An overflowing and diverse crowd jammed Collis Commonground for yesterday's community hour entitled "Dartmouth's White Community: Assessing Identity and Privileges."
While the theme of the discussion was this unorthodox yet pervasive racial issue, those who spoke often digressed to discuss issues that afflict many different races.
Gary Weissman '02 began the Palaeopitus-sponsored discussion by stating that the event's purpose was to spread awareness and discussion on the lack of white identity and the responsibility entrenched in unfair white privilege.
"Ultimately, we can only change through honest discussion and self-reflection," Weissman said. "This discussion is a first step, not a solution."
One of the goals of the presentation was to bypass taboos attached to white identity, as it "conjures up images of racism," said Weissman. Without this stigma, discussions on race can be more honest and effectual.
David Trouille '02, the featured speaker of the event, spoke frankly of his own ambiguous racial identity and stressed the futility of passive racial perceptions.
"Do not tell yourself that you do not see color because you are lying," Trouille said, "and as long as you stay at that naive viewpoint, progress is hopeless."
Weissman outlined some privileges that whites have in comparison with minorities, including not having to think about race or act as a spokesperson for whites at large.
According to Trouille, whites do not identify themselves by race but through varying methods like ethnicity and comparison with minorities.
Audience members also discussed the issues within small groups. One representative of such a group spoke to the entire audience after the discussions.
"After coming to Dartmouth, I've become more racially conscious, and it upsets me that I must think about these issues," audience spokesman Mustafa Abdur-Rahim '04 said, "but what really upsets me is that people deny that there are racial lines and discomfort."
Discussions also focused on the weak white community resulting from an undefined identity.
"We talked about the feeling that as a white person it is difficult to find a smaller community to identify with," said Ben Gebre-Medin '02, a member of Palaeopitus who facilitated discussions in the small groups.
To Christina Patino '03, however, the lack of a white identity has some benefits. She noted that it can encourage inclusion of minorities in white groups.
"I am more intimidated by large groups of minorities than whites. I feel like it's easier to mesh with them since there isn't a definitive white culture," Patino said.
White students within the small groups also acknowledged the complex problem of privilege.
"It's hard to separate when it becomes a racial or socioeconomic thing, but I know that the situation I was born into has definitely helped me achieve what I've gotten," said Laura Yasaitis '05.
Paula Peacock '03 spoke on her Dartmouth experiences as a Mexican-American student amidst those who look beyond her heritage, which she feels is an important part of her identity, and perceive her as white.
Others viewed as whites felt the impact of white privilege despite their ethnicity. Matthew Latterner '05, whose mother is white, related a situation in which his father, a Native American, was searched at an airport while he was not.
Following Trouille's speech, a movie hosted by Lonnie Threatte '02 was shown in which Dartmouth students were asked three questions on different aspects of white identity and privilege.
Those interviewed responded in markedly different ways, reflecting the ambiguous nature of the Dartmouth white community.
Despite the community hour's high attendance, many felt that the issues were not reaching those who need to hear it the most. Students felt discouraged that many of the people who hold racist sentiments do not attend these type of discussions.
