Though I am shocked at the unapologetic pretentiousness of "The Ten Society" featured in The Cavalier Daily's article ("New secret society, The Ten, seeks to reclaim elitism," Feb. 15), I'm not surprised at the sentiment they promote. I have a shocking revelation to many on Grounds: Many in our community are classist. I understand that classism is not a chic problem to address, especially in a community that has enough trouble confronting racism and sexism, but yes, U.Va., we have a problem. Though clearly the Ten Society is an caricature of this point of view, this invisible problem is caused by people just like the "Tens," who believe somehow that all U.Va. students are given the same opportunities just by nature of all being students at the same University. Unfortunately, this is not reality for many students who struggle with more essential problems like having enough money for an electric bill or finding time between class and work to write a paper. The University culture erases the many that cannot take the typical path, but there are many who cannot achieve the meta-narrative of success or "merits" that so many think is how every University student experiences their four years. Like most students, I am very invested in my extra-curriculars and personally really enjoy the time I spend doing activist work on grounds. However, as my resume shows, I've only been involved in a small number of organizations because I must work to provide for myself. For me, classism rears its ugly head almost every time weekends or breaks are on the horizon. I simply cannot afford to spend the summer traveling, studying abroad (despite my love of the Spanish language), or doing a non-paying internship because I work a minimum wage job to get by during the year and don't have extra income. The community engagement that the Ten Society seeks to reward are not a possibility for others like myself who have concerns beyond beefing up my resume with "merits" like multiple CIO executive officerships, positions on Student Council or UJC, or "selective" debate societies. Also, if the point is to find the cream-of-the-crop, legitimate leaders, why use a the term "elitism"? "Reclaiming" seems to be a fashionable notion of making things that have been non-PC chic again; however, nothing about the term "elitism" - excluding people on the basis of class, or some generalized notion of their worth for other reasons, needs of salvaging or is at all related to the goal of a meritocracy. Let's take some time to consider the merits of people who don't fit the typical picture of a University leader. Can we not appreciate that working hard, being engaged with academics and community service the best that we can, and being authentic about privilege is really what honor is about?
Nora Eakin\nCLAS III
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