This letter is written in response to Nick Mastek’s 11/7 letter to the editor on the subject of ‘Stirring Up Trouble.’

The members and leaders of minority groups on ISU’s campus such as the Black Student Alliance, I would have to argue, hardly “look for the instances in which they can blow up a small disturbance and start flinging accusations around.”

Contrary to popular belief, we do not derive any sort of pleasure from being outraged by the happenings on this campus.

I assure you that we would all much rather be able to simply go to school, work and play as you do, without the need to be concerned over racial issues. And do notice I said the ‘need’ to be concerned.

Yes, Nick, we do need organizations such as the Black Student Alliance and would even need them if racial tensions were as ‘minimal’ as you perceive them to be.

I don’t know about you, but to me minimal racial tensions are as negative as maximal tensions.

Also realize that despite the Deantrious Mitchell story, racial tensions have been and are far from minimal. And although you haven’t noticed this, there are many of us who have not been wearing the rose-colored glasses which you have.

I do not for one minute intend to excuse the racist attitudes prevalent in this community because this “predominantly Caucasian college is trying to get accustomed to diversity.”

You say that as if the presence of other races is such a source of discomfort for Caucasians, although I imagine, for some, this is true.

But don’t be fooled into thinking that this discomfort is something we other races have caused. Oh, no, my friend, this is a result of racist and stereotypical modes of thought which were already in practice long before our applications were even accepted.

We, as minority students, are doing nothing here but furthering our education just as the Caucasian students, giving no one reason to be uncomfortable due to our presence.

You ask why the Daily picks leaders and members of groups such as BSA to represent the African-American community.

Well, we are the African-American community, and if it so happens to upset you that we are intelligent and concerned enough to have joined an alliance to support each other and attempt to better the climate of the community, then so be it.

But how dare you compare it to the Ku Klux Klan, an organization clearly established out of hate in order to promote hate?!

Had you done any sort of research on the Black Student Alliance or even attended a meeting, perhaps you would know that the purpose of the organization is to “address the issues and concerns of the African-American students as they relate to issues of diversity and climate on this campus,” not to be in alliance against those with different skin colors and/or different beliefs than ours.

You use the term activist, quite negatively I might add, to describe those of us involved in the Black Student Alliance and other minority organizations.

I thought I was just a student at Iowa State University who happens to have membership in an organization designed to make my stay here in Ames a little more comfortable and meaningful.

I really don’t believe that this therefore makes me some sort of troublemaker, as you have insinuated. But also understand that an activist is one who attempts to bring about change, which is exactly what my goals include.

So I imagine that you are correct in this respect only.

The ignorance displayed in your letter was quite distressing, and I hope that it was simply due to your forgetting to proofread and not truly to your ignorance.

Jada A. Muhammad

Junior

Exercise Science