Butler generalizes SOCA

I was disappointed to read Kristin Butler's "Nickeled and dimed" article on April 1 with regards to student groups and funding. Her attitude and sweeping generalization of the Students of the Caribbean Association shows how some students are unable to step out of their own comfort zone and try something new during their stay at Duke.

The group is called "Students of the Caribbean Association", NOT "Only Students of the Caribbean Association." I am not Caribbean, my family ancestry is not Caribbean, and I have only visited a Caribbean country once. Yet, members of SOCA welcomed me my freshmen year when I joined; I have been an active member ever since, and I have never felt intimidated or required to be Caribbean in order to belong. SOCA is open to all students. Our events are open to everyone and help to foster dialogue as well as expose the campus to a culture that is often misrepresented in the media today.

Why join a club that is completely foreign to you? Why not. Before coming to Duke, I had never listened to SOCA music, never eaten jerk chicken and I certainly could not tell you all of the countries that make up the Caribbean.

I feel very fortunate that I was able to tap into this resource that Duke has and gain knowledge from it.

As far as the membership aspect of SOCA goes, we have over 125 individuals on our listserv. It is not fair to judge how many people show up at a general body meeting to gauge how effective a group is; people have conflicted schedules all the time that prohibit them from going to every meeting. During our Caribbana carnival this year, we had over 500 people come and sample Caribbean culture.

I feel bad that Kristin will never experience what SOCA has to offer. That does not mean that other students won't benefit from what this vital group has to offer campus.

Andrew E. George

Co-Treasurer, SOCA