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Bake Sale Reignites Controversy at College of William and Mary

Dog Street Journal ^ | 11/14/03 | Nicole Schroeder

Posted on by maluka23

What started out as a bake sale now has the College community up in arms in a new debate on the ever-current issue of cultural diversity on campus. The controversy stems from the new student organization, the Sons of Liberty, and their anti-affirmative action bake sale that occurred last Saturday and sold cookies and brownies to students at different prices based on race. The issue has moved far beyond affirmative action, however, and is causing students to question how comfortable the College is for minority students.

Absolutely the College cannot allow discriminatory practices to occur on this campus, period. And wont, Vice President of Student Affairs W. Samuel Sadler said, calling the action an assault on a community that prides itself on its openness and diversity.

I am shocked and appalled at the callous and insensitive actions of the Sons of Liberty, Student Assembly President Brian Cannon said in a statement. His sentiments echoed an SA Senate resolution passed Wednesday night condemning the action.

The Sons of Liberty are a new libertarian student organization, unaffiliated with any national organization, whose goal is to promote the ideas of the libertarian party and to focus on returning the government exclusively to its Constitutional roots.

Im opposed to affirmative action as are basically all Libertarians, William Coggin, freshman and co-founder of Sons of Liberty, said, explaining that they find it discriminatory. The bake sale was an attempt to illustrate that discrimination.

We had different prices based on your race, Coggin said, and it went progressively down for Asians, Blacks, Hispanics.

The bake sale went on in the University Center lobby until about 3 p.m. when Administration officials showed up and asked the Sons of Liberty to sell all goods at a uniform price for everyone. Rather than give in, Coggin decided to leave, aware that their actions were in violation of College policy.

You could call our policies discriminative, but the whole point was to show how affirmative action itself was racist, Coggin said. The point of the stand was obvious.

Sadler said that the action was in blatant violation of Student Handbook section which states, Each member of the College community has a right in his/her dealings with the institutions, and with members of the College community in the performance of their official duties, to be free from discriminatory treatment with regard to race, creed, gender, religion, national origin, or political belief.

I guess by the technical, legal definition we did discriminate, Coggin said.

For now the exact consequences of their actions are to be determined, but they are scheduled to meet with Mark Constantine of Student Activities on Monday. The Sons of Liberty defend their action citing the first amendment provision of free speech, and Sophomore and co-founder Pat Reilly, in particular, was surprised by the outcome of the bake sale.

I thought it was such a simple thing like a cookie, I didnt think anyone would be offended by the price of a cookie, Reilly said. The point of the bake sale was just to raise awareness. It was not to offend anybody.

Junior Colin Mubukwa, a minority student, got a very different impression that the Sons of Liberty were saying:

You have to defend your right to be here and you have to prove to me that you had to work as hard as I did, he said.

Overall, Coggin and Reilly felt that they were successful in raising awareness about affirmative action and their view that it is unfair and should be eliminated. According to Coggin, their booth received plenty of smiles and thumbs up from passers-by. At the same time, it sparked a debate that would be followed by a meeting on Tuesday that dozens of people attended to discuss affirmative action.

That was excellent. There were a lot of good points made on both sides, said Reilly. Coggin added that a lot of people, particularly minority students, showed up to oppose them.

Mukubwa attended the meeting, but felt differently, saying that the Sons of Liberty were unable to answer the request for a definition of affirmative action.

The fact that they didnt have any substance behind what they did was more offensive than the actual [bake sale], Mukubwa said.

Mukubwa is currently concerned and disenchanted with the College and its relationship with minority students, so much so that he is hesitant to host minority prospective students this weekend.

We cant go out there with a good conscience and recruit students to come, he said.

This worries the administration and many other students, who are concerned about the Colleges ambiance as well as its national reputation.

Do minority students feel welcome at the College? Cannon said. So far minority students have felt that this is a direct attack. He emphasized the need for the entire campus community to stand with minority students to show the world that the College is not a racist institution.

Coggin expressed that people need not be concerned about the Colleges reputation, stating that Sons of Liberty did not have the Colleges endorsement to engage in their bake sale, and therefore their actions would not reflect on the College. While his colleague Reilly stated that he did not anticipate diversity at the College to be impeded by the repercussions of the bake sale, Coggin had a different view. He said that he came to the College with the express purpose to learn and study International Relations, adding that if he had wanted to learn about different cultures he could take classes about them.

As to actual diversity I think it may have some value to some people more than others, but in terms of my personal interest it isnt at the top of my list, Coggin said. It should be an optional preference.

The sentiments of the administration and the other students including the SA Senate and Cannon could be summed up by Mubukwa:

Different perspectives is what people can build on to discover new things, new ideas.



(Excerpt) Read more at dogstreetjournal.com ...

TOPICS:

Constitution/Conservatism

Extended News

US: Virginia

KEYWORDS:

affirmativeaction

bakesale

campus

discrimination

freespeech

wandm

williamandmary

Any suggestions on how we can protect the free speech rights of these students?



To: maluka23

Keep the bake-sales going -- they make such a clear point that the PC liberals are upset. Anything that upsets the liberals.......



To: maluka23

Each member of the College community has a right in his/her dealings with the institutions, and with members of the College community in the performance of their official duties, to be free from discriminatory treatment with regard to race, creed, gender, religion, national origin, or political belief. When it comes to affirmative action, I guess the University is saying "Do as I say, not as I do."



