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February 2008
So, What's Your Other Major? |
Letter to the EditorsWhile MaCherie Edwards' article ["Going 'Incognegro,'" Dec. 2007] explaining why she decided not to join Ethos is her own experience ad should not be discredited, I found fault with her article as a whole. I feel as though she took her experience with a few members of Ethos and associated them with the entire organization. Not everyone in Ethos acts and/or feels the same way. Therefore, the actions or words of a few should not used to assess the organization as a whole. Indeed Ethos is not for everyone and not joining does not make one any less African American or black, but for many people on this campus it serves as a support group. Ms. Edwards may have come from a place where there was a lot of diversity and people had friends of different races. There are, however, many African American students who did not come from such a background; often some Ethos members are accustomed to socializing only with those of their own race. Ethos thus becomes a place to meet others who identify with the same ethnic background as your own as you transition into a diverse college setting. Ms. Edwards does acknowledge that the actions of a few do not represent the whole, but I feel she undermines this statement by casually mentioning this at the end of a paragraph describing the negative actions of a few people. It seems that she cannot fully separate organizations and people. I would also like further clarification as to why Ethos does not promote racial equality. Ms. Edwards cites experience regarding negative experiences with African American students, but where is the evidence for this statement as she has not attended a meeting and does not [know] what goes on within the organization or what type of programming is done. As to the idea that Ethos would "hinder her ability to make friends from different ethnic groups," I absolutely disagree with this statement and see no merit in it whatsoever. One spends 1-2 hours every two weeks excluding events in Ethos meetings; if in your off time you cannot make friends with people in your hall and with people in your other organizations, the fault lies with you. MaCherie Edwards' article is her own experience but I feel as though she made blanket statements about an organization without even attempting to see its merit if not for herself [then] for other students, as well. In the end, the article resulted in a negative image of Ethos for Wellesley students and MIT as well. No one said that she had to join Ethos, but there was no need to criticize an organization that is an integral part of the lives of many students of African descent. Cleo Hereford WC '09 |    |
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© 2007 by Rayla Heide and Sandy Naing