NYU White Student Union Facebook page stirs controversy

An “NYU White Student Union” Facebook page that claims to be “a community for NYU students of European descent” to speak their voice has appeared on the social media site.

The group claims it was made by NYU students inspired by the creation of a similar group at the University of California, Berkeley. All of which has been precipitated by volatile race relations on campuses across the country.

“European-American students on college campuses face unique and immediate challenges that are ignored or even actively denied in today’s cultural climate,” the page creators wrote in the group’s description.

“We unapologetically provide a safe space for white students to air their true feelings about the future of our nation, discuss and reflect on the lessons laid down for us by our great European writers, philosophers, and artists, and develop a positive program to restore the pioneering will and greatness of our unique and virtuous people.”

A representative for the university spoke out against the group’s creation, calling it “unauthorized and highly objectionable” and accused the group of “illegally and without permission” using the university’s branding, according to DNAinfo.com.

The creator of the page has not been identified. The Tab however claims to have interviewed the creator of the page who claims to be an undergrad at the university from New Jersey.

“The atmosphere on campus now is very racially charged. Race is all that is being talked about. But white people effectively have no voice here because our voice is systematically excluded from discussion,” the alleged creator of the Facebook page told The Tab. “Often this is even sanctioned by the administration who condones meetings where it is openly said that white people cannot speak or it would be preferable for them not to attend.”

The page has been flooded with people criticising its existence with commenters calling the group out for being racist and offensive.