White Women For Racism invites blacks to event

To protest the fact that March is not also Black History Month, Vanessa Washington decided to picket an event sponsored by the new campus group White Women For Racism. But when the Wharton sophomore arrived at the group's meeting place in Houston Hall, she was shocked to be welcomed with open arms. Washington is now planning to file a grievance with the Office of Affirmative Action against the Women's Center, which sponsors WWFR. When Washington started marching outside of the meeting, Women's Center Director Elena DiLapi, the program facilitator, invited her inside. "Because of the structure and the purpose of your protest, it would not be appropriate for you to picket at this time," DiLapi told Washington. She then offered Washington some tea and scones. Washington and DiLapi started to discuss the issue when Nyota Singali, another African-American picketing the meeting, joined the discussion. She too was offered tea and scones. The group continued to foist pastry onto the two African-American women until Washington left in tears. Washington said she felt hurt, confused and discriminated against. "The reason I went to that meeting was to protest WWFR." she said, "They were so nice that they wouldn't let me do that. I don't expect to come here and be treated like that -- especially in a forum that says it is definitely racist." DiLapi, however, said that just because the group was created for white women, it is not inappropriate to be hospitable to individuals of other races. "Before we can enter into a dialogue laden with hate-mongering and stereotypes, we have to examine the outsiders first," she said. "We believe that racism should be informed, and we have a responsibility to get to know non-white women before we persecute them." Singali was both disgusted and confused by the group's policy. "How can they say they're racist towards Africans and then behave so politely to these same Africans?" she asked. "Here's this white women's organization against tolerance, practicing tolerance."

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