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April 12, 2005
The Race Files: The myth of diversity scholarships
There remains a prevalent myth that students of color receive scholarships just because of their ethnic or racial background, even at Hamline University. It is not uncommon to hear classmates say the only reason students of color are in college is because they received a “minority” scholarship.
The implication here is that students of color did not earn the scholarships they received, or they are less qualified then their white counterparts, or they received preferential treatment. Arguments against scholarships exclusive to a certain race or ethnicity often include the perception that white students are denied opportunity or access. Hence, there is a common misconception that students of color “have it easy” in regards to higher education in America, including at Hamline.
“[Students of color] are pressured to excel in school because we do not want to fulfill the myth that we were given a break and got into college merely on the basis of our skin color,” said senior Dionna Jones.
“We must do better than our best to stand out when we are competing for scholarships against white students and other students of color.”
Students are not given scholarships solely on the basis of skin color. It should not be assumed that white students are missing out or being discriminated against just because certain scholarships target students of color.
If a student happens to fit a particular racial category, they are not automatically given the scholarship.
There are always criteria for receiving scholarships, such as academic success and community involvement.
People of certain races in our society are discriminated against by both individuals and institutions. American universities and other institutions are not immune to racism. Race and ethnicity still remain barriers to opportunities in college admissions and beyond. The majority population in America is white, and therefore that majority enjoys certain privileges not available to all Americans.
In a 1998 article in the Baltimore Sun, Robert Jensen wrote that “when I seek admission to a university,
apply for a job, or hunt for an apartment, I don’t look threatening. Almost all of the people evaluating me for those things look like me č they are white. They see in me a reflection of themselves, and in a racist world that is an advantage.”
It is also important to remember that all scholarships have biased criteria, because they are inherently exclusive.
Certain scholarships favor certain majors or religious affiliations. You can, in fact, find scholarships for all races. For example, there is a scholarship for students of Irish descent, an ethnicity that falls under the racial category “white.” If you look online, you can find scores of scholarships for a multitude of different races and ethnicities.
According to Financial Aid News and Information, a student loan consolidation website: “According to a recent survey of financial aid officers, less than 10 percent of institutions’ budgets for non-need-based scholarships go toward scholarships for members of specific minority groups.”
If students of color are being awarded “excess” scholarship money in comparison to white students, then why aren’t there more students of color at Hamline today, and why is there still a gap nationwide?
This myth stigmatizes students of color and creates divisions among students. If you look at the Hamline website, you will find that all scholarships listed are based on merit, not skin color.
Students of color do not have it easy, and neither do white students. Hamline is a school with a high percentage of students that come from working-class families of all races that have all worked hard to attend college.
Myths and prejudice hurt us all.
Posted by msveum at April 12, 2005 03:50 PM
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