Greek COLORS promotes unity

Administrators, faculty and students focused on "cultural barriers in the classroom" during a panel discussion earlier this week, kicking off the ninth annual Campus Organized Lectures On Racial Sensitivity, or COLORS. Every spring, Alpha Phi Alpha and Sigma Chi fraternities and Kappa Alpha Theta sorority sponsor COLORS, a week-long series of events geared toward increasing racial understanding and acceptance. Vice Provost for University Life Valarie Swain-Cade McCoullum and Education Professor Howard Stevenson served as panelists and led the discussion, which was attended by approximately 20 students. "The University of Pennsylvania is a global environment richly diverse in religion and race; however, we must learn how to respect one another," McCoullum said to open the event, which took place in Vance Hall. Students continued the conversation, saying that although the University's student body is racially diverse, many come from homogenous backgrounds and therefore need to learn to understand each other's differences. "Penn has a problem of social integration," College senior Chris Greene, a Sigma Chi brother. "Too often students only know each other academically and don't take the time to learn about other aspects of an individual." Greene, who is serving as co-chairperson of the week's events, also spoke about the importance of COLORS. "We want to get other campus groups involved. It's not just a Greek thing," Greene said. "It is not the quantity of people who show up to our activities, but rather the quality of experience people get by discussing diversities within the Penn campus." Engineering junior Gordon Austin, an Alpha Phi Alpha brother, said COLORS attempts to "create a dialogue between what seems to be the dividing line between black and white." Students voiced concerns about how they can improve social integration in and out of the classroom. They suggested new initiatives such as requiring a cross-culturalism class, or having more small group discussions. Stevenson, who also teaches a course on African American psychology, supported their ideas. "Our curriculum doesn't require classes on diversity," Stevenson said. "You should be mad that it doesn't. "You need to receive an education on cultural differences; otherwise you won't be ready for the world," he added. Students also expressed a desire to make professors more aware of cultural diversity. "Professors need to let conflict go on to allow the students to push through it," Stevenson said. "In this way, students have a chance to clarify what they're meaning to say."