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(04/27/01 9:00am)
Although the recent protest of Campus Copy Center was about the abuse of one of its patrons, the incident that occurred on April 3, 2001 stirred up many issues surrounding race relations on campus by drawing attention to and fostering discussion by students and administrators on these issues.
Groups all over campus voiced their opinions about what happened and demanded action from police and the University.
Some of the issues that arose from the conflict were abuse by the employees of Campus Copy Center, acts of passive aggression by Professor Erling Boe, the treatment of people of color by the police, the lack of comfort students of color experience on this campus and white privilege in general, just to name a few.
The incident led to an investigation by the police and to countless meetings around campus. Students met with each other, administrators and Campus Copy Center owners in order to find a way to resolve this conflict and make sure nothing like this happens again.
The protesting in front of Campus Copy has since ended and the police investigation has been closed, but the relevant issues raised are far from solved. The University is in the process of seeking ways to educate students about some of these issues.
But what is startling is that these issues are not new to Penn. The lack of comfort experienced by students of color and our relationship with faculty dates back more than 10 years.
In 1985, Legal Studies Professor Murray Dolfman referred to two African American students in his classroom as "ex-slaves" and asked them to recite the 13th and 14th amendments. The incident, which was alleged to have occurred more than once, caused much controversy on campus, and the Black Student League led numerous protests and rallies against the professor and the administration.
I use this example for two reasons. First, Penn's administration did not take any action for a month, until they finally suspended Professor Dolfman. If it had not been for the persistence of the students, the issue would have faded and possibly nothing would have been done.
Second, I use the example because the culmination of the demands of the students then is similar to the point of our demands today. Students then and now wanted a way to encourage dialogue, sensitivity and a more welcoming environment for students of color. The students of 1985 wanted a dismissal of Dolfman, racism awareness workshops, education and an increase in black faculty and staff.
Today, students want PACE workshops for graduate associates and residential advisors, training for the police, an increase in the number of people of color in faculty and staff positions and a committee to address age, gender and racial marginalization that permeated the Seaton incident, among many other things.
Each time something happens on this campus and students have let it be known that they want action to be taken, the University has done something to alleviate the problem. But there has never been a long-standing structure set up to prevent something like this from happening again.
This time, however, it is important that as students we demand a permanent and tangible structure that will deter, and, if need be, handle situations that may arise in the future. We must help the University create this structure.
So as you go on summer vacation and enjoy your break, remember that while the physical battle may be over, the war is not yet won. Sometimes it is hard for us, as students, to make the University administration realize that we are serious and committed to our cause. Our protest is often looked at as "just a phase."
With this in mind, the biggest challenge will be for all of us to make sure the issues that are raised today continue to be addressed for a long time to come -- even beyond our years at Penn.
(04/19/01 9:00am)
On April 7, 2001, 19-year-old Timothy Thomas was shot and killed by Cincinnati police officer Steve Roach. Thomas was the fifth African American to be killed by the Cincinnati Police Department in seven months.
The unarmed victim was wanted on 14 misdemeanor offenses -- three for driving with an expired license, four for seat belt violations, five for driving without a driver's license and two for obstruction of official business. After being recognized by the police, he was pursued into an alley where he was shot once in the chest.
Unfortunately, I was not surprised to hear about Thomas' death.
Over the years, I have seen race relations grow increasingly tense between police and the minority community. Some of us have felt the personal wounds of this tension right here on this campus, and Thomas' case is dear to our hearts. Almost every day that I step outside of my dorm, I can be assured of one thing: that someone will remind me that I am black -- no matter how educated, articulate and well-dressed I am, all I'll ever be to them is black.
That is why the people of Cincinnati have marched, rioted and demanded response from the government; because each and every day, they are reminded by direct discrimination or institutionalized racism that they are different. Thomas' unjustified death is a tangible reminder of unequal treatment of blacks in America. People are tired of being singled out because of the color of their skin.
I feel we are on the cusp of a great revelation for those in power -- black people (or any group of people for that matter) are not going to take this anymore. In past issues, such as Thomas', police and the government have been called to be held responsible, but many people didn't want to believe that in the 21st century, a man could be singled out and even killed because of his race. Government dragged its feet on these issues with the hope that they would soon be forgotten. So what makes today different from the past?
Strangely enough, the turning point for America may have came on the heels of the widely disputed presidential election. Half of America felt cheated by the system and some are still angered by our current government. It was blatantly obvious to Americans that the majority of our voices were not heard. At the highest levels of government, Americans saw injustice take place.
