Got Us a Real Coach

[Viper]

I'm not wrong. No school is going to accept an emergency fund that only supports white students. Sorry you see it as racist.

...would it be racist if a charitable fund did not distribute based on skin color/ethnicity?

[muwarrior69]

Lol. Now I understand why you are getting all bent out of shape over this. Kind of embarrassing but not surprising that your primary reaction to this wonderful gesture is to play the victim.

If a white coach did the exact same thing for poor white kids would the gesture be considered wonderful? In fact in todays climate no white coach would even conceive of doing such a thing. That is not playing the victim it stating the ugly truth.

[Viper]

Actually...yes, you do.

Do you golf?  Lemme give you an example that might help you understand.  Based on your username I'm going to assume you are a 1969 graduate, which makes you a little older than many other scoopers.  My guess is, your golf game isn't what it once was.  When you golf with younger golfers, they probably beat you.  Boy, it sure isn't fair that the rules of golf discriminate against older people who can't hit the ball as far or who have back problems.

What's the solution?  A handicap!  It's an adjustment that takes into account your situation and adjusts scores so that you can fairly compete against other golfers with more/less skill, younger/older, etc.  A handicap in golf is discrimination.  A weaker golfer gets a handicap because they are in need of it.  You can call it "positive" discrimination, but it's still discrimination.  But it makes the game of golf between you and your 25-yo nephew a lot more fair.  It levels the playing field.

Likewise, a donation that allocates funds to help students who are traditionally disadvantaged levels the playing field, by recognizing their situation and discriminating in their favor to make things more even and fair.

you can't be serious?

[TallTitan34]

Imagine bitching about someone giving money to help others. 

[muwarrior69]

Hi. I work in Title VII and Title IX compliance for a university.

1. You would be incorrect.
2. Civil rights laws also apply to Marquette.
3. You've tried to make this argument in the past and it has been explained to you that it is wrong.

How so, I am 75 and your explanation escapes me at present.

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

How so, I am 75 and your explanation escapes me at present.

Civil rights laws do not forbid universities and companies from sponsoring programs meant to support traditionally minoritized populations. It's why the NFL never gets in trouble for the Rooney Rule.

[muwarrior69]

Depends. Is the fund for students who are literally from Latvia or who parents immigrated from Latvia? Then no, because international students and first generation immigrants are traditionally marginalized populations in this country. Is the fund for White kids who can maybe prove that one of their great great grandparents was half-Latvian? Then maybe, it could be okay if the award was somehow tied to celebrating Latvian culture. If it was an obvious front to set up special funds for White kids? Then yes, it would probably get called out.

...and here I am calling out just the opposite.

[21Jumpstreet]

If a white coach did the exact same thing for poor white kids would the gesture be considered wonderful? In fact in todays climate no white coach would even conceive of doing such a thing. That is not playing the victim it stating the ugly truth.

Been happening for generations. And, yes, it would be considered wonderful as it is currently considered wonderful to help the less fortunate. The difference is that being white has never been a hindrance to getting help.

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

I think what Billy is trying to say is ...why not maintain a single fund that helps all students that encounter a financial emergency hardship? (making a monetary donation in someone's name, i.e. Bo Ellis, to that single fund). Definitely a great commitment by Coach Smart. (Btw, anyone know how the university makes known to students that a fund is available for such emergencies?)

The university does maintain such a fund that helps all students that encounter a financial emergency hardship. This fund is in addition to that, which benefits all students because it takes burden off the already existing fund.

I can't speak for all universities but the one I work for covers its existence at orientation, has information about it on the website, and it's covered in all the handbooks and whatnot....but it still is mostly unknown to the student body. It's really on the employees to know about the funds and then direct students to it when one of their students are in need.

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

...and here I am calling out just the opposite.

Maybe ask yourself why that is and try to be honest with the answer.

[muwarrior69]

Been happening for generations. And, yes, it would be considered wonderful as it is currently considered wonderful to help the less fortunate. The difference is that being white has never been a hindrance to getting help.

Tell that to the Jews in this country.

[21Jumpstreet]

Tell that to the Jews in this country.

Appreciate the discourse, clearly what you reference here is indisputable. Not really what we are discussing, but true. I don't know you, so I'll give you the benefit of the doubt that you're a good guy. The Smart's donation to help Black students is exceptional, and also indisputable.

