I do not hate Stephen Marth.
I don't even think he should be removed from his position. The editorial he wrote was well within his rights, however, I found his comments to be ignorant, elitist, wrought with entitlement, based on poor logic, and ultimately lacking the intellectual caliber that is fit for print.
I've often heard the argument since I was young that minorities shouldn't associate in exclusive organizations, or as Mr. Marth so eloquently put it, "Black Student Union? Racist in its own right, wouldn't you say?" The fact of the matter is that we live in a society with a dense history of racism and to expect an overnight shift to color-blindness is extremely unrealistic. Essentially, ignoring race in this culture would be to ignore racism. Everyday, black people have to accept the fact that hateful external forces are judging them based on the color of their skin, so if they choose to create organizations like BSU, not out of racism, but out of unity, then they are completely entitled to do so. If Mr. Marth and Stephanie Sciandra see a double standard in this and other organizations like BET, and wonder how people would feel if a white network existed, perhaps they should change the channel to any of the other 80 basic cable channels, I'm sure they can find plenty of white people there.
I am a straight, white male so I couldn't possibly understand the discrimination and loneliness felt by minorities on a daily basis. I do understand, however, that the last thing an historically oppressed group of people need is to be told how to act or how to associate with one another. While Mr.Marth's comments may not have been overtly racist, they were extremely condescending. The elitism that is required for a Sports Editor to suggest that black people and homosexuals are resposible for perpetuating their own oppression is incredible, and is frankly reminiscent of the "uppity" accusations and patronly burdens used by bigots of the past.
[Edited for length]
Benjamin Court
Senior history major
Photo: Courtesy of Laron Fomby
