‘White privilege’ no better than supremacy

The guest column criticizing the University of Iowa's canceling of the 'white privilege” workshop and The Gazette's coverage of it shows the problems that result when people spend all their time in an environment lacking intellectual diversity ('White privilege must be discussed,” Feb. 13). The two professors treat the theory of 'white privilege” as fact much as white supremacists treat the theory of white superiority justifying segregation as fact.

It is ironic two professors who would become apoplectic over the idea of racial profiling of blacks engage in racial profiling of whites by assuming being born white is always an advantage. To compound this error, they then insist the Legislature fund the indoctrination of this opinion as fact to students. While the professors' concerns about academic freedom have merit, I am certain if the UI were to invite black intellectuals such as John McWhorter, Thomas Sowell and Shelby Steele to lead workshops on what McWhorter labels as 'self sabotage” in black America, the professors would insist the Legislature stop such a workshop. I'd love to see both workshops take place on campus, but the UI is unlikely to tolerate any workshop that deviates from left-wing orthodoxy on race.

Finally, I wish to commend The Gazette for covering the story. Fred Friendly, legendary CBS News president, once said, 'Our job is to give the man on the street the information he needs to make an informed decision on the issues of the day.” The Gazette did that well.

Kurt Maas

Coggon