Like "outsiders"--such as the Irish and the Jewish--have been incorporated into the Americans' notions of who are whites, some scholars and policy makers believe that Asian-Americans are following such a trajectory of inclusion under an expanded definition of "whiteness." The sociologist George Yancey, in "Who Is White? Latinos, Asians, and the…

Oregon State University, a land-grant institution with an enrollment of almost 20,000, has been shaken by controversies over both blackface and a noose in the past year. The incidents here, however, were not seen as clear-cut expressions of racial animus, for which specific people should be held accountable, so much as acts of ignorance and…

This article discusses a youth travel program to honor the civil-rights leaders. The trip was composed mostly of Vanderbilt University students, who organized the Freedom Rides. The planned weekend trip was designed to challenge, to inspire, and to encourage a new generation of students to work for social and political change. Furthermore, this…

The origins of African-American studies are shrouded in a hazy collective memory, and it is becoming increasingly clear that before the field can move into the future, it is necessary to clear up some continuing confusion about why and how it began. Clarifying its beginnings has significant implications for how people think about not just a…

Describes how a controversial newspaper ad opposing slavery reparations and the subsequent trashing of the student daily have set off a debate at Brown University about the competing values of sensitivity and free expression. (EV)

This article discusses a fight at Guilford College engaging athletes and students and the continued argument about what to call the incident. In their appeals for patience, officials have cited the college's Quaker traditions, including the "testimony of integrity," which is associated with honesty, fairness, and the search for truth. This…

The Center for the Study of Southern Culture of the University of Mississippi offers undergraduate and graduate programs in southern studies; builds teaching and research collections; sponsors research and publications; and produces films, television shows, art exhibitions, and conferences. (MLW)

While the number of overtly racist White students committing racist acts on campus may be small, the indifference of many other Whites is seen as creating an atmosphere in which racism is tolerated. Indifference also exacerbates the isolation felt by Blacks on predominantly White campuses. (MSE)

Institutions are adding "cultural-diversity workshops" to their orientation sessions in hopes of promoting greater harmony on their campuses. The orientation session at the University of Michigan is described in which a panel of four students talk about their experiences at the university and then students break into small groups for…

The South African government has effectively prohibited all meaningful activities by 17 anti-apartheid organizations, including the South African National Students Congress, the largest and most vocal Black-student organization. Student demonstrations against the ban are reported. (MLW)

Describes how death threats against black students at Penn State prompted an extended sit-in and a debate over whether the university was doing enough to protect black students and promote diversity. (EV)

Colleges should consider adopting specific policies for handling incidents of racial harassment. Campus policies for dealing with racial harassment "should be written, posted, and specific, and make a commitment that there will be no retaliation against a complainant." (MLW)

The high degree of ethnic diversity at the University of California at Berkeley where minority students, taken together, now form the majority, has been characterized by the tendency of students to segregate themselves into racial and ethnic enclaves. Such self-segregation is decried by some students and faculty and lauded by others. (DB)

At a commemorative ceremony, the 1970 shooting death of two individuals at Jackson State College (MS) was remembered by an alumnus who was present. The role of local police and National Guardsmen in the occurrence has never been resolved, and some feel it has been ignored because of racial bias. (MSE)

Colleges' student newspapers are criticized for poor coverage of minority groups. Survey reveals that few student editors are minority group members. Table detailing the survey results shows college newspaper editors by race for 111 colleges. Although diversity is cited as a goal, it is not easy to accomplish. Separate sections and minority-group…