By Samoana Matagi

As March rolls around, Aggies tend to think about spring break, the Big West Tournament, the NCAA Tournament, and student body elections.

Students will be treated to a handful of candy, handy coupons, handbills, and handshakes during campaign week. Of course if you live on or near campus you will be solicited for lawn or wall space for sheets, banners, or an A-frame or two. You can expect cars spray-painted with campaign slogans, charitable acts, and an earload of crap. On most other days this might be unusual but there is one thing that should shock even the most right minded person on campus.

Tom Robins filed his paperwork to run for Diversity VP.

If you aren't shocked in the least then either you don't understand diversity or you haven't heard of Robins.

According to the ASUSU Legislative Charter, under the Diversity Vice President charter, the Diversity VP must represent certain underrepresented groups. Some of these are the Pride Alliance, Black Student Union, Hispanic Student Union, and Righteously Open-minded Sisters Inclusive of Everyone.

Ashley Stolworthy, ASUSU Public Relations VP, said, "Their job is to represent all the organizations equally, even if they don't agree with the students they should represent."

Fawn Groves, academic programs coordinator for Multicultural Student Services, said, "Considering the public displays he has been involved with I question whether he is the best fit for the position." One of the activities Robins was involved with was a bake sale put on by the College Republicans. They sold cookies at various prices, $2 for whites, 75 cents for language minorities, 50 cents for African-American males, and 25 cents for African-American females. To add insult to injury they also handed out pamphlets stating that Affirmative Action causes minorities [to] feel they can achieve nothing without preferential treatment, among other things.

In reaction to the bake sale, a debate was organized.

Robins had the opportunity to open the debate and once again used rhetoric from his bag of tricks. While coughing and blowing his nose in his handkerchief, he said that we need to treat the causes of the problem and Affirmative Action was only treating the symptoms. At the same time, Robins said that vouchers would treat the cause.

One of Robins' theories of diversity was revealed in that debate. He said USU is really a diverse campus due to the amount of people spending time in foreign places and speaking foreign languages. In my opinion and after spending two years in Brazil, this theory is idealistic at best. After doing exchanges, many Latter-day Saint American missionaries complained about having foreign companions. They would, in fact, poke fun at the differences of the people. Would these same complaining companions best represent a native Brazilian? I strongly doubt it. Does spending time in a foreign land or even speaking a foreign language bring diversity to the campus? Not really. I would think that different people with different points of view bring about diversity.

Robins' next "public display" was Feb. 19. Robins was dressed in a tuxedo for a mock wedding. He offered cake to anyone who would sign a petition against gay marriage.

"Tom Robins," said Gabe Carter, president of the Black Student Union, "has done very poorly to represent any appreciation for diversity on this campus or otherwise; with his disrespectful approach to the Affirmative Action Bake Sale, his failure to bring an educational aspect to the Traditional Marriage Rally as opposed to its antagonistic affect -- both these under the College Republicans' banner, carelessly and quite possibly misrepresenting some of the members in that organization."

Some question his declaration for candidacy, stating he just wants attention or he is running because there was a candidate who did not have competition.

Angie Hammond, current Diversity VP, said, "He told me he's running for the position because he feels that diversity is not really diverse. He feels they don't invite people from the right [wing]."

"Robins," Carter said, "reportedly stated he wants to bring diversity for Republicans, and I see his stance as none other than one of political agenda and a farce regarding a position that should bring diversity to and for all students at Utah State."

During the Traditional Marriage Rally, Robins said, "The silent majority will be silent no longer." I wonder if they would be silent long enough to hear other diverse points of view? Imagine a Diversity VP trying to short change minorities. Imagine a Diversity VP "robin" you of, perhaps, your only opportunity to experience diversity.

-- Samoana Matagi is a USU student from West Valley City.
His father is Samoan.