Monday, May 15, 2006

 

"Racist supermarkets" at Syracuse University in New York

It didn't happen on television. It went unreported by the local newspapers. But in the first months of the 2006 spring semester, a debate about race between Syracuse University students required the involvement of Judicial Affairs.

In February, Melissa Samuels, a Day Hall resident adviser for the sixth floor and sophomore international relations major, posted an article by Dr. Peggy McIntosh called "White Privilege: Unpacking the Invisible Knapsack" on the wall outside of her door, said Kyle Galarneau, one of Samuels' residents.

The article lists a number of advantages that whites receive in society without even knowing they exist. McIntosh's twelfth point specifically created reaction. It stated: "I can go into a music shop and count on finding the music of my race represented, into a supermarket and find the staple foods which fit with my cultural traditions, into a hairdresser's shop and find someone who can cut my hair."

Galarneau, an aerospace engineering major, took offense to the board and began expressing his opinion. "(The quote) is a stereotype and I said, 'Just because a grocery store doesn't have an aisle of fried chicken, cornbread, and watermelon doesn't mean they are racist,'" Galarneau said.

Galarneau tried to clarify his statement. "Yes, it is a stereotype and I can see how it's offensive," Galarneau said of his previous comment. "But, I feel like she interpreted what I said in a different way than I meant it."

Samuels, who was asked on multiple occasions about the incident, declined to comment. Galarneau said Samuels then wrote up Galarneau for his comments and the incident was processed to Judicial Affairs.

A week went by, and then Galarneau was kicked off the floor for a week. SU's Office of Residential Life has a policy that prohibits their RA's from speaking to the press.

Professor Laurence Thomas, who teaches political theory and philosophy in the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs and the College of Arts and Sciences, said there is a hesitance in people to discuss difficult and divisive issues like racism.

The above article originally appeared here dated 5.11.06. The heading was "Student kicked-off floor for biased comment" and the subheading was "Racial bias incident in Day Hall reflects campus-wide need for change"

posted by JR 8:50 AM