White Student Unions? Oh boy, prepare for backlash

In August this year, it became global knowledge when the Sydney Morning Herald published the article titled ''All we want to do is celebrate white identity' - White Student Union forms at Georgia State University' written by Laura Diamond. Clearly deducible from the title; a student union group from Georgia State University  is busy attempting to promote and celebrate a group of students. Not just any students however, but the 'White Student Union.' Outrage, from the United States and now globally, has surfaced at this idea of a 'whites-only' club. Patrick Sharp, the convenor of the club however claims that "he started the club to serve as a place where students of European and Euro-American descent can celebrate their shared history and culture an discuss issues that affect white people, such as immigration and affirmative action" (Diamond 2013). 

Clearly there are some assumptions when it comes to white citizens lobbying for their own rights. Margot Ford (2012) claims that 'Whitefellas' are always "talking, talking, talking - smothering us - but with no vision to guide them; holding all the power, all the money, all the knowledge of what to do and how to work the white world." Not only does Ford (2013) make this assertion that white people are holding all the cards, but she does affirm that when it comes to education, white people are destined to prevail. For this we must refer to 'Critical Race Theory' (CRT): which is an approach that "focuses on white hegemony, critquing governance, policy and enacted social practices that adversely impacts upon people of colour (Ford 2012). CRT infact focuses on the inbalance of power between white and coloured people: "the mechanisms of white domination within the political, economic, legal and educational spheres" (Ford 2012). 

Referring back to Diamond's 2013 article in the Sydney Morning Herald, Sharp claims that he expected people to call him and this white union a rascists entity within an educational setting. However, on the hundreds of flyers distributed throughout the university campus he claims; "Black Student Alliance? Check. Latino Student Union? Check. White Student Union?" In terms of equality, why shouldn't white students be able to affiliate themselves with other students of the same racial qualities? Sharp claims "If we are already minorities on campus and soon to be minorities in this country why wouldn't we have the right to advocate for ourseleves and have a club just like every other minority?" He makes a valid point. 

Can CRT really relate to our global educational system when it has become a reality that the Anglo population has now become somewhat of a minority? Regardless of opinion however, this white student union does not have malicious intentions, therefore should be allowed with other minority clubs. This backlash towards this union will continue to grow, and it certainly will be interesting to see what happens because of it. 


References:

Laura Diamond, 1st AUgust 2013. '''All we want to do is celebrate white identity' - White Student Union forms at Georgia State University' Accessed online at http://www.smh.com.au/world/all-we-want-to-do-is-celebrate-white-identity--white-student-union-forms-at-georgia-state-university-20130801-2r07q.html  

Margot Ford (2013) Achievement gaps in Australia: what NAPLAN reveals
about education inequality in Australia, Race Ethnicity and Education, 16:1, 80-102, DOI:
10.1080/13613324.2011.645570