“_____ students on college campuses face unique and immediate challenges that are ignored or even actively denied in today’s cultural climate. We unapologetically provide a safe space for _____ students to air their true feelings about the future of our nation … and develop a positive program to restore the pioneering will and greatness of our unique and virtuous people.” “At the same, we do not wish to denigrate or harm any other group or ethnicity.”
The statement quoted above comes from the mission statement of a former (and unofficial) student group at Penn State. The group’s aim was to celebrate the history of their ancestors and provide an avenue through which its members can voice their opinions. There doesn’t seem to be anything blatantly wrong with the mission of this group; unless, however, you fill in the blanks with “European-American” or “white.”
Earlier this week, Onward State published a story describing the removal of a Facebook page for “Penn State University White Student Union” by Facebook at Penn State’s request. According to the official statement released by the university, the removal was prompted by the group’s unsolicited use of Penn State’s name and athletic logo. The statement also described the group’s intentions as “disturbing” and “uncivil.”
Over the past several weeks, a flurry of similar “White Student Union” Facebook pages have sprouted across the country, all claiming to be associated with various universities, including UCLA, NYU, and the University of Illinois. Most of these pages have since been taken down, primarily due their use of the school’s name without permission.
Fortunately, these pages and groups don’t seem to be real; their anonymous creators have been linked to a hoax initiated by users of 4chan, an online community infamous for trolling the internet and playing racially-motivated pranks. The website is also believed to be the birthplace of Anonymous, an international hacktivist group.
But, what if these groups and their creators had, in fact, intended for them to become real organizations at their respective schools? What if college students across the nation sought to become a part of these groups? These incidents, although they appear to be hoaxes, bring up the real question of whether white students should be stopped from creating and joining a white student union, or if they should be encouraged to do so.
In my opinion, I believe these groups, provided they follow the same criteria for all other student groups and organizations (such as having a university faculty member designated as its supervising advisor and gaining official permission from the university), should be allowed to exist.
As America’s racial and ethnic demographics continue to evolve, the views of students of all racial backgrounds should be welcomed and encouraged, including those of white students. In fact, as detailed by the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2012 projections, the U.S. is expected to no longer be a majority-minority nation after 2043; although the white population will still constitute the largest single group, there will be no majority. Additionally, population growth of the white population is expected to decrease and decline by more than 20 million from 2024 to 2060.
Yes, the need for groups akin to white student unions might not necessarily be warranted presently, but to dismiss the idea of having these groups exist one day is to deny this class of Americans equal opportunity. I should point out that groups such as the Penn State Student Black Caucus and Penn State’s Asian-Pacific American Caucus already exist today whose sole purpose is to better serve and advocate for the needs of students of a particular race. Why shouldn’t white students be allowed to do the same in the future? I don’t believe the retort that the establishment of these groups would take away from the historical prejudice and discrimination faced by minority groups in the United States. It’s also not to say that groups of other ethnicities would be shut out, harmed, or even affected in any way. But, once again, would it really be detrimental to college environments to have groups representing the interests of ALL ethnicities?
While the need for white student unions to assemble and discuss the issues they face is not apparent in today’s world and these Facebook pages seem to be an elaborate prank, the potential need for their existence in the future (as racial demographics continue to transform across America, especially over the next 30 years) should be taken seriously. They have every right to form such groups without getting dirty looks from society. In my eyes, it seems unfair to deny white students the opportunity to band together, while groups exist on college campuses that are dedicated solely to advancing the cause of other ethnicities.
Just because groups promoting white students don’t seem to be needed in today’s world doesn’t mean we should totally suppress the idea of having them in the future or ostracize anyone who supports this initiative.
Sources / Further Reading:
https://www.census.gov/newsroom/releases/archives/population/cb12-243.html
https://onwardstate.com/2015/11/23/facebook-shuts-down-penn-state-white-student-union-page/
http://nyulocal.com/on-campus/2015/11/23/nyu-white-student-union-page-probably-a-4chan-hoax/
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