The A&M chapter of the Young Conservatives of Texas' recent affirmative action bake sale has created a mass of heated correspondence between the organization and school officials about diversity.
The bake sale, which was held on Nov. 19, sold baked goods for different prices based on race with the intent of discouraging affirmative action in light of James Anderson's appointment to the position of vice president and associate provost for institutional assessment and diversity.
Since then, University President Robert M. Gates sent an e-mail to the student body, calling for civility on campus.
"During the last few weeks important conversations about diversity have taken place throughout the University in both formal and informal settings," Gates said in the Thanksgiving week e-mail. "While everyone has the right to freely express her or his opinions, such sentiments must be presented with a genuine sense of civility."
The YCT responded to this e-mail with an open letter on Nov. 30 in which it stated that Gates' e-mail implied the group had violated Aggie traditions by making several critical remarks toward individuals, including Anderson.
"One final point: YCT officers who, unlike you, are A&M students or alumni, resent your presumptuous claim of what is and is not 'Aggie tradition,'" the YCT said in the letter. "We further direct you to the Aggie Code of Honor ... before making false accusations." At Gates' symposium on admissions and tuition held Dec. 3, he stated that the University would not include race as a factor for admission.
"We're obviously thrilled that he's not using race as a factor in admissions," said Mark McCaig, director of communications for the YCT.
During the question and answer session at the forum, Gates was asked whether he would apologize to the YCT. He said he had served to protect the country for several years and wanted to protect people's rights, specifically the freedom of speech.
"I am the one that deserves the apology," Gates said.
Bill Byrne, director of athletics at A&M, made comments about the bake sale in his online 'Wednesday Weekly' commentary on Nov. 26.
"The Texas A&M bake sale plays right into the hands of those who recruit against us, in both athletics and in the general student population," Byrne said. "(Those who recruit against us) will use something like this to suggest that Texas A&M does not have a welcoming environment."
The YCT also responded to his statement in the Nov. 30 open letter, defending the actions of the organization.
"We resent your shameless and feeble attempt to shift responsibility for Texas A&M's lackluster athletic season from yourself to A&M YCT," the YCT said in the letter to Byrne. The YCT letter pointed to the racial imbalance in the football team as an example for its augment, saying that the team was made up mostly of African Americans who earned their spots on the team, and that other races were underrepresented in that sense.
"We feel all of our protests and statements have been legitimate and reasonable. We have not done anything to put the University in a bad light," McCaig said. "In fact, the affirmative action bake sale opened up a venue for an exchange of ideas that was previously not available."
Former head football coach R.C. Slocum disagreed, saying that events such as these are magnified by other schools that compete with A&M for athletic recruitment.
"They never intended the freedom of speech to go to this extent," Slocum said. "There's an obligation to the right of decency. I don't think (such actions as the bake sale) accomplish anything."
Student Body President Matt Josefy said students and administrators should put the events and words of the past few weeks behind them and move forward.
"What's important is the future of A&M," Josefy said. "That involves finding out how we can make A&M a more welcoming place, as outlined in the forum last week. I will applaud any group--be it the YCT or a minority group or the administration who comes to the table to be a part of those discussions."