People now are determined to make sure their voices do not go ignored again. And this yearning to be heard, we can assume, lies in the hearts of roughly half of all Americans.
I'm not saying that every time a person speaks out about injustice in America, they are thinking about the presidential election. But I do think that seeing it happen on such a large scale made American injustice an indisputable fact for those who once doubted its existence.
Add to that realization a senseless killing of an unarmed youth, or any other act of injustice, and you have a recipe for revolt. People are fed up. They are tired of not having their voices heard and they are tired of being victims of the ignorance of other people.
This doesn't mean that black people are going to go out and avenge the death of every person who has been killed irrationally. Despite what some believe, blacks aren't prone to violence by nature and certainly don't want to inflict the pains of our past onto people today.
The community in Cincinnati has worked diligently to express their dissatisfaction with the actions of the police force and local government's response to incidents like this. They have shown Cincinnati that they are serious about change and they intend to see that it happens -- soon.
Their actions are a reflection of sentiments that line in the hearts of many American communities. The people in Cincinnati, and in America, are demanding justice once and for all.
They will give government and the police department time to make changes and hold accountable the responsible parties in Thomas' death. But in the words of National Association for the Advancement of Colored People President Kweisi Mfume, "We will wait... but we will only wait so long."
(04/13/01 9:00am)
Spring is here and everyone on campus is beginning to look forward to the non-stop weekend parties and the abundance of alcohol that the end of the semester dutifully brings each year.
Spring Fling is now only a week away and Penn Relays is just around the corner. And while you are preparing to attend these big events, there is one great event that you definitely should not miss -- Africa-Fest, an exciting celebration of African culture and heritage that has been organized by Penn African Student Association.
For any of you who got a taste of the various cultures that are present on Penn's campus this past Monday during Celebration of Cultures, you probably realize just how exciting it is to have-- and how much potential exists in having -- further exposure to African culture.
PASA has attempted to reflect the diversity of Africa in its programming for the event. The events try to capture aspects of African life in the 21st century by acknowledging its history and traditions while incorporating modern interpretations.
The celebration kicked off on Tuesday with an educational perspective of Africa. Kenyan Professor Ali Mazrui spoke about various influences on Africa -- indigenous, Islamic and Western. His discussion incorporated his views as a person of mixed heritage himself and his various perspectives because of his varied background.
In one situation, for example, his point of view may seem very American; while in another situation, he sees thing from an Islamic point of view. He is, in fact, Kenyan, but the points of view that his heritages have taught him made his own life his greatest teacher.
Tonight, PASA will present a glimpse at what Africa has to offer in the way of fashion and cultural expression. If you want to get a taste of African clothing, there will be a fashion show tonight at the Iron Gate Theater at 8 p.m. This show will feature Tanzanian designer Bishanga. The clothing is a mix of traditional African dress with modern designs. Part of cultural expression of Africa is achieved through dance. The show will include Tyehimba African Dance Ensemble, a West African dance troupe, performing traditional dances from Senegal, Gambia and Guinea. A second dance group from Central Africa, Uteko Bonyama, will also be performing.
Tomorrow, PASA will promote one of Africa's major sports by holding a soccer tournament in Superblock. Soccer is also a fairly well-known sport among most Americans and is a visible thread of culture that is shared in both regions.
Oftentimes, when we think of Africa, we think of people who are starving to death in poverty-stricken places. Unfortunately, this is a very real aspect for some people in some parts of Africa. Recognizing the less fortunate side of Africa, PASA has teamed up with Penn for UNICEF to co-sponsor Hungry Heart Banquet 2001. The event will feature African food as well as other types of cuisine. And the proceeds from the event will be split between groups supporting Afghanistan and Burundi, a small African country.
As we have all been told, college is a micro society filled with opportunities to learn and expand our comfort zone of knowledge. Africa-Fest is a prime opportunity for some of us to learn something new, and for others among us to refresh our memories about and insights into Africa. Not only does an event like this offer the opportunity to learn about one of the world's lesser-known continents, but it can also help us see how parts of African heritage have been incorporated in to our everyday Western society.
I am sure that this weekend there will be a party to go to -- where you will do the same thing you did last week. Or better yet, you'll sit in someone's room and play video games or watch television the way you always do.
Instead of the usual, I encourage you to involve yourself in an event filled with knowledge, culture, insight and entertainment.
Whether Africa is your homeland -- or you don't know even the slightest thing about it -- there is something fun to learn and do during Africa-Fest. All of the events promote and support African life and show the manifestation of the combination of traditional Africa with modern society in clothing, dance and education.
