LETTER: Lack of Respect

We are writing in response to Jonathan Steinmetz's recent column, "Ebony and Ivy: Can't We All Just Live Together?" (DP 9/11/92). This article has disturbed us for numerous reasons. One, Steinmetz is incorrect in his blanket statement that the W.E.B. DuBois College House "perpetuates the lack of understanding that causes racial tensions." At present, there is no policy by the Department of Residential Living, Academic Programs in Residence or the members of the DuBois College House towards discouraging residency to anyone. Organizations, such as the NAACP, would never permit such an act of blatant discrimination to occur. Two, if Steinmetz is so interested in "a mixed environment," then we would highly recommend that he spend more time understanding the reasons why members of the black community live in the DuBois House. Steinmetz's article has been badly researched and written. He has shown an understanding that a number of white students on this campus have. Those students who live in the DuBois House, black and white, are learning about a culture and a heritage on an academic and social level. Black people are not homogeneous. We have members of several different cultures of African origin -- as are all cultures, truth be known -- living in the DuBois College House. We are learning about each other and ourselves. This is no different than the students of Modern Language College House, who live in the pursuit of studying the language and culture of their preference. Why must there be a double standard in these attitudes? It is because of a refusal by white students to understand and respect African-American culture, literature and history. Also, when wondering why there were no black students living on their floors, Steinmetz and friends should look to the numbers of black students admitted to the University each year. Comparing the number of white students to the number of black students here, it is entirely possible that a white student could go four years without ever living on a floor with a black student, even if there were no DuBois College House. We would highly suggest that Steinmetz and other students like him evaluate their own understanding of the College House system and DuBois College House in particular, before they pass judgement. We think they will find out that the solution to their "understanding" and "appreciation" for African-Americans may be for them to apply to the DuBois House. In light of this, we think Steinmetz should apologize for his gross distortion of the truth. WILLIAM GRAY College '94 President, NAACP University chapter MIA PITTMAN College '93 Vice President ERICA ARMSTRONG College '94 Secretary MONEE KIDD Wharton '93 Treasurer

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