I suppose the title of John Heiderscheidt's column, "Out of Order," is fitting for his work. The comments he made in the Jan. 24 edition of the Tribune were certainly "out of order" and extremely offensive. Yes, we all want more diversity at Marquette and it is often discussed. However, it is not mentioned without reason. The urging for increasing the diversity of this campus is constantly being reiterated because despite efforts that have been made, nothing is changing.

Heiderscheidt inarticulately compared students' desire for diversity to annoying kids in a car on vacation, screaming "Are we diverse yet? Are we diverse yet?" This analogy is as insensitive as it is incorrect; kids in a car have a destination and certainly know that at some point, they are going to "get there." Here at Marquette, there is no certainty that we will take the right path and ultimately succeed in becoming a truly diverse campus.

Nonetheless, the lack of a coherent analogy is not what upsets me most about his column. No one cares that you are white, Mr. Heiderscheidt. No one is blaming you, nor shunning you for your race. It seems to me that the only reason you feel people blame you for being white is because you have done something to further the stereotypical "have-it-all" white man. The simple fact that Heiderscheidt mentions he "pays so much money to go here," he unintentionally displays a sense of arrogance. I too, value my education here at Marquette, but I also work full-time and rely on scholarships to finance my education. Still, I embrace the various debates on campus regardless of the issue.

If Heiderscheidt was like the majority of white people, he would not question "when it is okay to be white again," because it was never wrong. It is because of his ignorance which was displayed in the Tribune (and I assume he displays in his day-to-day life) that people give him reasons to doubt his role as a white male in society.

Mr. Heiderscheidt, I know you want to be able to focus on your education rather than have to face the diversity issue everywhere you turn. Well, I'm sorry. If you don't want to hear about it anymore, drop the ethnocentric attitude and do something about it. I have a quick question for you too: if you were not white, would you complain as much are you have? I sincerely doubt it; but then again, you'll never be another race, so there is no way for you to ever know or make a valid conclusion in regards to this issue. So, why don't you shut the hell up?

"Differences need not divide us. Embrace diversity. Dignity is everyone's human right."

-Bill Brummel, documentary filmmaker (his programs focus on human rights issues).