It may not be the keg party that you were expecting, but it certainly is not bottom-of-the-barrel entertainment.
(04/06/01 9:00am)
The land of opportunity. That's what most people think when America comes to mind.
After talking with one of my international friends, I learned that it's not just Americans who think that way. She felt the same way about our nation when she lived in her native Germany. That is, until she arrived here.
To her, America seems full of opportunities -- but for only a select group of Americans.
My friend -- I'll call her Jessica -- can not understand how people ever tolerated discrimination in America.
Her first question to me was, "How can it be that this is America and there is such blatant discrimination based on race? And how, if this is America, can people stand by and not stop it?"
Yes -- I was speechless.
She made a great point. This is America and there is discrimination. And if you really think about it, it doesn't seem like anything is being done about it.
There are many reasons why discrimination continues in America. I am sure nobody will ever agree on every point, but we did come to one conclusion: People are increasingly concerned with the American dream ---making money, buying a house in the suburbs, having an SUV and raising a family.
Because of this, Americans have missed the boat on relating to each other. No one ever takes time to stop working on their dream to get to know anyone else. People perpetuate the box of knowledge in which they have grown up and have no desire to understand others.
"The people who have been taught prejudice toward other people continue to do it and the people being discriminated against keep taking it," Jessica commented.
We also agreed that the inner city is the hardest hit by the injustice of America, and yet they are the least heard. She could not understand why people in inner city communities just did not stop one day and say, "We are not going to take this anymore," and do something about it.
Once again, she was right. The inner city is one of the most unfortunate sides of America. I do agree with her, that if everyone who was being discriminated against in America stopped and said "We are going to do something about this," people would have to listen.
However, there is one harsh reality of inner city communities that makes this difficult. Most people in the inner city are living paycheck to paycheck, working one or more jobs trying to make ends meet. And if they have children, they are trying to raise their children so they can have more opportunities than their parents.
It is difficult to stop life to fight a battle with America. It is a cycle -- the poor become poorer if they stop to say they don't want to be poor any more.
I then went on to tell her that this is not a new idea, and that there are people every day who work adamantly to try to level the playing field for all Americans. We just don't hear about them because of the lack of attention they get in the media.
This last statement led us into another discussion about the media's manipulative power on America's perception. The media definitely has an impact on what we think and how we think about it, and historically, it hasn't done a good job of portraying people of color in a positive light.
Jessica and I ended our conversation by discussing her disappointment about this aspect of American life. She did not expect America to be this way.
"In my country, the color of peoples' skin does not matter. We look at people for who they are. If you are an American, you are cool. Our country is so flooded with American culture and lifestyle that we have a certain idea of what America should be. This wasn't my idea."
Needless to say, every country is different and every student -- from every nation -- has a different point of view on this issue. This was just one conversation with one person.
I enjoyed talking to Jessica because she came up with a simple solution for what she saw to be a simple problem:
Discrimination is wrong, people should make it stop.
I don't know if we will ever take her advice, but it certainly wouldn't hurt to try.
(03/30/01 10:00am)
Wednesday morning. 6 a.m. They're up and out of bed. They grab a quick breakfast and head off to class.
Who am I talking about? The members of the Army, Navy and Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps.
The men and women who are training to defend America's liberties -- and who are learning such skills right here at Penn -- are awake and ready to get to work.
Most ROTC and NROTC students take an average of six classes every semester. Some at Penn are double majors, and at the same time are working to fulfill their military requirements. Their military coursework includes eight academic courses -- all required in addition to Penn requirements -- and drill class two times a week every semester.
But despite the hard work they put into their studies every day, some of these students feel their program is not always viewed in a favorable light on campus -- and they're not happy with that.
Many of Penn's ROTC students feel shunned by the faculty and administration on campus. The NROTC building -- the Hollenback Center -- sits on the outskirts of campus, near the Schyulkill Expressway. The Army ROTC branch at Penn was folded several years ago, and students now have to walk to Drexel University. And Air Force students have it even worse; they have to take the train to St. Joseph's University.
NROTC classes are held at 7:30 a.m., so as not to conflict with the rest of Penn's curriculum. In the College of Arts and Sciences, after all, students do not get credit for their military academic course work.
This was not always the case. In 1969, during the Vietnam war era, the College stopped giving credit for ROTC classes. Some believe this was Penn's way of responding to anti-military sentiment that the country -- and the University -- were facing at the time.
