Students tackle race relations on campus

About 50 students and faculty members participated in yesterday's "Open Mic on Race," a panel discussion about campus diversity following the USG's Survey on Race and Campus Life released in February.

The group considered possible institutional changes within the eating clubs and the University, as well as ways to motivate individuals to create a more inclusive culture on campus.

"We agree that a large number of students feel alienated from Princeton and don't feel a sense of possession of this place, so what are we going to do about it?" asked religion professor Eddie Glaude, the forum's moderator.

A panel of student leaders led the panel, including Tim Tran '06, co-president of the Asian American Student Assocation; Jamal Motlagh '06, president of the Inter-Club Council and Quadrangle Club; Evan Baer '05, former president of the College Republicans; Robert Kennelley '06, a representative from the College Democrats; Juan Lopez '06, president of Chicano Caucus; John Lee '05, president of the Korean American Student Association and Tamara Whitaker '07, former vice president of the Black Student Union.

Students need to take action after years of acknowledging disparities between the way minorities and white students perceive social and academic life at the University. Whitaker said in an interview before the forum that the USG survey has played an important role in quantifying the discrepancy in race relations on campus.

The panelists stressed the importance of personal action to promote diversity.

"Princeton would make better strides in race relations if people who have influence took it upon themselves to be friendlier and more open," said Elan Nieves '06, who organized the event through the support of the African American Studies Program.

One recurring theme was race relations on the Street. The USG survey demonstrated that many minority students are unhappy with the social opportunities available to them.

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Motlagh said that it was largely a misconception that some clubs are unwelcoming to minorities. He believes that divisions between eating clubs fall more along socioeconomic lines.

"The first step, in my opinion, is making sure everyone has the financial ability to join a club," he said. Currently, the University's financial aid package only covers student's residential meal plans, which are on average $2,000 less than the cost of an eating club.

"The University, in my humble opinion, should make up for this cost," he said.

The panelists also discussed other measures the University could adopt to improve race relations, including the possibility of providing more funding for cultural events and introducing a greater variety of classes.

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"Latinos, and specifically Mexican-Americans, in my opinion, continue to be the most academically under-served ethnic group on campus," Lopez said, noting the absence of courses on Chicano studies and a need for more courses on Latinos in the United State, as well as faculty that "we can earnestly relate to."

Panelists also said there needs to be more communication between student organizations.

"One of best things about Princeton is that it has more student groups than any other university, except maybe Ohio State," former USG President Matt Margolin '05 said. The problem is that the clubs do not always collaborate, and "it is not always evident that you can go to study breaks and lectures" held by other groups, he said.

The panelists also discussed adding a multicultural distribution requirement — an issue that has long been debated by students and administrators with little success, according to Whitaker.