Scholarship Programs Can't Have it Both Ways

For some reason discrimination which would be completely illegal if applied toward women and minorities is perfectly acceptable if applied towards men and whites. But maybe not for long:

President Bush's administration has threatened to sue Southern Illinois University, alleging its fellowship programs for minority and female students violate federal civil rights laws by discriminating against whites, men and others.

In a move Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) said "just doesn't make sense," the U.S. Justice Department charged that three SIU programs that aim to increase minority enrollment in graduate school exclude whites, other minorities and males, in violation of Title VII of the federal Civil Rights Act.

"The University has engaged in a pattern or practice of intentional discrimination against whites, non-preferred minorities and males,'' says a Justice Department letter sent to the university last week and obtained by the Chicago Sun-Times.

The letter demands the university cease the fellowship programs, or the department's civil rights division will sue SIU by Nov. 18.

Welcome to my world, Senator Obama. As a white male, I'm on my own in this world, without all kinds of government programs to look out for my welfare. Apparently I'm privileged enough.

If you're going to eliminate discrimination, you have to eliminate all discrimination, and not allow the "right" people to discriminate against the "wrong" people. I hope the school responds, and if they don't, I hope the administration follows through on their threat.