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For the past few weeks, a single thought has been running through my mind. Mostly, it has been how in the world am I going to pass E-mag. On those other occasions that I take the time to consider everything I have had the pleasure to experience over the past three years, I wonder who in the world I am. Two weeks ago the editorial board of the Technique labored over the findings of the Greek consultants. Most troubling of their findings was the suggestion that separate governing body be formed for the several Black Greek organizations on campus.
Before you turn the page, let me state that on Sunday I had a good friend ask me when the "healing" process between blacks and whites would end. He's your typical Scot-Irish descendent. Fairly well off, a member of a large fraternity on campus, he only refuses to wear a kilt. Most interesting was that he broached the subject of when the black students on campus would cease asking for so much to be delivered to them in the name of racial reconciliation. His line of questioning fell quite nicely into my pondering as to why there exists an idea or conception of what it is to be black. Even more importantly, I have to ask when will "being black" no longer have the connotation of deserving some form of assistance.
Black students, and all minorities, have a singular department designed for their collegiate success. Everyone talks about OMED, but who really understands it. I have to say that I did my time. I am fairly proud to say I was a member of Challenge 16. Some might call that the Challenge to end all Challenges. Academically, I emerged prepared for the rigors of academic life at Tech. Unfortunately, Challenge and OMED, by default, did little to prepare me for the social atmosphere of Georgia Tech. I spent six weeks immersed in a college orientation which, in retrospect, seemed entirely slanted towards the inculcation of an intrinsic inability to succeed. That's a high-falutin' way of saying that Challenge didn't prepare me for dealing with the majority of Tech campus. Those six weeks were spent in a singularly afrocentric environment. Tech is certainly not that.
This past weekend I had the benefit of witnessing another batch of minority RATs inculcated in this same "white vs. Black" mindset. In the middle of FASET orientation's Tech spirit session, I saw my successors proudly and disturbingly displaying the fact that they were different. Rhythmic calls of "Who y'all wit'? Challenge!" moved across the Shaft Amphitheater. I quietly pondered the meaning of equality and self-segregation. Too often that is what I see at Tech. The black students have the couches in the student center, the international students at O'Keefe, the Latin students in the student center cafeteria. My three years of observation beg the question, 'When will this self-separation end?' A single commonality exits between each of these minority groups. The fact that their introduction to Tech differed in some significant way from the other thousand RATs who enter these hallowed grounds. I can only speak of my inculcation when I say that the blame for the continuing climate of separation at Tech lies not with the "white" majority, but with the minority. I have no qualms pointing out that the presidents of the most influential black Greek organizations rarely attend the Interfraternity Council's Board of Directors meetings. That would be the presidents' meeting for those not well versed in the fraternity lifestyle. The first minority students arrived at Tech in the late 60's. That initial integration occurred without the strife present at the cow college slightly to the North. Yet throughout the OMED era complete integration of minorities has not occurred. I can only point to the fact that the recruitment and orientation practices of Tech's minority specific departments are inculcating a culture of separation. This culture most often leads to an unsupported view of subversive plots by the majority to "keep the black man down." This sentiment was echoed within the Greek consultant report.
Though not the single source of the problem, I must question if OMED is properly preparing incoming minority students by placing them in an environment which is antipodal to the one which I and they face each quarter at Tech. With the departure, however dubious, of Dr. Norman Johnson as primary minority recruiter, Tech has the opportunity to make changes which will not only benefit all of its students, but also the world upon which we later impact. Minority orientation needs to be brought more into line with the majority. This could be done as simply as having white counselors participating in Challenge, and stronger cooperation between the unnecessarily segmented Greek societies. The first steps must be made by the several minority groups. Frederick Douglass was quoted as saying, "Without a struggle, there can be no progress." The campus has made numerous efforts. The creation of the office of minority educational development being the most visible of them. I, and many others, would strongly question where the reciprocal effort of minority education has been.
My statements do not and cannot apply to every single minority student on campus. I applaud and implore those who are active in Greek organizations, Student Government, and professional organizations to actively recruit more minority students. Georgia Tech is unequivocally the leader in the graduation of minority engineers and Ph.D's. Can we not also be the leaders in societal amalgamation? Perhaps each group should take the time to "put your hands where my eyes can see." The various races can get along. Some of us prove that everyday.