The Associated Scientists of Whitman Institute are taking a stand against power structures that perpetuate elements of privilege within the field of science by passing a silicon tax to accompany their carbon tax. The move has created controversy on campus with some life forms believing that the tax will raise awareness of unequal treatment of silicon-based organisms, while others believe it amounts to an erasure of this history.
The silicon tax was a necessary step in acknowledging that the Whitman Institute has partaken in the problematic power dynamic between carbon and silicon historically.
“We’re part of the problem. Over Whitman’s long, three week history of having a carbon tax without having a silicon tax, we have played into the narrative that carbon is less than silicon. But the universal truth is both are period-4 elements on which life forms may be based, and we must acknowledge that,” said ASWI’s lead researcher, junior Hani Dupper.
Many progressive silicon-based life forms think this tax will help other silicon-based life forms understand what they do not pay because of their privilege.
“Silicon-privilege is a free pass. This tax will help open up a space to undo the prejudices and economic practices that perpetuate this privilege,” said junior Silica Chip.
Carbon-based life forms like first-year Coal Diamond disagree, believing that this tax will efficiently get rid of any guilt caused by the unequal elements in this relationship.
“This tax will not help us carbon-based lifeforms, but it will give the silicon-based life forms an excuse to deny their privilege and the ugly history behind it,” Diamond said.
Although most life forms at the Whitman Institute agree that the historical relationship between the elements has been problematic, they cannot agree on an intervention. It has been rumored that the Whitman Institute may try to change its logo and the name of its editorial review in the future to support ASWI’s tax.