The New Minority?

So a brand new student organization began at Arizona State University. Please welcome the Caucasian American Men of ASU. It seems that the organization's purpose is to:

1. "instill pride" as Caucasian men.
2. have the concerns and needs of Caucasian men "taken more seriously."
3. increase "representation for white males."
4. to challenge the cultural diversity requirement to include "classes in European history and languages."
5. increase racial and gender equality and "nothing else."

Above all else, as the group's founder states,

"This isn't a mindless, sexist and raceless group ... It's the opposite -- we want to stop sexism and racism."

I should also mention that the student group is supported by Leadership Institute, a conservative think tank who's purpose is to "identify, recruit, train and place conservatives in politics, government, and media." Mmhmm.

Soooooooo how are white males a minority again? In what way are white males comparable to Native Americans? Pacific Islanders? Somehow I missed that point between "What" and "the f@#$?"

In all seriousness, as an academic and a teacher I'm absolutely supportive of students in their campaigns, efforts, and activities. Nothing is more harder than to organize your peers and encourage them to show their support and attend events. It's also good to hear that the administration and student affairs appear to be conducting themselves as professionals and demonstrating their support, in particularly, the multicultural affairs unit.

So as far as I'm concerned, I say let the kids gather together in solidarity. Let them have their meetings, rallies, and petition drives. Let them work and organize their activities like all the other student leaders. And let each and every European ethnicity have their own student group. Polish, Italian, French, British, German, and Irish, to name a few, should all have their own organization. Only then can we truly and honestly acknowledge diversity in all its complexity. This is simply the logic of racial representation if you want to take it, or push it, to its conclusion.