The State University of New York at Binghamton has created a course called Stop White People, which it intends to deliver to each resident advisor, aka RA. Three resident advisors reportedly teach the course to encourage deeper understandings of privilege and diversity.
“The premise of this session is to help others take the next step in understanding diversity, privilege, and the society we function within,” the course description reads. “Learning about these topics is a good first step, but when encountered with ‘good’ arguments from uneducated people, how do you respond? This open discussion will give attendees the tools to do so, and hopefully expand upon what they may already know.”
The course came under fire from some Binghamton students saying it will divide more than it unites.
“The terrifying implication here is not that students on campus think it is appropriate to call an event by that name, but that the university seems to endorse it as a proper part of RA training,” Binghamton Review journalist Howard Hecht wrote. “For a university dedicated to providing an inclusive environment, calling an event ‘#StopWhitePeople2K16’ seems counterproductive at best. The name is divisive.”
Administrators assured critics the course is not evidence of a racist agenda at play.
“We verified that the actual program content was not ‘anti-White,’ ” Brian Rose, vice president for student affairs, said in a statement. “The program title, ‘#StopWhitePeople2K16’ was drawn from a familiar hashtag in use on Twitter, and was not invented by the program facilitators. It is my understanding that the hashtag is commonly used ironically.”
The course is voluntary, and Rose is adamant in his stance that it does not create an atmosphere of racial division.
“What we strive to do from an administrative level is cultivate an environment where our students listen to one another, learn from one another and do so in a manner that doesn’t cause unnecessary harm,” Rose said. “I have no indication that this particular program was inconsistent with the respectful environment we hope to support and sustain.”
