October 14, 1992 — LION'S EYE — Page 3 Got A Comment or Complaint? See Dr. T. in Room 111C By Carline Kalafut Penn Delco Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Edward Tomezsko has expressed a need for more academic input from students. As paying customers, they have the right to complain about programs, classes, faculty, rules, and regulations. (The staff administration would, of course, also welcome any praise.) The administration is sometimes perceived as remote from the concerns of the students. "Nothing could be further from the truth,” said Dr. Tomezsko. "We care about our students.” Part of the problem may be inacessibility. With the objective of opening a dialogue, Dr. Tomezsko shared lunch with nine students of Wednesday, September 30, in the Commons small lounge. The students were selected with the help of Student Government Association President Tracy McLoughlin. The lunches will continue on a bi-weekly sechedule, if possible. In line with his objective "to keep in close touch,” Dr. Tomezsko has been "hanging around" the Athletic Building, talking informally with students. He is very impressed by the friendliness and the outspoken attitude of these young people. He stated, "In enjoy the ineraction wth the students.” All these efforts are part of a continuing initiative to bring together the administration and the student body. "Please tell everyone, said Tomezsko, "my door is always open.” Saturday’s Child plays on campus to benefit hurricane victims. Photo by: HEATHER FARQUHAR Campus Speakers Stir Up Race Relations Issue Deleon Sees Racism From Both Sides Well-known Inquirer daily columnist Clark DeLeon spoke about “Racism” to the Executive Forum Wednesday, October 7. DeLeon first challenged the audience of about thirty with informal stories, comments, and insights on the subject and then led the group of students, as well as some faculty, staff, and administration, in doing the same. DeLeon, a self-described “frustrated child of the ‘60’s,” who looked up to Martin Luther King and President John Kennedy, wondered who the heroes were of people who grew up in the ‘80’s. “Political leaders today,” he said, “don’t talk much about the sensitive issues, like racism. But we as a country have to talk about gut issues, like race, and we have to face up to them.” Looking earnest and street-wise in his mustache, beard, and pony tail, DeLeon, a white male from southwest Philadelphia, claimed that “white people have no idea what it’s like to be black. . . and most don’t care about the black community. In reality,” he added, “ there's nothing the white community can do to save the black community (from drugs and violence). Maybe help with jobs, but self-reliance is the only way the black community can survive, and there’s less of that now in the black community than there was twenty years ago.” “Education,” DeLeon stressed, is the key to self-reliance. . . . Along with that, the white community has to guarantee justice for all, including economic justice, so solutions to problems don’t just create new kinds of racism.” One person from the audience, pointed out that “the serious problems with crack and cocaine which the black community faces were not created by ' African Americans, but were brought in from the outside. Many people think the drug problem may have been designed by the white community to destroy the black community.” Acknowledging the prevalence of that opinion, DeLeon added, “Black people have felt the pain, but have not learned the lesson of drugs.” Another member of the audience complained that African Americans “are always the ones on campus — or in society — who have to explain themselves and justify themselves to the larger community and have to forgive others for injustices done. Nobody understands”, she said, “and we're tired of trying to make them understand.” The Executive Forum will take place again in November for the second of four meetings on racism, the topic chosen by the Advisory Committee (Malcom Little, Young Oak Marasky, and Diana Miceri) because it it a national issue which is too often perceived as someone else’s problem. <—-rrCO>Xmn O—-HOmm MOCH>»Mm Dr. Elizabeth Buckmaster, Assistant Professor of English Photo by: DIANA MICERI Poole Points Out Campus Culture Wars By Cristine Phillips “Combating Prejudice on College Campuses” was the topic of a September 14 open discussion held in the main lounge, which drew about 45-50 students. Many attending just happened to be in the lounge when the discussion began at 12:30, but they stayed the entire hour and listened intently. Unfortunately, much of the campus seemed unaware that the event was taking place. The overall attitude students expressed about the meeting was that it targeted the wrong people. Most students agreed that those present were supporters of the cause; those not present were the ones needing to hear the message. Dr. Thomas Poole, from University Park, was the guest speaker at the meeting. He was introduced by Mr. Coleman, Director of Student Services. Dr. Poole has been a professor of both religious and black history studies. He addressed how “culture wars” are affecting college campuses. Dr. Poole identified “four hurdles” which are working against the progression of equality and racial harmony. The first hurdle discussed dealt with the failure by white people to identify themselves as a race. Rather, they use themselves as the measuring rod against which all other races are compared. Dr. Poole explained that this leaves only two racial categories: white and non- white. He feels neglect by white people to acknowledge their own “cultural heritage” creates a “superficial definition of the word ‘culture’.” Dr. Poole described that definition as “a mile wide and an inch deep.” Dr. Poole spoke of a second hurdle : America’s history of suppressing other races, genders and creeds. He quickly reviewed American history. from the mistreatment of the Native American Indians and the concept of “manifest destiny”, to the horrors of slavery and the modern day struggles set before women, homosexuals and others. This hostile behavior, he said, is habit and heredity for most Americans. In order to “celebrate diversity,” Dr. Poole noted that America must first learn to “change its historical patterns.” The third hurdle Dr. Poole presented involved the air of falsehood surrounding America’s label as a “melting pot” supporting “rugged individualism.” He said these are misconceptions because, although America welcomes people into the country, as a nation “we are not serious about a pluralistic community.” Using the strict codes of conformity in the business world as an example, Dr. Poole explained his belief that the American society is “somewhat schizophrenic.” All Americans are categorized, and compliance with most norms and values is insisted upon. Therefore, Dr. Poole believes America’s real underlying message is “conformity.” The fourth and final hurdle i presented dealt with racial unity in 3 correlation with the demographic distribution of the U.S. Dr. Poole explained that because of the North's stance of aversion during slavery, there is more racial tension in northern states today than in the south. Dr. Poole believes this is due to the isolationism and segregation that has taken place throughout history. Whites and blacks never lived together in the north during the days of slavery. As a result, in our modern time, northern whites have difficulty co-existing with African-American on college campuses and everywhere else. One question was asked at the « end of the session regarding the boycott of McDonald's at University Park. Dr. Poole stated that, to his knowledge, those involved in the original boycott have continued it. However, new African-American students at University Park this fall have not partaken in the “McDonald Black Out.”
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