Shortly thereafter, the ROTC programs were moved to Hollenback, far from the rest of campus. Today, NROTC shares the space with a number of athletic practice facilities. This is not a slight to the athletic department at Penn, but by no standard can the ROTC programs be adequately compared with other extra-curricular activities.
Some students feel that the isolation is Penn's way of hiding its association with the military. The military is a predominately conservative organization, and Penn tends to lean left in its affiliations. Naturally, some military and University policies just don't coincide.
For example, the military's "don't ask, don't tell" policy regarding gay and lesbian lifestyles once caused a firestorm of protest against military outposts on campus. On the whole, Penn's community is much more open to such lifestyles, and embraces them, in part, through the LGBT center.
The armed forces, on the other hand, would never dedicate a living space or a meeting place to the same group. To some, this type of conflict seems to be at the root of such disparate treatment.
Most ROTC students recognize that the decisions affecting their perception on campus were made a long time ago. But they still contend that Penn's administration just doesn't know how unfairly some of them feel they have been treated.
Just a few years ago, a stroll down Locust Walk would prompt the throwing of eggs at them. Today, the disdain for the military is wrapped in well-articulated meetings or silent, cold looks. And some ROTC students have even been told by some Penn faculty members that they're wasting their time -- that they should concentrate on more mainstream pursuits like engineering or nursing.
"It's as if [the administration and faculty] are saying this is not an honorable pursuit," remarked one NROTC member.
Another student feels that people at Penn do not care. "The military is something to be proud of, but when I am here, it certainly is not the first thing I mention in a conversation. No one cares or they look at me like I am crazy."
As they make that long walk each day to the Hollenback Center -- or walk to Drexel or take the train to St. Joe's -- these students cannot help but feel like the unwanted stepchildren of Penn. Sadly, the men and women who are trained to defend our country feel like academic outcasts right here on our campus.
It's high time that these students are recognized for their hard work and dedication to our country. I hope Penn's administration will realize the diamonds in the rough that are being stifled just because they're image has been hurt by years of opposition. Ladies and gentlemen, if no one else tells you... this is an honorable pursuit.
(03/23/01 10:00am)
Are you beautiful?
Whether you deny it or not, that is a question many of us ask ourselves all the time. But in answering that question, it is key to determine what your standard of beauty is.
Is it a honey-colored tan, blue eyes and long blond hair? Is it a chalk white complexion, long dark hair and a slim frame? Is it a muscular physique with dark hair, dark eyes and a deep voice? Or is it the person you see in the mirror looking back at you every morning?
Whatever your current concept of beauty, your environment, media and family have certainly influenced it.
Every community faces a different stereotype of what beauty looks like. In the African-American community, women are pressured to be thin, have long hair and big breasts. Music videos are full of half-naked women who fit this description. And successful African-American women in the media typically fit this description -- if they don't, they are quickly encouraged to fall in line.
Take Oprah Winfrey, for example. She has publicly battled with her body for years. I would speculate that part of her battle stemmed from confusion as to what her idea of beauty is, and what the media demand of her that beauty should be.
Janet Jackson is another successful woman who has battled with her weight. Jackson typically will not release a record or even appear in public until she can proudly sport a six-pack.
For some African-American women, the pressure is to be fair-skinned and big breasted, with long blond hair and blue, gray or green eyes. Black and white women, alike, perpetuate this image in the media.
Many black women have gone to great lengths to conform their body to this image because, for a long time, the only really successful people in Hollywood or the media were white women who fit this description. It seemed the only way to be successful was to be white, or as close to white as possible.
This idea, unfortunately, has its roots in slavery, where extremely fair-skinned African Americans -- who could pass for well-tanned white people -- found it easier to move to the North, where they could be free.
White women are affected by a similar image. There are many young women, even on this campus, who strive to be the next Pamela Anderson or Calista Flockhart. These desires to be like the people we see in the media can cause eating disorders, mental instability and overall poor health.
Other communities breed stereotypes as well. A Indian friend of mine explained to me the emphasis that is placed on Indian women to be of light skin tone. Their parents encourage them to stay out of the sun so as to be desirable to men. Men, on the other hand, are not under the same pressure to be fair-skinned. This creates a double standard between sexes (which is not an uncommon notion in this country, either).
The way we view ourselves is not only tainted by the media. The men or women in our lives play a significant role in determining how beautiful we think we are. Outside people impose upon us what they find to be attractive, whether physically or personally, in hopes of encouraging change.
