Sometimes it’s a shame this campus has so much to do. If I went to every meeting and seminar I’d like to attend, I would miss most of my classes and flunk out of school. Choosing which events are worth attending and which are not is one of the most important parts of living around campus, as a wisely-chosen symposium may prove itself to be a most satisfying out-of-class experience.
Last week’s forum on Iraq, for example, proved to be an interesting and hectic tribute to the strength of arguments on both sides of the debate. Whether or not it was the most constructive discussion possible is not the only point. It proved to the University that people cared about their history and their future and were willing to do things about them. The forum on Iraq was pure emotion; hundreds of people attended, and hundreds demonstrated that they cared.
A forum on the looming war was not the only major event on campus recently. With this month being February, LSU’s commitment to recognizing its past indiscretions involving minorities on campus recently became more intense. The University has strived to come to terms with its history, sponsoring programs at the African American Cultural Center this month to raise awareness of minority history at LSU. The addition of the AACC 10 years ago was an important step for the University to take toward equality, and today it still represents commitment to diversity in University activities and activities for African Americans. Celebrations this month were numerous.
As they should be. Last Thursday’s event profiling important black women in LSU’s history at the AACC raised important comments about the past and the future. The Reveille quoted Maxine Crump, the first black women to live in a University dorm, as saying “everyone needs to be a part of race dialogue.”
She’s right. In a time when LSU transforms itself from a third-tier school to a model public school for the state, understanding each other’s contexts has never been more important. We are progressing in areas of education and community, and the need for community togetherness has never been more immediate.
One way to bridge these gaps and open a dialogue is to attempt to understand each other’s contexts. An opportunity presents itself this week for those of all races. Wednesday night, poet Sonia Sanchez will speak at the “Tribute to Black History Month” in the Union Ballroom. This time you may choose wisely. It is an event worth your attendance. You should go. She is an outstanding poet, and this is one of the best opportunities LSU has offered its community in the past few months. If you missed the rest of the month’s activities, this is the one to go to.