College Republicans offering scholarship during Diversity Week
The USU College Republicans are hoping to raise awareness of the hypocrisy they believe exists in Utah State’s affirmative-action policies by offering a $100 “diversity” scholarship to all races except white Americans.
Spencer Taylor, president of USU College Republicans, said he feels awarding scholarships because of someone’s race is discrimination.
Taylor said scholarships should be open to all races and given based on academic qualifications and socio-economic conditions.
“We aren’t campaigning for all-white scholarships. Race should just not be a factor in the equation to receive financial benefits. We do not see minorities as having a disadvantage because of their race,” Taylor said.
In previously published information, the College Republicans said it is their purpose to confront USU’s affirmative-action policy concerning race-specific scholarships.
They said Utah State should take a bold step toward greater equality by opening scholarships to all races.
Taylor said he wants the administration to look at the statement they are making with this scholarship and see the hypocrisy that exists.
“I just hope our efforts to better this institution and reach a much higher level of equality don’t go overlooked,” Taylor also said.
Scott Dewey, former president of College Republicans, said the Affirmative Action Office should not ignore the reverse discrimination that is present in Utah State’s policies and scholarships.
The scholarship is being offered to mock the policies of the Affirmative Action Office, Dewey said.
“The Affirmative Action Office is the most discriminatory office on campus. They say they will not discriminate, but obviously some scholarships do,” Dewey said, “The big question we want the Affirmative Action Office to answer is, is it racial discrimination to deny students access to financial benefits because of their race?”
John DeVilbiss, Utah State University spokesman, said, “This is an unfair, misplaced attack. There is not an office more concerned with discrimination. That is where they would go for assistance.
“USU is not discriminatory in its actions and manner of operation – period,” DeVilbiss also said. “We work well within the laws of the land.”
The scholarship is being offered in an effort to also force students to think and acknowledge the hypocrisy and reverse discrimination that exists, Dewey said.
“What we want to do is encourage students to ask questions so we aren’t ignorant in the future,” Dewey said.
The “Diversity” Scholarship is open to all races except white Americans. To apply for the scholarship, write a 50-word response to the following question: Does reverse discrimination exist in America and in what form? E-mail it to usucr@yahoo.com by Friday, Jan. 27 at 5 p.m.
The winner will be announced at a College Republican meeting Wednesday, Feb. 1 at 7 p.m.
-ariek@cc.usu.edu