Even our geographic region plays a role in our perceptions. On the West Coast, women are encouraged to be very slim. Almost every restaurant has a low fat section on its menu. In the South, however, a full-figured woman is much more welcomed by men than an extremely skinny one.
Our own families, as my friend has experienced, can play a huge role in determining how we look at ourselves. Since they are the people who shape this concept from a young age, they typically have the greatest influence.
A group of students on Penn's campus are working to educate people on issues like this. Guidance for Understanding Image, Dieting and Eating is a student- run education group. They are holding a conference today and tomorrow, entitled "Body Culture on Campus," as a means of educating students of many misconceptions of body image in our community.
When I look in the mirror in the morning, I see a few things that could use improvement. But overall I am happy with the person I see looking back at me each day. I can only wish that one day people will no longer depend on outside influences to tell them what they should look like, but that each person will look in a mirror and see that beauty has been staring them in the face all their life.
(03/09/01 10:00am)
Spring break -- what can I say?
Soon, the sun will be a permanent fixture in the sky, the flowers will be blossoming and the squirrels will be taking over campus once again.
I am looking forward to Spring Break as a time for rest, relaxation and spiritual rejuvenation. After the stress of a few midterms and papers, I say it is time for a well-deserved break.
Many people have different ways of accomplishing those goals but no matter what you do to prepare for the second half of the semester, definitely do something you enjoy.
This year, I'll be spending my moments of rejuvenation in sunny Florida. While I'm on the beach taking in the rays, some students will be enjoying their break a little differently. They will be doing some extensive traveling to see family and friends.
This is always a nice way to unwind from a busy exam schedule and catch up on what the rest of the world has been doing while you had your nose in a book. Many people will be shopping and catching up on all the gossip of their hometown. Others will be spending quality time with little brothers and sisters, disposing of invaluable college and life experience.
Still, some will probably take mini-vacations with their families to make new memories.
Other people will be staying in and around Philadelphia this Spring Break. Many of our dedicated athletes will be practicing for big games and tournaments that will be coming up once we return.
(A special kudos to our women's basketball team who will not only be practicing their game, but also their victory smiles as they embark on sweeping the NCAA the way they did the Ivy League championship. Great job, ladies.)
Other students will be here on campus because they live a great distance from home. To those students, I say, don't be grim at all. I guarantee you, some of those people who are going to see there families would much rather prefer to be here with you.
Take this time to learn something new about Philadelphia or surrounding cities. Do some homework and meet some people that you never would have met if you had not been here over break together.
And for those of us who haven't started this the semester with the academic bang that we anticipated, this is the time to regroup, study and come back ready to ace your finals. Everyone has had one of those semesters where everything is happening all at once and you can't seem to stop your head from spinning long enough to take a look at a book. Take this time to rest from the hectic schedule and reorganize your academic life. Believe it or not, finals are just around the corner when we get back.
Some of my friends are embarking on a very noteworthy project this spring break. They are working for Habitat for Humanity. Like many others who are interested in community service, they thought this would be a great way to make use of their time. They enjoy the beach as much as the next person, but they figured they could pass on driving a four-by-four for a week and pick up a two-by-four to help build a house.
I think this is an admirable way to re-evaluate one's perspective of life. Often times, we get caught up in the hustle and bustle of school and work that we don't stop and think about how we fit into the big picture of life. My friends have decided that this spring break they won't just be a part of the big picture, but that they will help to paint it.
As for me, I will be hanging out in the sun, mostly likely on the beach, with close friends and family. Hopefully, I'll do a little traveling throughout the state and catch some of my friends in Daytona and Orlando.
Whatever you do over break doesn't matter. So long as you have enjoyed yourself, had a little rest, and come back ready to conquer Penn's rigorous academics.
Well, I'm off to Florida. As a part of the start of your official holiday, I bid you all a restful and exciting spring break.
(03/02/01 10:00am)
Do you fit in?
This past Wednesday, the United Minorities Council, the University Assembly, VPUL and the Greenfield Intercultural Center sponsored the first Town Hall Meeting on Underrepresented Issues on Penn's Campus.
The meeting was extraordinarily insightful, but a few people may have missed the bottom line that the meeting was intended to highlight.
For those of you who may have missed the point -- or missed the entire meeting, for that matter -- I'll try to reiterate the main themes without too much painstaking detail.
The first question: Do you fit into Penn's status quo?
And the second question: How can you participate in improving matters on Penn's campus?
Needless to say, not many people feel they fit into Penn's status quo, nor were many satisfied with said "status quo."
