Caucasian SA

What would a group of white kids have to sit down and talk about?

That question seems to be the most common reason students cite when they explain why they don't support the idea of a Student Association club dedicated to those of European descent.

Another is outright racism.

From strangers in the hall to representatives at SA, more students lately seem to be considering the possibility of a Student Association club for white students. The idea's been getting mixed reviews, from what I've heard-both good and bad.

After all, Caucasians are in no way a minority at UB. They face less harassment and prejudice related to their ethnicity, and have no common culture to dedicate festivals and celebrations towards.

Think about it. What music would they play at a Caucasian SA bash?

A good friend of mine said recently, "I've never been able to raise my fist in unity for anything." He has a good point. As an upper-middle-class white male, his people have no common cause, except for what history books label the oppressor.

White students have very little in common-maybe less, even, than most other students. They vary hugely by financial background, country of origin, religious and political viewpoint, sexual orientation, and even what music they like.

Isn't all that something to sit down and talk about?

A white student will never be eligible for an ethnic scholarship at UB, such as the Daniel Ackers scholarship available to students of Native American, Latino and African-American descent. Regardless of his or her financial situation, what type of neighborhood they grew up in, and the quality of education they received before college, the only financial aid available through the university is through the hard work they've put into academics.

It's not for me to say whether that's wrong. But I believe it's worth considering that the issue is important and relevant to a Caucasian SA discussion.

What I don't believe is that the idea of such a club has any element of racism to it.

Pagan SA, for example, has no plans to promote the superiority of its members. The group gathers to unite students that have no other place to meet as a whole and talk about the challenges they face. Caucasian SA, similarly, would be an organization with the same goals in mind. A concern may be that the organization sounds like a white power group, but it clearly is not. The actions of extremists shouldn't define what an undergraduate club is known for.

But that's an idea for Caucasian SA to discuss as well-whether or not it's racist to want to unify and talk about the challenges a diverse group faces. The challenge this group faces is the accusation of racism and the history of damage done to other cultures by Europeans.

SA groups have already formed for students who are white. Polish SA, for example, can be found in the Student Association's club directory. But these clubs are international in nature, and gather without the idea of discussing what it's like to be a Caucasian student at UB. In other words, they gather to discuss their specific heritage, not the challenges of being a Caucasian student.

According to representatives at SA, a club for Caucasians would not fall under the international category, but under People of Color.

One challenge, then, that White SA would face as a People of Color club would be not becoming a joke to the student body.

At least it's something to sit down and talk about.

And what of the commonalities that Caucasian students do share? It's helpful to discuss how disparate the group is and the individual differences that contribute to its diversity, but it might also help unify the group to talk about things white students have in common.

Like I said, it's not my place to decide what a Caucasian SA would talk about or whether its conclusions are correct. It's my suggestion, however, that students gather to form this organization-because they do have something to talk about.

And at least I can make a music suggestion for those festivals: maybe you guys should play Eminem and Kenny Chesney side by side?

Well, maybe UB isn't quite ready for that.

To start an SA club, all a student needs is full-time student status and 10 members. Applications can be found in SA's office at 350 Student Union.