University Daily Kansan / Tuesday, April 10, 1990
5
LETTERS to the EDITOR
Racism growing
I have had enough! In my four years at this University, I have seen a gradual decline in minority relations culminating in the recent episode at the SAE fraternity house involving a Black woman and fraternity members. It makes me wonder just what in the hell it means to be a college student. We are supposedly in an environment that breeds intelligence and responsibilities — responsibilities that do not stop with academics but extend to social and moral responsibilities.
It is my understanding that the quest to earn a college degree does not involve learning how to polish up on your racial hatred. The University exists for everyone, Black and white, Indian, Hispanic or Asian. Why is the problem of racial tension worsening instead of getting better? I cannot understand the problem's festering. Is it because discriminating against someone because of his race is the "in" thing to do? I hope not. If it is, then those who practice racial discrimination are likely good, long look at themselves, because those people who believe that they are superior to someone because they are white are in for a rude awakening when they enter the real world after school.
It may be easy to call someone a name when you are safe and sound in the womb of your fraternity or other comfy, cozy University environment, but when you exercise that choice in the business world or
in a social setting after college, then you are merely proving your immaturity, ignorance and blatant stunidity.
In today's world, minority groups are competitive with whites in every facet of society. It is a competitiveness that should be welcomed instead of repulsed. The University teaches us (I hope), that life after college will be filled with new challenges we must deal with and conquer in order to succeed.
Tom Crawford Overland Park senior
However, it appears that many students here at Kansas have a problem right now to solve. It is a problem older than the University and if we do not conquer the problem today, tomorrow may be too late.
Biased coverage
I am so outraged by the Kansan's recent reporting of the alleged racial incident involving Matthew Willenborg, I don't know where to begin. From the very start, the Kansan proceeded to create the news rather than to report it. The most glaring and ridiculous example of the Kansan's total disregard for responsible journalism is their page 9 headline that reads "SAE Incident." This is not an SAE incident any more than if a student at Naismith Hall strikes a delivery person. Would the Kansan headline then read "Naismith Incident?"
If this gross example of irresponsible journalism is not enough, the Kansean then ties this story to campus activity of the Ku Klux Klan. On come. On this circus is becoming much more entertaining than anything you might read in this week's National Enquirer or
Star. SAE members have no more connection to the KKK than any other KU student might have. There is absolutely no basis for tying the two incidents together and then labelling it the "SAE Incident."
The Greek system at KU is fed up with the continued distortion of the facts and circus journalism of the Kansan. The Kansan and KU continue to fail to realize that SAE or any other campus organization is simply an extension of the University population as a whole and is subject to the same social ills and mistakes that occur across the campus and across the nation in every part of society.
I strongly encourage the Kansas and the University population to realize and understand that the men of Sigma Alpha Epsilon are no more at fault for the events of the past week as a resident of Naismith Hall might be for some incident happening there. The greek community at KU continues to be one of the strongest and most active greek communities in the nation and cannot tolerate being labeled as a racist organization simply for the irresponsible acts of one student of the nearly 25,000 students at KU.
Bill Griffith Fairway senior
Sexism ignored
"Knowing the guy, it probably didn't make any difference if she was white or Black." What did the difference is that she was a "she."
Last Monday's article concerning the attack at the fraternity house dealt with only part of the issue. While racism was actively condemned by the majority of the article's quotes, the misogyny in
Willenborg's actions was absolutely ignored.
Willenbord vigorously denied the racism in his actions while his acknowledged question of "Why is a girl out so late?" alips by unchallenged. The obvious intent in his menacing actions and question was to scare the woman into "staying in her place." Obviously, the placing plan would not be asked this question of question of women who are "out so late" are subject to violence and harassment by men who wish to remind them that the night is not the time for women to be out.
A group of people gladly and promptly assembled to respond to Willenborg's reprehensible actions, though addressing only part of them. On the surface at least, racism is recognized by most as morally repugnant. Why is it that we should apologize for his sexist behavior? We must recognize the communalities of all oppressive acts and beliefs and disallow the occurrence of them all equally.
James Danoff-Burg Lawrence graduate student
Anti-greek racism
Once again, Dan Grossman and the other select, self-proclaimed superior writers of the Kansan staff have managed to reveal their racist attitude toward the Greek system. I'm sorry Grossman and others have to resort to sensationalism and ignorance to gain recognition as writers. Because of the "checkered past" of the Kansan, his article and the many others that will succeed it don't surprise me and only strengthen my belief that some writers on the Kansan are actually an elitist group of white prima donnas whose sole purpose is direct and vicious discrimination against a system that has historically proven itself as a vital asset to this campus — the greek system.
John Matthews
Wichita sophomore
Different motive
The racial incident that occurred at the SAE fraternity house has been well-publicized. The campus has responded with the disgust and rejection that is befitting an institution of higher learning. However, the people involved, the coverage and the response to the incident have all been lacking in one definite way.
Ben-Walsh, an ASE member,
stated this problem best. Ben said,
"They think a pizza box got shoved
and she happened to be Black . . .
Knowing the guy, it probably
didn't make any difference if she
was white or Black." What Been
said, in essence, is that, because
Ms. Dean is a woman, it was all
right that she was assaulted.
People have concentrated on the fact
that Ann Dean is Black. While this
may have motivated the racial slur,
the fact that she is a woman
what allowed Mr. Willenborg
to strike her.
Dan Grossman's column in response to the issue was very perceptive. However, he disregarded the influence that Ann Dean's womanhood had on the incident. Mr. Grossman said," .physical and verbal assault of a woman... for the sole reason that she was Black." Ann Dean's race does have bearing on the problem. However, any analysis without consideration of men's prevailing attitude toward women is incomplete. In our society we believe that it is wrong to attack another person. As responsible, moral people, we have the duty to not only stamp out opinions that cause
racial oppression but also to end the ones that cause gender oppression and motivate physical abuse.
In the United States, one in three women is raped. Of all U.S. women involved in intimate relationships, one in two beaten at least one time by her significant other. One of the reasons that this happens is that man feel that, because of their superior size and social status, they are entitled to dominate women. Mr. Willenborg's actions clearly show this. If Ann Dean would have been a black man, Mr. Willenborg may have racially slurred her, but he most likely would have been harassed here. All people should be treated equally based on their humanity, there should be no separate morality for actions against women. Our society must stop condoning violence against women.
Chris Wilcox Newton senior
Event not 'small'
This letter is in reply to Brent Kassing's letter, "Focused on bad," in Friday's Kansan. Barson, you argue that "... the Kansan was on a smaller, unfamiliar incident that took place at a fraternity."
I assume that you are referring to the racial incident that occurred at the SAE house. This illustrates the uncaring attitude that many people, especially fraternities, have towards racism. It is a major issue in our society and should be ignored. It should not be considered a small, unfortunate incident.
Incidentally, the U.S. Department of Justice doesn't consider this to be a small, unfortunate incident; they are currently conducting an investigation and could take corrective action.
Robert Schluben Lenexa senior
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