According to the Austin American-Statesman, a "whites only" scholarship is being offered at Texas State University.
The Former Majority Association for Equality — a nonprofit group — is offering five $1,000 scholarships exclusively to white male students (the amount doubled after the program received media coverage on Friday).
Student Colby Bohannan, the president of the group, said, "I'm not sure white males are the majority anymore," adding, "There's a scholarship out there for just about any demographic, except this one. We realize it's for good reason — this is a touchy subject."
Most interesting about this scholarship isn't actually the decades-old conversation it raises about whether white males as a group are somehow disadvantaged in this country based on their race and gender (we're gonna go with no) or whether they do enjoy opportunities to earn scholarships based on plenty of other criteria, like academics, community service and financial need (we're gonna go with yes).
Instead, the real head-scratcher is that as of Friday, there were reportedly no takers for the scholarship. Also, the organization offering the scholarship isn't some kind of hate group that would automatically stigmatize recipients. The website practically ties itself in knots driving this point home (a lengthy disclaimer includes, "We do not advocate white supremacy, nor do we enable any individual that does," and "We have no hidden agenda to promote racial bigotry or segregation").
Perhaps it's that applicants (who, interestingly, must only be at least "25 percent Caucasian") might agree with Bohannan that claiming to need help based on being white and male just feels — with good reason — a little "touchy."
Read more at the Austin American-Statesman.
In other news: Fraud Against Black Churches: California Sues.
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