those of you who feel this way, what would you have us do?
Should people just ignore injustices when they occur? Should we turn a blind eye and accept them because it is only a "few" people who exhibit racist feelings? What good would come from that?
Progress is not made by ignoring issues but by confronting and resolving them.
I am sure people get tired of hearing and reading about racism, but those who feel that way should try putting themselves in the place of those who regularly face racism.
How would you feel if you were the one being attacked? How would you feel if it was your sister or brother?
How can anyone have the audacity to say there is no need to discuss race when people are making racist comments like this about their black peers?
The author of the quote states all students are treated equally by the University regardless of color, and there is no need for the NAACP here, because there aren’t many black students.
They also state black students purposely avoid math and science classes and migrate toward easier disciplines, all the while segregating ourselves and complaining about everything.
What better proof do we need than this type of comment that we indeed have something to complain about? It is easy to see that the argument made in this comment was made out of ignorance and hatred, not fact.
There are hundreds of black students that graduate from this University with degrees in mathematics, biology, engineering, physics and other difficult disciplines such as law and medicine.
I am not sure as to the ethnicity of the author, but I am certain that he or she is not of African descent.
Therefore, there is no possible way this student can say how black students are treated here at WVU.
Nor can they make false accusations about the alleged self-imposed segregation of black students.
Whether people want to admit it or not, comments like this are a problem, and they reflect the need for diversity education at this University.
The student who wrote this comment has the right to their feelings, and they have the right to voice their opinions.
However, when the student’s misleading opinions negatively depict other students; that is a problem. Comments like these are dangerous.
They attack the character and the educational capacity of an entire race of people.
I wonder, why did this student not voice their views here in Morgantown? Maybe because they feared backlash from the community or because they knew what they wrote was false.
It is very easy to be venomous and discriminatory when you don’t think anyone will find out. Demeaning people is also easy when your name is withheld.
It is imperative WVU students realize the fight to end racism is not over. The majority of people attending this University are good people who long for the day when racism and discrimination will end.
Racism did not end on inauguration day, and President Barack Obama is not the answer to the race problem in America.
Nor is the University to blame for this individual’s opinions. WVU is working hard to implement its diversity initiatives, and most administrators have made very strong stands stating they will not tolerate racist behavior among students.
But it is still disheartening to read this kind of comment that was supposedly made by a WVU student.
Hopefully people will come to understand that there is still a long way to go, and pretending that the fight is over will do nothing to solve our problems.
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