Students and faculty can have their say on the controversial subject of
race relations at the Speak Up, Speak Out forum 7 p.m. today in the
Bovee University Center Auditorium.

This installment of the popular current events series will feature
Donna Budnick, an American Indian affairs specialist for the Michigan
Department of Civil Rights, as well as a panel of students and faculty
who will discuss how minorities and the white majority interact at CMU.

Ulana Klymyshyn, director of multicultural programs, said the panel
and audience members will talk about “the climate on campus for
students of color.”

Blaine Stevenson – associate sociology, anthropology and social work
professor – will facilitate the event with Kevin Williams, associate
director of admissions and minority enrollment.

“People of color are a very clear numerical minority on campus,”
Stevenson said. “How does that affect people’s success here?”

Minorities often experience racism whites on campus may not be aware
of, he said, and airing these concerns in the forum could be beneficial
to ease racial tensions on campus.

“People from different cultural or ethnic backgrounds tend to
perceive things differently, just like men and women do sometimes,”
Stevenson said. “It’s a way to try to understand what other people are
experiencing.”

Colon senior Sean Novak and Detroit junior Autumn Johnson organized
the event.

“We felt like it is something that isn’t given a lot of attention
and we looked at what would be some of the most relevant issues on
CMU’s campus as well as college campuses around the country,” Johnson
said.

Audience participation is encouraged, if not vital for tonight’s
forum, Stevenson said.

“We try to get to the audience as soon as we can so we get a town
meeting effect,” he said.

Johnson said students should expect a conversation they might not be
used to.

“Be prepared for some thought-provoking questions and be ready to
think and speak out of comfort zones,” she said. “Be willing to
contribute to the conversations because that’s what the Speak Up Speak
Out forums are for.”

The Speak Up, Speak Out series is sponsored by the College of
Humanities and Social and Behavioral Sciences, the College of
Communications and Fine Arts, the Office of the Dean of Students, the
Assessment Council, the Multicultural Education Center, the Volunteer
Center, Pi Sigma Alpha and the Center for Professional and Personal
Ethics.

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