BUCR controversy takes national stage

A whites-only scholarship offered by the College Republicans drew national media attention to the Boston University campus last week, even as state Republicans sought to distance themselves from the student group's political stunt.

Since The Daily Free Press broke the story last Tuesday, The Boston Globe, the Boston Herald, CNN, FOX News, The Metro Boston and various talk shows have contacted BUCR about the scholarship, which a Massachusetts GOP spokesman called "offensive" on last Wednesday afternoon's CNN broadcast.

"This isn't something we were really anticipating," BUCR President Joe Mroszczyk, a College of Arts and Science senior, said. "We weren't anticipating national news. Our goal was just to focus at BU."

The $250 "Caucasian Achievement and Recognition" scholarship requires applicants to be at least 25 percent Caucasian and write two essays, one describing their ancestry and another explaining what it means to be a Caucasian-American today. BUCR is financing the scholarship independently, without BU or national GOP endorsement.

Mroszczyk said the group hoped for media attention on the state level but did not think the issue would be picked up nationally. Mroszczyk and BUCR secretary Jay Dulski have served as the primary spokesmen for BUCR, they said.

"Some interviews, they ask for Joe because his name has been out the most," Dulski, a CAS sophomore, said. "I am always making sure that Joe knows about interviews. We as a whole have been contacted by pretty much everybody."

During Mroszczyk's appearance on "CNN Newsroom" at 5 p.m. last Saturday, he discussed the issue with BU College Democrats' Campaign Relations Vice President Joshua Gee. CNN correspondent Carol Lin asked each of them questions, pointing out that both are Caucasian.

"Reaction on campus has not been [as] big as the reaction nationally, really," Gee, a CAS senior, said on the broadcast. "Most people I talk to think it's silly and kind of just want to ignore it."

During the program, Mroszczyk said there had been no applicants for the scholarship before the media attention. Lin suggested people might not be applying because they do not understand it or "don't want to be associated with it is because the implication it's racist."

"But it would be equally as racist to give out scholarships to Hispanic students," Mroszczyk responded. "So, some people may say that this is racist, you know. We encourage them to look at other race-based programs and see whether those are racist or not."

BUCR has received approximately 200 to 300 emails in its club email account, according to Dulski. Mroszczyk's personal account has also received approximately 100 emails. Mroszczyk and Dulski said the email response and overall response was largely positive.

"Out of the emails, 98 percent have been positive," Mroszczyk said. "Lots of people have been trying to find ways to donate to the scholarship."

Mroszczyk said BUCR will look into these possible donations and talk about it, but the group has not decided if it will allow donations. He said he has also received a number of "personal attacks" from people calling him a "Nazi," "skinhead" or "racist."

When the Roger Williams University College Republicans in Bristol, R.I. introduced a similar scholarship in 2003, the group sparked a national debate and drew criticism from campus groups and state Republicans, but Mroszczyk said he believes BU is receiving more media attention than RWU did.

Mroszczyk and Dulski said neither the Massachusetts GOP nor the National Republican Party has contacted them directly to speak about the scholarship. On a CNN broadcast last Wednesday, the Massachusetts GOP was reported as being critical of its "charter group, calling their move 'offensive.'"

"With respect to the national party, we regret any risk," Dulski said. "We operate independently. They don't tell us what to say, and we did not tell them what we do."

Mroszczyk said BUCR will look into contacting the Massachusetts GOP soon.

Dulski said he hopes the media attention will increase scholarship applicants, but he also said the scholarship is offered to point out an absurdity.

"We are offering this scholarship, but we are not advocating this scholarship," he said. "The more people who would get involved, the better it would be to increase the discussion."

BU African-American studies director Ronald Richardson voiced his opinions on BUCR's scholarship during the Wednesday CNN broadcast.

"I think that I can understand their feelings," he said, "but I see no other way in order to redress problems that were caused by racial discrimination -- decades and decades of racial discrimination that followed upon centuries of slavery."

Mroszczyk said he is glad the issue "sparked controversy" and thinks in the future people m0ay consider BUCR's example. Dulski said BUCR received responses from universities giving their support to the group.

"We have gotten emails of support from other colleges across the country," Dulski said. "They are glad someone brought awareness. Hopefully, we increased awareness and started dialogue."

BU College Democrats condemned the BUCR scholarship in a press release yesterday, saying they plan to offer an alternative scholarship.

"I think that while Joe [Mroszczyk] did want to bring an issue to the table, I think the outlet and message he chose to do it was inappropriate," said BUCD Vice President Rani Woods, a College of Arts and Sciences junior. "I think that he could have held panel discussions. I think this was a publicity stunt. It was just a ploy, and for that reason, it was hard to feel its good intention."

In the press release, BUCD encourages students to apply for the College Republicans' scholarship and donate the money to BUCD. BUCD will then match the amount and donate $500 to a "worthy cause, yet to be determined by our executive board," according to the press release. Woods said the alternative scholarship is still being discussed, but the executive board is meeting this afternoon to make further decisions.

"We just want to make sure that the money goes to a good cause," she said. "We would gladly meet the $250 and put in the $500. It is in the working stages."