ABPA focuses on campus social diversity

The Association of Black Princeton Alumni chose Homecoming weekend, a time of alumni camaraderie, to celebrate its vibrance.

Amid the festivities, many alumni voiced concerns about lingering racial issues at the University.

At the Friday welcome reception, held at the Carl A. Fields Center, Jerome Davis '71 — one of the co-founders of ABPA — said he started the group to enhance the quality of life for African-American students.

ABPA president Kenneth Bruce '83 said the association aims to improve the feeling of community among its members.

President Tilghman spoke at the event about issues relevant to African-American students.

She began by calling the Fields Center, "a celebratory place," but went on to discuss how the University still has work to do before it defies its stereotype as a place of "narrow range" of diversity.

Tilghman focused much of her discussion on the oft-raised question the African-American studies program becoming a major.

She said whether or not AAS becomes a major, there is enormous value in interweaving AAS-related issues throughout courses in the other departments.

The ABPA cosponsored a lecture Saturday morning by philosophy professor K. Anthony Appiah's titled, "Being Yourself: Race and Individuality." "Identities are one of the most important elements in life," Appiah said.

He discussed "soul-making," in which an outside entity, perhaps the government, intervenes in the shaping of one's identity.

After Appiah's lecture was a panel discussion on college recruitment of minorities.

Donna Sotolongo GS '77, who is on the ABPA board of directors, said the University lacks strong efforts in minority outreach.

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Sotolongo said diversity is sought but the University's method of attaining it is faulty.

The anniversary weekend ended with a celebratory dinner at the Doral Forrestal Hotel.

Keynote speaker Randall Kennedy '77, a professor at Harvard Law School, asked, "Should we celebrate? . . . Princeton still bears scars of its own racial history."

But Kennedy said he believes there should be festivities. He said the University — in part through the efforts of ABPA — is a reflection of the world's "reformist ethos."