AN ISSUE OF RACISM?
- Alix Reese
Greek Week has been a tradition here at Delaware since the existence of Sororities and Fraternities. Greek Week involves the participation of Sororities and Fraternities teaming up together in effort to win the various games and activities planed for the week. This long week of events ends with Greek Games; a full day of competition and outdoor activities.
Due to this tradition of Greek Games, there has been a lot of attention given to the fact that the black Fraternities were not involved. Were the black fraternities uninvited or did they simply not want to involve themselves in a predominately white activity were the blacks would be out number by the whites? Is this an issue of racism or an issue of tradition? Do the black Greek organizations want to isolate themselves from the white greeks, or do they not feel comfortable participating in such activities with them? Many questions like these come to my mind when the issue of "racism" is targeted to an activity such as Greek Games. "Racism," I believe, is something we are either born with due to our upbringing or we develop through out our life. We as a society educate our children and hold the power to influence them on these multicultural issues.
It is very difficult to achieve a completely homogeneous society due to the various environments and influences children have been raised with. Many whites here at the University of Delaware have always attended predominately white schools and therefore they know no difference, just as blacks here who are used to predominately black schools. Furthermore, many whites as well as blacks at Delaware are very accustomed to attending a multi cultural school. There are definitely mixed backgrounds represented at Delaware which brings different attitudes and different customs together. Therefore, one can not automatically label a large portion of the University as Racist or not. We are all individuals with individual beliefs.
Society has taught many of us to flock to those who are most like you because those are who you would be most comfortable associating with. I don't necessarily believe this is bad, unless you don't learn to accept people who aren't exactly like you as well. There is nothing wrong with joining an all black Fraternity if that is what makes you most comfortable, just like there is nothing wrong with joining a predominately white Fraternity if that is what makes you feel most comfortable. We have no right to label any of these groups as being racist or not simply because they choose to be with those who are most like them. We do have the ability and responsibility as a member of society to associate with various groups of people from various backgrounds in effort to learn to accept each other for our differences and learn how to work together.
Blacks and Whites alike need to learn how to accept eachother for their differences and similarities and not automatically put the term "Racism" to anyone they don't personally know and or have reason to believe it is true. The incident of Greek Games is an unfortunate one. I disagree with people who say that whites would not have wanted the participation of black Fraternities and Sororities in Greek Games. I think if there was a black Fraternity or Sorority who had enough members to take part in Greek Games they might have and many whites would have completely welcomed their participation. In the future I hope to see blacks involved in more functions other than there own in an effort to brake down the cultural barriers and build a more homogeneous society and campus.
NO-FAULT DIVORCE AND CHILDREN
-Amy Fess
The traditional divorce law is now accompanied by a no-fault law, which may adversely affect the children of such a divorce. No-fault divorce is an option when neither parent feels the other is strictly "to blame" for the marital difficulties. Under this new law, the custodial parent, often the mother, is barely equipped with the money needed to support the children. Child support is often missing or inadequate for the growing needs of the children. The separation of the family, the cut in income, the school change and the new child care arrangements, all necessary after a divorce, affect the children in a decidedly negative fashion. These changes cause problems in the children's education, friendships and neighborhood life. The lack of child support from these absent parents also affects the children due to the extreme cutbacks in public programs benefiting the children. David Popenoe, a Rutgers University sociologist says, "Households with children suffer, on the average, a 30 percent drop in income after divorce. Children of divorce have a two to three times greater risk of dropping out of high school, becoming delinquents, having out-of-wedlock children or getting divorced themselves." With this eye-opening information it is clear to see how harmful this no-fault divorce system is to the children.
RELIGIONS IN SCHOOL
- Janine Koch and Eric Cook
There are many religions throughout the world today. We as a society have to begin to realize that they are all of the same importance. Everyone should have the opportunity to pray where ever and whenever they like to. Nonreligious people should respect these people's rights and beliefs.
There are many people who protest against silent prayer and meditation during the school day. They are in a sense denying students their right to religious freedom. The protestors say that the separation of church and state, as part of the constitution, means that we should allow no prayer in public schools, whether it is done silently or preached out loud. If the praying is done silently and not used to try and convince people of one religion over another, then there should be no problem. The students who are participating in the praying may come from a very strong religious family. By denying them the opportunity to pray they may feel like they are betraying both their family and their worshiper.
We also believe that schools should recognize religion at times other than during the holidays. Religion is just as influential to a persons beliefs as their race and ethnicity. It can give teachers a better understanding of a student's background. It could even justify the way the child acts. People should recognize religion as another important aspect of diversity. We think the teaching of different religions to children would give them different options and further their understanding of others. Also, an optional religion course could be offered for high school students to take. At that age they are older and perhaps will better interpret the different religions as another aspect of diversity.
Many people today feel that religion is a controversial issue. This may be the true, but religion far too important to just be ignored. Religion if taught in a general way could be beneficial to both the teacher and the students.
For more information, check out: http://www.kosone.com/people/ocrt/prayer.htm or http://www.mindspring.com/~angleym/pray.htm.
DON'T RUSH OUR BILINGUAL LEARNERS!
-Suzanne Mood
Early childhood educators have long provided enriching environments for young children but may find a challenge when attempting to meet the needs of bilingual learners. Language minority students, students who speak another language such as Spanish as their primary language, comprise an increasing proportion of our youngest learners. Unfortunately, many classrooms are usually unprepared to receive these students. A popular instructional approach is to teach English as a replacement language often at the expense of the native language. A misconception about second language acquisition is that young children acquire language more easily than adults. Although children are capable of learning a second language, the process is frustrating and demeaning. Besides from trying to understand the English language, a language minority student must also try to grasp such concepts in math and other subjects which are taught in English. Young children need time to explore and experience a second language. Too often, children are rushed into the mainstream classroom, finding themselves in a state of confusion. Children should acquire a second language, not replace their native one. Language minority students should be given opportunities to practice both native and newly established language skills. These children should not be deprived of their language and culture simply because our educators are not properly prepared to instruct them.
Being in the education field and hopefully soon becoming a teacher, the last couple of months have been very disappointing to me. Over the last two months I've seen numerous cases on child sex offenders being released from prison or plea bargaining their sentences. Last month a convicted man was being let out of prison in the state of Texas. The man said that he would commit the crimes again because he couldn't help it. The state said that by law they had to let him go. How could this be?
A case in Delaware last month was the same way. A man was being prosecuted for sexual abuse on his own children and if convicted could spend 60 years to life in jail. Instead, he plea bargained down and received two misdemeanor counts of unlawful sexual contact with a two-year suspended prison term and an order to have no contact with his children. The evidence against this man was overwhelming. The doctor that examined the children said that the children were sexually abused, they talked to the children , who conceded that it occurred, yet this man is going to spend no time in jail. These people should be prosecuted to the full extent of the law and if let out, the communities have a right to know about it.
As a future teacher and parent I would want to know if there was a person in the community that had been convicted of this crime. Last week our Senator, Joseph R. Biden Jr. and the Sen. From the state of Texas have co-sponsored a bill that would set up a national database to allow officials, to keep track of the whereabouts of sex offenders. Basically, this bill would provide the local law officials with notification that these people are in their community, It would require sex offenders to register and set tough penalties for offenders who fail to register. I strongly urge the members of the community to do everything they can to help this bill be passed. It is not just for us, but for the sake of our children.
-Peter Trotto
To read more about sex offenders legislation see http://www.geocities.com/CapitolHill/3312/ or http://www.cs.utk.edu/~bartley/offender/treatingSO.html.
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