I can't begin to explain how appalled I am to have read Terrell Jones comments in yesterday's Collegian. Jones has said that most white people are not good at dealing with racism.

Well, this white person isn't dealing with Jones' racism very well at all. Webster's dictionary defines racism as a belief that race is the primary determinant of human traits and capacities. Jones looked at the students at that meeting and, simply by the color of their skin, determined their capabilities of comprehension and understanding. Perhaps he himself is in need of some of that mandatory diversity training the Black Caucus requested last year.

Diversity implies toleration of differences among people no matter what that difference might be, including those differences that are racial, sexual, ideological or political. Diversity also implies a willingness to permit others who disagree with you to go their separate ways, and form institutions and groups among like-minded friends and associates.

Let me ask you this — had a white administrator told a group of African- American students that they were not capable of understanding an issue simply because they were black, would there not be substantial and justifiable backlash? Jones should not receive a pass for his comments.

An apology is required and if he is unwilling to do so, perhaps the administration needs to decide if the Vice Provost for Educational Equity is truly concerned with equity for all of the students at Penn State or if his own personal biases make him incompatible for the position.