To be frank, I don't know if we can really pin down what Penn's status quo is -- the term is completely relative to the observer. But where there is reasonable dissatisfaction around the table with that status quo, there is room for change.
At the meeting, Wharton junior Brian Kelly got straight to the point as to how to promote change on campus. He said students do not operate solely as individuals but as a community, and we need to work together to eliminate and prevent injustice. He feels students should not be apathetic, but active, in order to effectively stimulate change.
Another conversation that emerged in the meeting concerned minority recruitment and retention at the University. Many students have left Penn for various reasons. For some, reasons for leaving include lack of interest on behalf of the faculty, student alienation or financial difficulties.
Many students felt that Penn doesn't make a just effort to recruit minority students and ensure that those students finish school here. Although this statement may hold some truth, there are things that we, as students, can do while we are demanding more of Penn's faculty and administration.
One young lady remarked that she was the first student from her high school to attend an Ivy League school in 10 years. And now that she's here, she reaches back to her high school and recruits students herself -- she doesn't wait on Penn's administration to do it.
This year, her school had eight applicants to Penn. Hopefully, all of those students will make it here. But once they are here, they will face an
(02/16/01 10:00am)
I was walking downtown with some friends recently when we passed a homeless man who asked for some food. We had almost passed the man when one of my friends asked him what he would like to eat, and bought him dinner.
How many times have you walked past people on the street who were asking for money or food? Did you ever stop to give what you had or did you just keep walking?
I am sure that a number of people, including myself, have walked past someone and said, "Sorry, I can't help you," when we knew we could have given them something.
Every time I do this, I walk away with a sick feeling in my stomach, thinking of how I would feel if I were in their shoes and was dismissed. So I began to wonder why we ignore people who are in a less fortunate position than ourselves.
A reason that some people propose for not giving money or food to the homeless is that we have become desensitized to others' misfortune since we see it so often -- we can walk past the homeless on the street as if they are just a part of the landscape.
What would we do if we were in their situation? Most people might say that they would go to a homeless shelter to get help. So to those people, I ask, "Do you then give money to homeless shelters, since you would be a patron of their services if you were ever in that situation?"
Remarkably most people still say, "No." They say their money is tight enough and they just can't afford it. People aren't really desensitized but choose not to see or consider the plights of others because we don't want to give away any of our money.
The argument of desensitization is a convenient cop out that people have come up with in order to justify their personal shortcoming -- greed.
I think I have found the real reason behind our "desensitization." As humans, we search for ways to maintain power. And as long as we have someone who is worse off than we are, we feel better about ourselves. We can always say, "Look at that poor soul."
The fact that we partially hold other peoples' fates in our hands, in some sadistic way, gives us peace of mind that our lives will not be disturbed. We view this as a form of power and no one ever really wants to give up power -- no matter how much we say, we want to empower people to help themselves. That is why many people don't give to the homeless or to homeless shelters.
Everyone realizes homeless shelters are barely able to afford the people who live there now. When we don't give to money or help to these shelters we are ensuring that there is always a lower class of people other than ourselves. If we gave them support, we would be giving them the needed resources to empower the people at shelters with the possibility of their rising to our level.
In theory, if all homeless people were not homeless anymore -- but rose from homelessness to poverty -- that would put everyone else in society one step closer to being the lowest class of society.
Americans in general have lost sight of the value in our fellow man who has fallen on hard times.
And to be quite frank, we should be ashamed of ourselves.
When we do make an effort, we often do it just to say that we did something good for someone else and we want to hear our friends tell us what a wonderful person we are.
More and more, people are striving for power by hoarding money and property and we forget about all the people we have allowed to be disregarded on our way to the top. I am not saying that all people are greedy and self-righteous. Nor do I think that we sit and contemplate ways by which we will maintain power on daily basis. I think the ability to maintain power is something that is bred into our idea of success.
We need to re-evaluate the reasons for which we give, or do not give, to help each other. Don't pretend to be desensitized anymore. We all have our shortcomings -- the beggar has no job, the homeless have no home, and we have no generosity.
(02/09/01 10:00am)
Yesterday, at 5:01 p.m., I hopped onto the On Campus Recruiting website, along with many other Penn students, checking interview invitations for my summer internship companies.
Whether I got an interview or not, I won't say.
But from what I have heard, many students were a little disappointed to be welcomed by a blank page.
The desire to secure a job is not just limited to students here at Penn. Students nationwide are becoming increasingly concerned with job security. And although these concerns may be warranted, they need not consume the minds of future graduates.
