The White (People's) Party...?

February 1, 2008

While washing my dirty laundry in the Stark Hall laundry room, I ran into Bri Riggio who told me about the recent "controversy" sparked by the Scripps Dean of Students, Debra Wood. From what I hear, local news outlets and protesters will be coming to the Class of 2010's (extremely racist?) White Party tomorrow night.  (It is worth mentioning that the Class of 2010's President and host of the party is African-American.) 

Understandably, this is more gossip than news, so this is the actual e-mail sent to the Scripps College student body earlier today (thanks to Charles Johnson for the text):

"Date: Fri, 01 Feb 2008 13:27:04 -0800 

Subject: Racist/Sexist Material on Campus

Sometime in the last few days, the CMC class of 2010 left racist and sexist party invitations with what appears to be a racist party theme on the dining room tables at Scripps College, Malott Commons.These invitations were not stamped approved and we do not know if any CMC staff knew of them or approved of them.I will not describe the content of the invitations so as not to do any more harm or damage to women and African Americans than has already been done, as I suspect these invitations were deposited throughout one or more of The Colleges.While principles of free speech may protect these students' rights to advertise in this manner, free speech is best exercised with common sense, intelligence and sensitivity. I am saddened and dismayed , and angered, that students in the year 2008 would use this kind advertising to promote a party. It harms not only women and African Americans, but all of us here at the colleges and undermines our educational efforts.I urge any other campus which received these invites to take a similar stand against racism and sexism and communicate their anger and dismay to the CMC Class of 2010 through appropriate ways- such as not attending the party, writing letters to the class leadership and/or student news papers, and refusing to tolerate this kind of treatment of members of our communities.The Scripps Dean of Students Staff, faculty members and members of the Diversity Coordinating Committee (listed at http://www.scrippscollege.edu/about/diversity/index.php ) stand by to support members of our community, and support may be found at the Office of Black Student Affairs and Chicano/Latino Student Affairs Center.I have already communicated directly with the CMC Dean of Students so he is aware both of the invitations and the nature of them , and my strong feelings about the theme of this party and how people are depicted in the advertising for it."

I don't know exactly what Dean Wood means by "so as not to do any more harm or damage to women and African Americans than has already been done," but I can only assume she is misunderstanding the meaning of a White Party-- a party where guests are encouraged to wear white clothing. As for the sexist comments, perhaps the advertisement of "go-go dancers" upset a few people.