EASA

I haven't written much or blogged anything lately, but I figured I would add a few stories I have written these last few weeks that haven't been published. Let me know what you think.

                                                                                                                                    

On Wed. April 13 Western senior Douglas Pocock started a thread on Western’s forum, Viking Village, titled “White Student Association (WSA).”

Pocock said he was looking for interest in starting a club for students looking to explore and share their own European culture and lineage. What he got was a heated discussion and over 160 replies in less than three days.

Many forum users raised questions about racism and white privilege, while others showed support and considered the idea of a white student union on campus.

In fall of 2008, there were 2,482 students, or 18 percent of the total campus population, who identified as being a part of an ethnic minority group, according to Western’s website.

Pocock, who is of French and Austrian descent, said he considers genealogy and tradition an important part of his family’s way of life.

“I want to learn about my history, why am I a bad guy for that?” Pocock said.

While the club has not yet been created, Pocock said he wanted to see what type of support might be out there for a new club focusing primarily on European culture.

“I didn’t think so many people would be offended by this,” Pocock said. “Maybe it would have been better if I had named it a genealogy club.”

Pocock decided to rename the WSA the European American Student Association after reading the strong reactions and criticism of the original thread.

The majority of the problem came from the original name of the club, said Western senior Shams Gebre. Gebre is a regular participant in the African Caribbean Club and also attends the Latino Student Union and the Black Student Union.

“It’s kind of weird,” Gebre said of the idea of a European Student Club on campus. “Any student club is great, but in context of the original name of the club, it didn’t sound right.”

The intent of the group was lost behind the original name of the club, said Gebre.

“Whether people like or not, when white is used like this, it comes with a negative connotation,” he said.

Gebre wasn’t the only one who was concerned about the original name.

 Vice-president for diversity, Bernard Ikegwuoh, worried about the intent of a club with the name White Student Association. 

“With a group like this you must look at the intent for starting it,” Ikegwuoh said. “The intent must be clear and visible.”

Both Ikegwuoh and Gebre thought the club should be given an equal opportunity to be part of campus life.

“The constitution of the club would have to be clearly written to include everyone,” Gebre said. “If it alienated people it wouldn’t work.”

Ikegwuoh said he agreed adding it is important for everyone to understand each other’s perspectives and cultures.

“I caution people from using this situation as an excuse to divide a community,” Ikegwuoh said. “I want people to start having a respectful dialogue; these types of discussions are good for learning about one another.”

If EASA became a reality typical meetings would include “random food Friday’s or ethnic dances on Thursdays,” Pocock said.  

He said he hopes the group can provide people of European descent with an opportunity to reclaim a culture beyond that of white capitalist America.

“I have received support in emails and also from some faculty,” he said.

Whether or not the group will became a reality is still to be seen, Pocock said.