[muwarrior69]

Maybe ask yourself why that is and try to be honest with the answer.

Do I think Shaka is a racist, no; but his donation based on skin color rather than need, is. That is my opinion and if that opinion in the eyes of many here think that is wrong so be it. I hope we're all entitled to our opinion. It is obvious we see the world differently.

[MU82]

Racists consider "reverse racism" to be the real racism.

400 years ... and the white man just can't get a break in America. Not one stinkin' break!

[MUHoopsFan2]

Do I think Shaka is a racist, no; but his donation based on skin color rather than need, is. That is my opinion and if that opinion in the eyes of many here think that is wrong so be it. I hope we're all entitled to our opinion. It is obvious we see the world differently.

No it's not. THEY ARE THE SAME PEOPLE.

[MUHoopsFan2]

Appreciate the discourse, clearly what you reference here is indisputable. Not really what we are discussing, but true. I don't know you, so I'll give you the benefit of the doubt that you're a good guy. The Smart's donation to help Black students is exceptional, and also indisputable.

Tell that to the Jews in this country.

[4everwarriors]

A great gesture from our coach and his wife to help members of the Marquette community. I'm really glad to have them here.

Some of you people would bitch about a blow job.

Two bea phair. Der are bjs and den der are bjs, aina?

[The Sultan]

Do I think Shaka is a racist, no; but his donation based on skin color rather than need, is. That is my opinion and if that opinion in the eyes of many here think that is wrong so be it. I hope we're all entitled to our opinion. It is obvious we see the world differently.

It is completely based on need. That's the whole point of the gift. Marquette has these funds available for everyone but the endowment started by the Smarts will target Black students.

Why is this so hard to understand? 

[real chili 83]

When you accept a gift exclusively for one race and refuse the gift exclusively for the another race how can it not be racist. I'm sure state schools that do that would be in violation of civil rights laws. MU as a private school can do what it likes and I hope they would not refuse such a gift as some here already have said the pie only gets bigger and more people benefit.

You just made that up.

[Uncle Rico]

Eat at Arby's

[4everwarriors]

And it'll kill ya, aina?

[NCMUFan]

Will this improve recruiting?

[SaveOD238]

Tell that to the Jews in this country.

Bring white isn't why Jews in this country have been mistreated.  Bring Jewish is why.

There are plenty of difficulties white people go through.  Just being white doesn't add to those difficulties.

[21Jumpstreet]

Bring white isn't why Jews in this country have been mistreated.  Bring Jewish is why.

There are plenty of difficulties white people go through.  Just being white doesn't add to those difficulties.

Correct

[cj111]

Do I think Shaka is a racist, no; but his donation based on skin color rather than need, is. That is my opinion and if that opinion in the eyes of many here think that is wrong so be it. I hope we're all entitled to our opinion. It is obvious we see the world differently.

Your opinion is ill-informed. There is already a disparity in financial ability to pay between white and Black students, largely due to overall economic disparities that have been compounded generation after generation. The playing field is extremely uneven, and has been since the beginning (for example, white high school dropouts amass, on the whole, more wealth than black college graduates--and it's not even close). Black students take out more loans, and at much larger amounts, than white students, and they have a harder time paying them back because the racial wealth gap continues after graduation. In public universities, they are 2.5x more likely to drop out than white students, often for financial reasons. The gap is somewhat smaller in private institutions in part because of selectivity and larger endowments/scholarships to support students. Those are well-documented facts.

The pandemic has exacerbated the issue, as many low-income students have left school because they don't have the computer infrastructure (PCs, wifi at home) to successfully complete online classes. In fact, one of the most important post-pandemic recommendations that those who study issues like this have made is that universities need to have healthy, well-advertised emergency funding to support students in crisis times.

Emergency funding like this goes a long way to keeping students in school, and in particular, it's important that Black students know that this funding is available and that they can apply for it. A recent study showed that 2/3 of Black students who didn't apply for this kind of support said that they needed it (compared to 44% of white students). More than half of the Black students didn't even know such support was available.

So not only is the gift itself generous and much needed, the publicity surrounding it also makes students aware that help is available.