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Disclaimer: I feel this is a huge "NO-NO" for me to do, it would just make me look like an ass.

My university is hosting a minority STEM job fair with the intention of bolstering hiring rates for minority students. I don't have problem with this, especially with me being a white male.

My roommates however, are minorities, racially and also immigrants. They trying to convince me to attend the fair with them as we all have the same degree and try to help each other out when searching for jobs.

I think that the employers at the fair would look down on this and my fellow students would also disapprove of this.

Am I right in thinking it would be inappropriate of me to attend?

Edit:
I have no intention of going, but my roommates are insisting that it would not be an issue to attend, and will not accept my explanation of how bad it would look for me.

Edit:
To clarify some misunderstanding: It is not that they "need me for support" or anything like that, it is just that they don't really get why I am so hesitant to attend. It isn't 'gun to my head' sort of insisting, just a general "hey, attend this with us to talk to some good companies"

Edit: My apologies on posting a controversial topic, I didn't mean to start an issue here

Final Edit: I am a dumbass who can’t explain things correctly. Then idea is that it would be good for my job hunting to go to the career fair and talk with employers, but I explained to my roommates that going to such a fair would not be beneficial to me as I am not the target recruit for this event.

Why not attend another career fair that is not minority focused with your room-mates?

Am I right in thinking it would be inappropriate of me to attend?

Yes, you are right - it would be inappropriate for you to attend.

The point of this career fair is to allow businesses to connect with minority candidates.

At best, you'd look out of touch with current affairs, at worst, you could end up as a meme or viral post.

EDIT: I wouldn't show up just to support my friends. That wouldn't stop someone who doesn't understand why you're there from snapping a picture and posting it with a negative comment.

I don't get the "support his friends" angle. It's a job fair. You show up, hand out all the copies of your resume then meet your friends after. This is a professional networking event targeted at a specific audience.

There's absolutely nothing wrong with you attending with your friends. You can support and encourage them as well as point out interesting companies that are participating in the career fair.

What would be questionable would be if you actively approached the recruiters.

If a recruiter should happen to approach or question you simply tell them you are supporting your friends.

I see no problem in going there at all. Even if asked about your motives, you can (truthfully) state that you are with your friends that invited you along. Just stick close to them when on the fair, so there’s no doubt about it when you say it.

By the way, do check if there are no rules explicitly stating you’re not welcome. It would be very rude to disregard them.

An important part of helping minorities is listening to minorities when they tell you what they need, and actually learning from what they have to say. As a woman in your field from a not particularly wealthy background, I've had rich white men talk down to me for not taking certain opportunities they felt would help me in my career. They never asked me whether I thought those opportunities were actually helpful based on my practical experience of being a woman in the field without money or connections. I would have had a lot to say about how these so-called opportunities didn't help me at all!

I think your palpable anxiety about being seen as a jerk for attending this event may be blinding you to what's really going on here. Your friends are telling you they would like you to come to this event with them, I don't know why, but clearly it matters to them. If you don't want to waste your time or just don't feel like it, then refusing is fine, but if you're just afraid you'll be wearing a neon sign of privilege above your head, I think you are missing the point. I wouldn't imagine you would be the only white man there - STEM has a diversity problem, that's the reason for such events. I would expect lots of potential employers and recruitment people who are themselves not minorities. In any case, as pointed out in another answer, the idea that you can assess someone's minority status visually is incorrect and it would be the height of rudeness for anyone to challenge your presence.

It is inappropriate to accept resources set aside for minorities. There is nothing wrong with attending an event with your minority friends, if actually invited, with the view of educating yourself about their unique challenges. Making out you know better than a room of minorities about what they want from you, seeking confirmation from a probably white-male-biased source before asking actual minorities, or even contacting the organisers of the event who would probably be happy to give you an indication of how your presence would be received, is far more inappropriate than turning up to that career fair would be.

It would not be inappropriate.

Your attendance at the fair is likely to make your friends feel more comfortable interacting with exhibitors, thus increasing their chances of getting meaningful information. Provided you are mindful of your supporting role and allow other attendees to be the primary focus of exhibitors, your presence furthers the goal of bolstering hiring rates for minority students.

If you are concerned about the optics, which is perfectly understandable in todays knee-jerk world, I have a few comments.

Firstly, there are likely to be a large number of exhibitors and event support personal who will look similar to you. Often at these events exhibitors will walk around and "spy" to see what other exhibitors are offering. You will not stand out too much, if at all.

In addition, it's worthwhile to note that a persons outward appearance does not dictate non-minority status, and thus it would be improper and rude for a random stranger to question you on your non-minority status. For example, someone that appears white and male may be minority based upon:

• Biological sexuality (Intersex etc.)


• Gender identity


• Sexual preference


• Social disorders


• Having a physical disability


• Having an outward appearance that doesn't match ethnicity

Now, I'm not suggesting you lie about any of this, you should certainly be honest about why you're there. However, but your presence may have a secondary benefit of making these minorities feel a bit more comfortable.