A “White Student Union at UCF” Facebook page has caused quite a stir on the University of Central Florida campus.
UCF is aware of the site and it is not affiliated with the university or a registered student organization, according to UCF spokesman Chad Binette.
Binette said the unauthorized use of university trademarks was reported to Facebook on Monday.
Since then, the page has changed its profile picture and cover photo.
The “White Student Union at UCF” released a press statement on the Facebook page Tuesday afternoon.
The post states that the page “was created by current UCF students and alumni in response to the startling BLM protests taking place on college campuses across the country. We have seen in these protests an explicit hostility to white students, faculty, and culture, and to the freedoms of speech and association.”
“We hope to be a countervailing voice against intolerance, and we want to provide a safe space for white students on campus,” the press post said.
A blog on Medium reported that the white students unions that keep appearing throughout the United States are probably fake.
In response to the above, the page said that “it is possible that some WSU pages are trolls, but many are not. Many WSUs, some with whom we are in contact, are sincere efforts to create safe spaces for white students–including ours. We are neither a joke nor an attempt at satire, but an earnest project to protect free speech, free association, and white interests.”
The Facebook page said they are not a racist or white supremacist organization and will welcome non-white allies.
The page is still generating mixed reactions from students and those who comment on the posts.
“I can’t understand why people are getting so upset about these Students wanting to start this group. It seems to be just fine to have the NAACP,UNICEF,BLM,BET, but it is wrong because they want to be heard and stand up for their rights as well. As long as they are not promoting violence or racist remarks towards anyone, then leave them alone and let them do their thing. I am all for it, if it is done the right way,” Facebook user Luke Sleeper Granger said.
On the other hand, Facebook user Kim Court commented that “These efforts are absolutely disgusting. There are so many things wrong with this post that I’ve lost count. Perhaps you should attend some more classes and try to learn something about white privilege, systemic racism, and how you’ve actually NEVER been denied a ‘safe space’ in the history of the world. I am embarrassed to call myself a UCF alum.”
Check back on KnightNews.com for updates on the “White Student Union at UCF.”
