Whites Only Scholarship for Students- Should Race Still Matter?

I am aggravated and angry. I am shocked beyond belief. I am flabbergasted, as well. Columbia University is trying to decide whether or not they want to do away with one of requirements of one their scholarships. This scholarship was started upon the death of Lydia C. Roberts Chamberlain, who passed away in 1920. It seems that Lydia C. Roberts was extremely picky about the requirements for her scholarship. For instance, you could NOT be studying to become a lawyer, doctor, dentist, veterinarian, or theologian. And you had to agree to live in Iowa for two years after you were done with school. You had to be of good scholastic standing and in need of financial assistance. Oh, and you had to be white.

It’s that last little part that Columbia University wants to change. The part about being white. It seems that the university has a problem with that little tidbit. They say it’s a racist scholarship and needs to change to fit the times. I almost understand that. I would buy that, almost.

The best way to find out what scholarships you may qualify for - as well as any other student aid - is to fill out and submit a FAFSA. A FAFSA, or Free Application for Federal Student Aid is a part of the U.S. Department of Education. It is a way to get people who need money for college with available money. Check it out here: http://www.fafsa.ed.gov

Except for the hundreds – thousands, maybe? – of scholarships meant for one minority or another. NAACP has a few scholarships available only for African American citizens. There are scholarships for Hispanic students, Native American Indian student, Hindu students, and just about any minority you might think of. These are scholarships that are issued out every year to many deserving young people trying to further their college career. I don’t have anything against any of these scholarships. I am definitely for any scholarship that will encourage anyone to further their education. But I don’t understand why these are okay – these are “fair and constitutional” – while a scholarship meant for white students only is not.

Maybe it’s just me and my Midwestern naiveté that thinks what is good for the goose is good for the gander. If it’s right for one group of people, why is it wrong for another group of people. I’m not talking about anything illegal here. I’m talking about a scholarship that was started nearly a hundred years ago by a woman with strong feelings. I don’t see future doctors and lawyers and preachers getting upset about this – and they are excluded from the scholarship. I’m from Kansas and have no inclination to live in Iowa for two years – and I am okay that I do not qualify for the scholarship. People of color should not be upset about this either. This scholarship is not saying that Columbia University only wants white people to attend their university. It simply says that one woman, nearly a hundred years ago, had some strong feelings about who she thought should use her money in the future. It was her money. It was her decision. No one should be able to change that decision. If this somehow prevented people of color from attending the university – I would say fine. Change the scholarship. But this does not prevent anyone from attending the university – or any university.

One of these days maybe I’ll start my own scholarship. But only left-handed people of Native American, Scottish, Irish, German heritage, with no inclination to ever speak a controversial word in public and who wear only Mohawks and have thirty three piercings in each ear would qualify. Maybe not. It would only be changed a hundred years later. Someone with 34 piercings in one ear would complain…