To: maluka23

As an alumnus, '73, I know how.



$$$$$$ and a handwritten letter.



"what a field day for the heat"



In the '60s, dissenting views on campus were a great thing. Too bad the liberals are fascists now.



To: expatpat

but with the VP of the college threatening punishment, who do we contact to prevent this?



To: maluka23

Anyone around there want to Freep 'em? I live too far away. But a good old sign about the "establishment" would be good.



To: maluka23

Junior Colin Mubukwa, a minority student, got a very different impression that the Sons of Liberty were saying: You have to defend your right to be here and you have to prove to me that you had to work as hard as I did, he said. Gee, do you think what he said will actually sink in? That's right Mr. Mubukwa, that is exactly what affirmative action does...it places doubts about the abilities of minorities to succeed on their own. That is why it must go.



To: maluka23

I am amazed this college actually lists 'political belief' as something that can not be discriminated against. I am also amazed that some people are upset about these bake sales. One would think they would be happy to get the discount! Really though, I think the anger is a manifestation of denial when they realize the true meaning of AA.



by 8 posted onby bk1000 (listed on federal no tag line list.)

To: maluka23

not be taken away. IF they continue to hold bakesales, act in a peaceful and non-threatening manner, the administration can squirm and whine all they like... But as long as they allow other groups to hold public activities on campus (Asian-American clubs, African-American clubs, etc.) which are exclusively designed- even in their name- to discriminate, then the campus administration is powerless. Regardless of what the school policy says, the 1st Amendment canbe taken away.they continue to hold bakesales, act in a peaceful and non-threatening manner, the administration can squirm and whine all they like... But as long as they allowgroups to hold public activities on campus (Asian-American clubs, African-American clubs, etc.) which aredesigned- even in their name- to discriminate, then the campus administration is powerless. By their very nature, such "diversity" clubs revolve around what you look like, not some common interest... My suggestion- if you really want to get some attention- is the have a Caucasion-American club, and promote things like dances, parties, etc. While at UC Davis last year, we (the Davis College Republicans) even organized a trip to the local sportsmens' range. We had several members (myself included) who brought pistols of various types and calibers, and even a few who brought rifles. It was an all-day affair, we had firearms safety instruction before we started.... And we had a ball. A quick side-note: one of the participants that day, was an active gun-control advocate, said how guns were evil, etc... (of course, he had never fired a gun before...) I loaned him my personal weapon, a professional-grade Kimber .40 caliber... He shot about $200 worth of ammunition that day, more than anyone else... And loved it. His attitude about guns change 180 degrees.;-) My attitude is, "what's good for the goose, is good for the gander." If the University values it's "diversity," and actively pursues such a nonsensical idea, then that is the chink in their armor. And it's your best opportunity to exploit. FReegards



To: Black Agnes; rmlew; cardinal4; LiteKeeper; Lizard_King; Sir_Ed; TLBSHOW; BigRedQuark; yendu bwam; ..

My alma mater! I'm stunned...



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by 10 posted onby Hobsonphile (Art should celebrate God's creation. Writers should love humanity in all its forms.)

To: expatpat

Maybe they should do a reverse bake sale next and charge the minority students more and the whites less.





by 11 posted onby Chewbacca (I talk to myself because it is the only way I can have an intelligent conversation.)

To: maluka23

I just love these bake sales. I wish we had thought them up when I was in college; they would have gone over really well at UW-Madison! Ah, to be young again.



To: maluka23

but with the VP of the college threatening punishment, who do we contact to prevent this? Check the Pacific Legal Center, for a free consultation. Their webpage is http://www.pacificlegalcenter.com/



To: maluka23

Maybe they should have called it a "progressive bake sale". Just like our progressive holiday party here at a government agency. The cost is $10.00 for employees, $20.00 for branch managers, and $30.00 for PDs and deputies. Translation: PD = Program Director



by 14 posted onby rllngrk33 (Liberals are guilty of everything they accuse Conservatives of.)

To: maluka23

You might also want to look up FIRE (Foundation for Individual Rights in Education) http://www.thefire.org



by 15 posted onby KarlInOhio (Global warming=fresh picked Ohio bananas. Yummy!)

To: maluka23

Each member of the College community has a right in his/her dealings with the institutions, and with members of the College community in the performance of their official duties, to be free from discriminatory treatment with regard to race, creed, gender, religion, national origin, or political belief.



Please explain how students acting against the administration in conducting this bake sale are in the "performance of their official duties" and thus subject to administration PC control?



To: Blueflag

You got that right! The liberals were the SDS back then!



by 17 posted onby buffyt (Howard Dean opens his mouth only to CHANGE FEET!)

To: buffyt

I just love these bake sales! :-)



by 18 posted onby Coop (God bless our troops!)

To: maluka23

Do I get my bake sale items for free since I don't indicate my ethnicity on any forms???



by 19 posted onby cyborg (solar flare proof tin foil hats are now available....)

To: Chewbacca

Chewbacca said: "Maybe they should do a reverse bake sale next and charge the minority students more and the whites less. " They should also open a separate stand to sell cookies based on "affirmative action" directed at particular signs of the zodiac. Charge one basic price but supply a discount to those who can show identification proving that they are Tauruses, for example. Allow as "proof" a note from one's mother. Supply paper and pens for the creation of such notes. Use the "Honor System" for judging the legitimacy of the notes.



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