[Web4lib] Code4lib 2008 Minority Scholarship

[Mike Taylor]

Jeremy Frumkin writes:
 > The Oregon State University / Code4lib Minority Scholarship will
 > provide up to $1000 to cover travel costs and conference fees for
 > one qualified attendee to the 2008 Code4lib conference (February
 > 25-28 in Portland, OR).  To qualify for this scholarship, an
 > applicant must be a member of a principal minority group (American
 > Indian or Alaskan native, Asian or Pacific Islander,
 > African-American, or Hispanic / Latino).

... and ...

Jeremy Frumkin writes:
 > The Oregon State University / Code4lib Gender Diversity Scholarship
 > will provide up to $1000 to cover travel costs and conference fees
 > for one qualified attendee to the 2008 Code4lib conference
 > (February 25-28 in Portland, OR). This scholarship is eligible to
 > any woman interested in actively contributing to the mission and
 > goals of the Code4lib Conference.

You know, I just don't get this.  How can anyone think that these
kinds of awards can do anything to counter racism or sexism?  What
would we think of an award for which only white people were available,
or only men?  Why would reverse discrimination be any better?  It's
patronising at best and actively divisive at worst.

(Though I'm sure it's done from the best of motives.)

 _/|_	 ___________________________________________________________________
/o ) \/  Mike Taylor    <mike at indexdata.com>    http://www.miketaylor.org.uk
)_v__/\  "If a player is not interfering with play or seeking to gain an
	 advantage, then he should be" -- Bill Shankly.