This is my reaction to the opinion, "Excuse Me, But Your Privilege Is in Our Way" by Ashton Johnson. I posted this comment to the Huffington Post College Blog, where the article was recently re-published. I sent this comment to The DePauw, after my comment has since been deleted. I would encourage you to read her piece, and make your own judgments on the legitimacy of her claims.
"This narrow view of DePauw students and professor's attitudes towards privilege does not reflect the entire campus' opinion. As a DePauw student I am offended that this article has received the Internet attention that it has, because it paints my university in an incredibly racist and un-accepting light. I am appalled that you think a professor wouldn't call on a student because they were black, or a woman, or lesbian, or for any reason other than coincidence. I'm appalled, as a member of a fraternity, that you think ANY house would kick someone out because of their sexual orientation. Community Standards discriminating against students of color over charges? What year are you living in, 1951?! These are disgustingly ignorant and narrow-minded claims, and the article when published in the paper was not taken seriously by many on our campus. Do I think that students have more privilege and project higher status? Yes. Welcome to the real world. Students on any campus, as well as adults across the nation will express entitlement based on their upbringing, socio-economic background, and whatnot. To relate this to the so-called "DePauw Bubble" is SUCH a falsehood, and you are only preventing any further "desegregation" and "acknowledgement" to occur with this piece. Keep your opinions out of the local AND national media spotlight when it paints a skewed picture of the truth about our university. YOU, my friend, are the one in the bubble. The bubble of ignorance."
The conversation of privilege is one that needs to be had, not with a resentful piece of writing like this. If Ms. Johnson's examples are true, action must be taken by the administration to handle these horrific acts of racism.
-Grant Walters, sophomore Communications major