Both DaimlerChrysler and Worldcom laid off 26,000 and 11,000 workers, respectively, in January -- and they aren't the only companies downsizing.
JCPenny and AOL Time Warner have recently decreased their staff too. These are signs of a slowing economy.
It is hard for graduates to prepare to leave the security of college life and enter the working world when there seems to be less and less work to be done out there. There are a number of issues that are especially concerning to the recent graduate.
First, when companies lay off workers, the process is usually based on seniority, meaning the last people hired are usually the first people fired. This includes recent hires as well.
Some college seniors are worried that the offer letters they recently received from companies will be rescinded before they even start their first day on the job.
Another worry for recent graduates is the domino effect of failing dot-com companies. Just a few years ago, many people left the comfort of their cubicles to branch out on their own in the dot-com world.
Now, with so many of those companies going bankrupt, many former employees are seeking their nine-to-five jobs once again.
This creates more competition for the few jobs that are left after downsizing because college graduates are competing with people who have college degrees and experience.
This re-entry into corporate America by so many dot-commers is affecting internships at some companies as well.
A few companies, who were originally signed up for the OCRS summer internship resume drop, have since sent letters to all interested students, letting them know that they will not be offering a summer internship program because of the re-entry of so many Internet workers.
Another aspect that is related to job security is the re-entry of welfare recipients into the workforce. Most former welfare recipients do not have Ivy League degrees and often work at a lower wage, but do much of the essential work of the company.
For example, when First Union National Bank began downsizing in 1999, they immediately got rid of some of the top managerial positions where the employees made over $50,000 a year and kept most of their lower-wage workers who made $25,000 a year or less.
Some of the higher positions were the first to go because they would get an immediate return of more money to the company and some of the managers' jobs could be consolidated or handed to an assistant with little or no pay increase.
When companies begin downsizing, they often start with their most expensive workers or departments and work their way down. This means the Ivy Leaguer may be the first to go.
But while the former welfare recipients may have a job, their job won't last much longer either. Companies that are in the midst of downsizing are not going to hire more workers -- at least not long term workers. This means that many people may be off welfare, but have nowhere to turn for a job.
However, there is still hope -- I promise. There are still plenty of jobs that require employees all the time.
For students who are interested in fields such as community service and health care, there will always be a place for you in the job market. For students who are committed to education or government, your future looks pretty secure as well.
The advantage that we have at Penn is that we have the opportunity to give ourselves such a diverse coursework background that we will be able to maneuver through a slipping job market with relative ease.
So if you logged on to the recruiting web page and you didn't see an invitation, don't fret. You probably won't be without a job for long.
(02/02/01 10:00am)
How's your walk?"
Often times, I find myself answering that question. But the first time someone asked, it threw me off a little, until I realized the person was asking me about my spiritual walk with Christ.
It was the most considerate and sincere question that has been posed to me since I arrived at Penn.
"How's your walk?"
They wanted to make sure that I was OK. They wanted to know if I needed anything spiritually or emotionally and if they could help me.
We talked about my walk and we talked about theirs. The conversation was not about who had the better walk -- it was about whether or not we were still, indeed, walking with Christ.
The Christian community is growing at Penn. On the heels of Total Praise Cafe, an event sponsored by a few exceptional young women on campus, I realized just how strong an impact God has made on this campus in just the past few years.
The Cafe was a fellowship and outreach ministry for both Christians and non-Christians on campus who demonstrated their love for God through song, dance, stepping and more.
The students who started the Cafe saw a need for God in some of the hearts and minds of students on campus as they went through their daily routines. As a result, they organized the Cafe last year in the Multi-purpose Room of DuBois College House.
Since then, the number of people in attendance has grown so much, that the event had to be moved to the ARCH this year -- a testimony to the sincere origins from which the Cafe got its beginnings.
But that is not the only event making Christians stand up around campus. There are many organizations that minister to Christians and non-Christians alike -- Faith Fellowship, Emmanuel and Campus Crusade for Christ just to name a few -- whose numbers have increased and whose message has grown in complexity over the years they have been in existence.
There is also the New Spirit of Penn Gospel Choir and Full Measure, whose message of praise through song has made them two of the most highly sought after performance groups on campus.
Some of these groups also work with students from Drexel University to spread the message of God to other campuses. Often, speakers from Drexel visit Penn and vice versa to show support for Christian events on campus or to participate in each other's Bible studies.
