The Rice Thresher, Vol. 94, No. 23, Ed. 1 Friday, March 16, 2007 Page: 5 of 24
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THE RICE THRESHER NEWS FRIDAY, MARCH 16,2007
\
NPR Correspondent Juan Williams:
Americans still face racial divides
by Matthew McKee
THRKSHER EDITORIAL STAKK
This semester marks the 40th
anniversary of Rice's first black
graduate and commemorates the
tumultuous times of the monumen-
tal civil rights movement.
To address the progress of race
relations in America since that
era, the Black Graduate Student
Association invited senior cor-
respondent for National Public
Radio and Fox News Juan Wil-
liams to deliver a lecture on 'The
Changing Face of Race in America"
Tuesday night.
Speaking to a full room in the
Baker Institute Commons, Wil-
liams said America has made a lot
of progress improving the quality
of life for minorities, but a lot re-
mains undone.
Williams said the difficulties
facing minorities remain in part
because society does not talk
about race. He said that the major
reform discussions occurring in
today's society revolve around the
class divide.
"The race conversation is
anachronistic, so it's a huge chal-
lenge to engage that conversa-
tion," he said.
For the first section of his
lecture, Williams delivered signifi-
cant facts about the changing po-
litical, demographic and economic
landscapes in the U.S.
Citing rapid population growth,
increased longevity, large amounts
of immigration and the growing
number of races living in America,
Williams painted a picture of the
new context facing Americans. He
emphasized the nation's incredibly
diverse demographic makeup.
'The very word 'assimilation'
takes on a new meaning in this
context," Williams said. "We no
longer talk about the great Ameri-
can melting pot. Demographers
now talk about the great American
mosaic or the great American
salad bowl."
Further citing high divorce
rates, low graduation rates,
overbearing older generations
and high rates of births out
of wedlock among minorities,
Williams portrayed a bleak situ-
ation for minorities contrast-
ing with images of progress in
American society.
He talked about fictional pres-
ent-day encounter with Dr. Martin
Luther King, Jr., about these
issues to show the lack of con-
versation and how much America
has left to do before they realize
his dream.
Williams, through the fictional
Dr. King confrontation, lamented
the popular images sent to young
black men and women. Stereo-
types of the rich, womanizing rap-
per pervade popular music.
He also addressed "moments of
conscious," when Americans real-
ize the startling racial divide. Spe-
cifically citing the recent situation
resulting from Hurricane Katrina,
Williams applauded the efforts of
other cities who provided aid but
criticized the American public for
ignoring important issues.
"The idea of actually coming
to terms with the moment of con-
scious ... that just evaporated," he
said. "It's as if Americans enjoyed
far more taking shots from the left
and the right than actually doing
something about the poverty in
their midst."
He concluded the lecture by
issuing a call to action against
the prevalent cold shoulder when
discussing race.
'There are some who want you
to take the sleeping pill and make
you believe ... you can't make a
difference," Williams said. "You
gotta spit out those sleeping pills.
You gotta be the kind of people
who, because of the value of the
education you receive here, keep
your eyes on the prize."
The prize for Williams is
the opportunity for all minori-
ties to break into mainstream
American society.
Jones College senior Alicia
Burns-Wright said she enjoyed
Williams' presentation.
"I was expecting him to be a
little more controversial," Burns-
Wright said. "He did a good
job of not upsetting anyone in
the audience."
Burns-Wright said Williams
was a good speaker to bring
in because he is a national
figure at the forefront of an
important issue.
Williams is the author of the
book Eyes on the Prize: America's
Civil Rights Years, 1954-1965
and a recent piece published in
the Washington Post, "Banish the
Bling: A Culture of Failure Taints
Black America." His most popular
story on the NPR Web site is his
January story "Race, Still Our
Most Divisive Force" produced
for Morning Edition.
POLICE BLOTTER
The following items were reported to the Rice University Police
Department for the period Feb 27 - March 11.
Residential Colleges
Sid Richardson College March 6
Will Rice College March 11
Academic Buildings
Herzstein Hall
Herman Brown Hall
Herman Brown Hall
Parking Lots
West Lot
South Stadium Lot
Other Areas
2000 University Blvd.
Feb. 27
March 6
March 9
Theft.
Habitation burglarized.
Building burglarized.
Theft.
Theft.
Willy's Pub
Valhalla
College Way
Rice Boulevard
Feb. 28 Subject arrested for public
intoxication and remanded to
Harris County Jail.
March 10 Vehicle burglarized.
March 1 Subject arrested for driving while
intoxicated and remanded to
Harris County Jail.
March 2 Student referred to Student
Judicial Programs for minor in
possession and consumption.
March 2 Subject arrested for public
intoxication and remanded to
Harris County Jail.
March 3 Subject arrested for driving while
intoxicated and remanded to
Harris County Jail.
March 4 Subject arrested for driving
without a license and remanded
to Harris County Jail.
Customer Service Positions
MILLER *■ AQUATICS
Southwest Houston Office
Looking for Energetic, Outgoing individuals
Phone / 13.7/7,7946 Fan 713.777.0077
Email Custonier.Servtce#MiIlerAquatics.net
www.MillerAquatics.net
Leadership Opportunities with the Community Involvement Center
America Reads
Student Coordinator
Paid Position
Application Deadline:
Friday, March 23
Interviews:
April 2 - April 6
The America Reads Student Coordinator is responsible for the creation, implementation, and
maintenance of a federally-funded reading program in 2 community-based settings. The Student
Coordinator will direct the selection, training, placement, and evaluation of 40-60 tutors and multiple
tutoring sites under a budget of approximately $60,000. The position begins during the summer of
2007 (flexible start date) and continues through the 2007-2008 academic year. Ideally, the person
filling this position would be able to work for multiple academic years. An average of 8-10 hours per
week (flexible hours) is expected at a pay rate of $10.00/hour.
Urban Immersion
Program
Coordinators
Volunteer Positions
Application Deadline:
Monday, April 2
Interviews:
April 9 - April 13
Urban Immersion is an intensive service-oriented program designed to introduce incoming Rice
students (pre-freshmen) to the urban issues, social needs, and the cultural diversity of Houston.
This year's program will run for 5 days in mid- to late-July. Program Coordinators will work together
as a team to shape the focus of this year's program, plan service projects, organize meetings with
community leaders and social service agencies, and explore possibilities for entertainment and
dining. While the participants are in Houston, Program Coordinators will serve as city guides,
reflection facilitators, service site coordinators, and small group leaders. Being a Program
Coordinator requires a commitment of 2-3 hours per week in April, 4-5 hours per week in
May/June/July, and full time (including overnights) for the length of the program in July.
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Center for Civic
Engagement
at Rkc University
For more information on the positions or programs or to apply, please visit
htto: / 7www.rice.edu /service.
Interested individuals may also contact Christa Leimbach (713-348-6044 or
leimbach@rice.edu), Assistant Director of the Community Involvement Center
with any questions.
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Bursten, Julia. The Rice Thresher, Vol. 94, No. 23, Ed. 1 Friday, March 16, 2007, newspaper, March 16, 2007; Houston, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth442993/m1/5/: accessed July 18, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Rice University Woodson Research Center.