Our
view
Scholar
proves undeserving
“I hate niggers” was written on a wall at
the Parkside Commons dorm at Cal State Long
Beach. A swastika accompanied the racial
epithet.
Robbie Cardenas, an 18-year-old resident
in the dorm and President’s Scholar, was
cited for the “vandalism” or as some would
call it, hate crime, but denies all involvement
in the incident. However, several people
along with the African Student Union are
working to get Cardenas removed from the
dorms and possibly expelled from school.
According to Armando Contreras, executive
assistant to CSULB President Maxson, campus
Judicial Affairs will investigate the incident.
Because of this incident people have said
that they now worry about their safety.
How could such a thing happen here?
CSULB prides itself on the diversity of
its students and its open acceptance of
all people of all backgrounds. Furthermore,
Southern California is one of the most diverse
places in the United States. The reality
that something of this magnitude could happen
in such a diverse place is appalling.
Why would someone who holds such bigoted
views choose to attend school at a place
with the diversity of CSULB?
Or, if Cardenas was just reacting out of
anger, in an immature way, why would he
choose to express that anger using racism?
We walk around campus everyday with people
of all ethnicities and backgrounds. Being
surrounded with such diversity at all times
causes many of us to forget that racism
is still a reality in today’s world. But
then someone like Robbie Cardenas comes
along and bursts our bubble with his expressions
of hate.
What makes this situation even more appalling
than it already is, is the fact that Cardenas
is a President’s Scholar. President’s Scholars
are offered a full four-year scholarship,
room and board, books, priority registration
and individual academic advising. With so
much being given to Cardenas, how dare he
repay the school in such a way?
Recipients of the President’s Scholar Program
are considered to be model students. Where
are we when the so-called “cream of the
crop” acts in such an inexcusable way?
Robbie Cardenas should be ashamed of himself
and his actions no matter what his reasoning
is. He has rendered himself undeserving
of the President’s Scholars Program and
deserves to be stripped of the benefits
that he receives from being part of the
program. President’s Scholars are supposed
to represent the best and brightest of CSULB’s
students. It is painfully obvious that Cardenas
does not adequately represent the student
body. The individuals responsible for the
President’s Scholar Program should recognize
this fact and act upon it accordingly.
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