A new initiative of the Christian community is campus-wide prayer, where members from many Christian organizations meet to pray with each other. They also work to maintain communication between the individual groups on campus since they realize that they all have the same goal and need to work together to accomplish it.
A member of Faith Fellowship expressed this beautifully when she said, "We see the need for diversity. It is important to have smaller groups, but we must realize that we are a part of a bigger community -- God's community -- and that our vision is the same."
As a Penn student, but more importantly, as a Christian, I have felt the impact of the presence of our thriving community on this campus. Many people have become more embracing and loving toward one another. And although Penn still has a silent air of academic competitiveness between students, that air does not exist among Penn's Christians.
Another Christian attributes the maturity and growth on campus, not to sheer numbers, but to increased interest and desire for God amongst our peers.
"People are more interested in ministry and serving God and building personal relationships with God," she said. "That is one reason all of the ministries are meeting the needs of so many students."
As this community continues to persevere, it is my prayer that even if you are not a Christian, you will be impacted by the love we share with all of those around us, and see the benefits of a more embracing and loving community. It is important to take the time to be compassionate.
As one of my professors pointed out to me, "Our purpose on Earth is to test our compassion towards each other."
So I pose to you, the reader, the same question that someone so thoughtfully asked me one day:
"How's your walk?"
(01/26/01 10:00am)
It is amazing how certain aspects of African-American history have been accepted by all of America, while other parts have been disregarded. Ken Burns, in collaboration with Wynton Marsalis, recently produced a 19-hour documentary on jazz music, entitled Jazz, and as Burns pointed out, "[jazz] is the only music America can take credit for."
Burns' film goes into extensive discourse about such African American greats as Count Bassie, Sarah Vaughn, Billie Holiday and many more.
However, while talking with a friend of mine recently, he expressed his lack of knowledge of African American history and his position why, even now that he is in college, he has not sought to learn more.
He said it was because, in grade school, he was not taught much about African Americans, other than some of their early history. All he knew, in fact, was that African Americans were once the economic backbone of America -- as slaves and cotton pickers.
Sadly, he went on to say, "Who would want to identify with a history where all the people did was to pick cotton?"
I was appalled, but I kept my cool during this conversation and gave him a quick lesson in African American history.
"Did you know," I began, "that Africans who were brought to America were some of the world's smartest people?" I'm sure you've heard of the movie Amistad -- it was based on a true story.
The movie is about Africans from different tribes, who spoke different languages and were captured as slaves. While chained together in the bottom of a ship, they learned how to communicate with each other and cause a revolt.
"That takes intelligence and bravery," I continued. "And what about the Underground Railroad? Blacks on plantations would make quilts and hang them on their clotheslines for runaway slaves making their way North. The quilt would point them in the direction of freedom.
"Not only was the runaway slave's life in danger, but if the 'master' had figured out the true purpose of the quilts, the person who made them would have been in trouble too."
By this point, the look in my friend's face was almost one of disbelief. I kept going.
"Let us not forget Medgar Evers, the first field secretary of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, who was gunned down in front of his home," I said. "All of these people died not knowing you, or me, but were willing to risk their lives for the fruits of equality and justice that you and I are beginning to enjoy."
"There are countless other African Americans -- nameless, faceless people of history who died by lynching, in marches and by guns -- all in the name of freedom and equality for all. But you choose to have selective knowledge because you don't want to hear about cotton?"
His response?
"I never really thought about it that way."
Some of the most beautiful products of the lives and deaths of blacks throughout history are jazz music, the poetry of the Harlem Renaissance and rap music.
African Americans created these venues as methods of expressing the hardships endured during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. And many of these hardships were during the Reconstruction era, when black slaves were trying to redefine themselves outside of slavery and faced opposition from white America. Others died to have the same opportunity before the Civil War.
All of the positive aspects that arose from that era came at the price of hundreds of lives. And you can't thank God for that gift without thanking Him for the men who laid down his life to give it to you.
America's education system has managed to minimize the face of black people, using people like Malcolm X and Martin Luther King Jr. as convenient examples of an entire race. By doing so, they obscure the rest of America's history -- the part that includes black people -- by relegating all other African Americans as nameless and faceless tools of economy.
Now that we are out of grade school, it is our responsibility -- white and blacks alike -- to educate ourselves about the people whose shoulders we stand on today.
Everything has a past, and this is a past that is relevant to all of society. In order to move in a positive direction through life, we must be aware of our history.
As they say, "If you don't know where you've been, you won't know where you are going."
Think about it and educate yourself.
