As an editorial board, and as students and human beings concerned about racial inequality, we find it very offensive to be called “racist.”

Unfortunately, when we attempt to tackle sensitive issues that involve race, we are often maligned and insulted because some people claim we lack any “good taste” when it comes to stating our opinion.

On Tuesday’s editorial page, we tried to assess a program, which in our opinion, has failed to prove itself effective—the CHANCE program. We were not pigeonholeing any particular minority group, we were simply using statistics to point out a severe problem—the lack of a decent graduation rate and the possible concurring lack of guidance from the CHANCE program.

We are not pro-white, pro-black, pro-Hispanic, pro-Asian or pro-anything when it comes to race. What we are is pro-student. Our idea of equality is not filling a minority quota in a university department. Our idea of equality is treating EVERY student and potential student fairly and with decency, regardless of race. We support the idea of providing educational opportunities and assistance, but -only to students who want it.

The printed word can carry a heavy impact. As a newspaper, we recognize that. One concerned student who came to speak with us about the editorial said some of our information was distracting. If so, we apologize for misleading our readers. However, the printed word is always subject to interpretation. So, before you blow up and get angry with us, come talk with us. We both might be surprised with the outcome.