2008 Woodie Awards
Are you overreacting?
Racism: perception or reality?
By: Jason Pratt
Issue date: 2/13/08 Section: News
Mount Pleasant sophomore Christina Sowle said racism needs to stop.
"I am almost ashamed of our race when we act like that," she said.
Sowle attended Monday night's "Who's over exaggerating? Is Mount Pleasant Racist or is that YOUR Perception?" The forum took place in the Bovee University Center.
The forum was part of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People's "Power Beyond Measure II: Unity Week." Collective Action for Cultural Unity and the Organization for Black Unity helped with the presentation.
"We wanted to try something different," said Ashley N. Smith, CMU's NAACP president and Pontiac senior. "We want to face the issues and not sweep them under the rug."
Part of the reason for "Power Beyond Measure Week" was to raise awareness about racism on campus and around Mount Pleasant.
Smith acknowledges race issues are getting better.
She pointed out that Sen. Barack Obama has a chance to be elected president. At the same time, she said, some instances in Mount Pleasant are getting worse.
More than one black student at the forum acknowledged getting pulled over for virtually no reason, and one attendee said he was pulled over for his high school tassel hanging from his rearview mirror.
"It's a continuing issue," said Jessica Wicks, Human Environmental Studies temporary faculty member. Wicks made attendance mandatory for her HEV 302: Human Growth and Development: Infancy class. "Our class is centered around teaching young children about respect for different cultures."
Event attendees also stated that many "mom and pop" restaurants often don't make the same accommodations they would for a white person. Attendees said it is hard to shop for clothes around here, with many stores only offering styles specific to whites.
"Some people just don't know," Smith said.
That is why the NAACP, in cooperation with other RSOs, are putting on this week of events.
A Valentine's Day table will be set up from 11 to 2 p.m. Thursday in the hallway of Charles V. Park Library.
Alpha Phi Alpha and Alpha Kappa Alpha are presenting "Mix~N~Mingle: The Plight of Our Young Men" at 3:15 p.m. Friday in the lower level of Woldt Hall.
An event called "Reaching out in the Towers" will take place at 1 p.m. Saturday in Kulhavi Hall.
news@cm-life.com
"I am almost ashamed of our race when we act like that," she said.
Sowle attended Monday night's "Who's over exaggerating? Is Mount Pleasant Racist or is that YOUR Perception?" The forum took place in the Bovee University Center.
The forum was part of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People's "Power Beyond Measure II: Unity Week." Collective Action for Cultural Unity and the Organization for Black Unity helped with the presentation.
"We wanted to try something different," said Ashley N. Smith, CMU's NAACP president and Pontiac senior. "We want to face the issues and not sweep them under the rug."
Part of the reason for "Power Beyond Measure Week" was to raise awareness about racism on campus and around Mount Pleasant.
Smith acknowledges race issues are getting better.
She pointed out that Sen. Barack Obama has a chance to be elected president. At the same time, she said, some instances in Mount Pleasant are getting worse.
More than one black student at the forum acknowledged getting pulled over for virtually no reason, and one attendee said he was pulled over for his high school tassel hanging from his rearview mirror.
"It's a continuing issue," said Jessica Wicks, Human Environmental Studies temporary faculty member. Wicks made attendance mandatory for her HEV 302: Human Growth and Development: Infancy class. "Our class is centered around teaching young children about respect for different cultures."
Event attendees also stated that many "mom and pop" restaurants often don't make the same accommodations they would for a white person. Attendees said it is hard to shop for clothes around here, with many stores only offering styles specific to whites.
"Some people just don't know," Smith said.
That is why the NAACP, in cooperation with other RSOs, are putting on this week of events.
A Valentine's Day table will be set up from 11 to 2 p.m. Thursday in the hallway of Charles V. Park Library.
Alpha Phi Alpha and Alpha Kappa Alpha are presenting "Mix~N~Mingle: The Plight of Our Young Men" at 3:15 p.m. Friday in the lower level of Woldt Hall.
An event called "Reaching out in the Towers" will take place at 1 p.m. Saturday in Kulhavi Hall.
news@cm-life.com
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