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Non-minority candidate to run for racial minority senator
by Jacob Kamaras
Senior Editor
News | 4/24/07
Posted online at 6:03 AM EST on 4/24/07
Racial-minority leaders on campus said they are not concerned that one of the candidates running for Senator for Racial Minority Students isn't from a minority background.
Jonathan Kane '10, currently the Senator for North Quad, applied to Brandeis as a caucasian student, but recently changed his status to American-Indian Alaskan Native in order to join the Student Union race for Senator for Racial Minority Students. Kane is ethnically Caucasian, and only racial-minority students are eligible to run for that position.
Kane said he intended to declare himself as "other" with the University Registrar's office, but an error was made, and he intends to change his status accordingly.
To alter their status, students need to fill out paperwork with the Registrar's office changing the biodemographic information on their Sage profiles. The process does not require students to provide evidence of their racial background.
Kane said he is qualified for this position despite his non-minority background and explained that his motivation for running stems from a desire to better connect students with cultural events.
"To judge a candidate based on the color of their skin is wrong; I think I am perfectly capable and qualified to express the views of those I would represent," Kane said. "I want to bring people into cultural events; I don't think people feel connected to them, and I want them to feel welcome."
Racial-minority leaders on campus said they aren't worried whether a white student could represent their interests well.
"If [Kane] is willing to stand up and represent racial minorities, I don't think it should matter whether he is a racial minority or not," Intercultural Center programming co-chair Prerna Bhargava '07 said.
Bhargava added that Kane's decision to run falls in line with the Intercultural Center's goal of eliminating the divide between minority and nonminority students, but she maintained that the position of Senator for Racial Minorities should still exist.
Jonathan Kane '10, currently the Senator for North Quad, applied to Brandeis as a caucasian student, but recently changed his status to American-Indian Alaskan Native in order to join the Student Union race for Senator for Racial Minority Students. Kane is ethnically Caucasian, and only racial-minority students are eligible to run for that position.
Kane said he intended to declare himself as "other" with the University Registrar's office, but an error was made, and he intends to change his status accordingly.
To alter their status, students need to fill out paperwork with the Registrar's office changing the biodemographic information on their Sage profiles. The process does not require students to provide evidence of their racial background.
Kane said he is qualified for this position despite his non-minority background and explained that his motivation for running stems from a desire to better connect students with cultural events.
"To judge a candidate based on the color of their skin is wrong; I think I am perfectly capable and qualified to express the views of those I would represent," Kane said. "I want to bring people into cultural events; I don't think people feel connected to them, and I want them to feel welcome."
Racial-minority leaders on campus said they aren't worried whether a white student could represent their interests well.
"If [Kane] is willing to stand up and represent racial minorities, I don't think it should matter whether he is a racial minority or not," Intercultural Center programming co-chair Prerna Bhargava '07 said.
Bhargava added that Kane's decision to run falls in line with the Intercultural Center's goal of eliminating the divide between minority and nonminority students, but she maintained that the position of Senator for Racial Minorities should still exist.
Viewing Comments 1 - 2 of 2
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J. Rudnick
posted 4/25/07 @ 9:26 AM EST
BRAVO! It's about time that the majority stands up for the minority.
Sarah Rose
posted 5/02/07 @ 4:42 PM EST
Jon Kane is awesome. That is all.
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