DOUBLE-PLUS FAIRNESS OR GUILT BY PROXY

                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: FRIDAY, January 24, 1992                   TAG: 9201240595
SECTION: EDITORIAL                    PAGE: A6   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: JOSEPH GERMANA
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium
DOUBLE-PLUS FAIRNESS OR GUILT BY PROXY
SCOTT Courtney's letter on "one man's experience in race relations" (Jan. 11) was characterized by incorrect thinking and inappropriate attitudes.
Overall, he fails to understand that, in the face of such long-term, deeply rooted racial and gender discrimination, mere efforts to be fair are not sufficient, but double-plus fairness is required. That he, as an individual, may not have perpetrated any acts of overt discrimination is irrelevant, because, by sharing in our history and collective consciousness, he is subject to guilt by proxy.
Closer to home, Mr. Courtney states: "Virginia Tech has since adopted an Orwellian approach toward enforcing `racial sensitivity'." I disagree, for my experience has been that the re-educational programs instituted at the university by the Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Office have appropriately addressed the malignant culture climate at the school.
Mr. Courtney should realize that double-minus thinking such as that expressed in his article represents a social disease that undermines the comfort factor of the culture climate for minority students at Tech, and that the EO/AA programs are merely designed to reprogram individuals toward thoughts, attitudes and behaviors that better conform to the new social order.
Admittedly, such reprogramming of human consciousness is difficult, and sometimes, radical interventions may be necessary to remedy malfunctioning apparatus.
For example, it may prove highly remedial to have people like Mr. Courtney make public confessions of collective guilt, such as: "Although I have never been a member of the KKK, I am a member of the KKK." Or, "although I have always tried to act properly with members of the opposite gender, I am a rapist." But even these measures may not be sufficient.
In brief, to believe that colorblind, gender-blind interactions, based on simple civility and notions of equity, will be sufficient, is to perpetuate social injustice. And for people like Mr. Courtney to pursue equal rights for himself is a violation of our Bill of Rights.
\ AUTHOR Joseph Germana is associate professor of psychology at Virginia Tech.

by Archana Subramaniam by CNB