MLK DAY 1997- CNN analyst talks about racial equality The Michigan Daily - Tuesday, January 21, 1997 -5A By Jeffrey Kosseff Daly Staff Reporter Urging a diverse audience of more than 300 not to be "bystanders" in the struggle for racial equality, CNN political analyst Farai Chideya out- lined inequalities in media coverage, Vnomics and the criminal system. a speech yesterday sponsored by the Information Technology Division, the School of Information and the University Library system, Chideya acknowledged that although the United States has taken steps toward equality, many more steps need to be taken. '1Equality is a process," Chideya said. "Equality is not a one-step solution." Chideya said the United States must learn to function as a diverse country, not as an assortment of divided groups, because in the future all groups will be minorities. "This is a country which is increas- ingly multiethnic and is not dealing with multiethnicity," Chideya said. "Over the next 50 years, we will reach a point where there is no racial majority." Although blacks are becoming more accepted in the corporate world, Chideya said the country must become more integrated as jobs move away from the manufacturing sector and toward an information-technolo- gy and service-dominated economy. "Ninety-five percent of U.S. CEOs are white males," Chideya said. "There are deep problems in the fun- damental issue of how race plays into the economic issue of the country." Chideya said one major step toward equality would be equal education. "We have not created equal educa- tion opportunities for people early on in school," Chideya said. "It will take money and it will take effort." Another racial issue that has received media attention - affirma- tive action - is one that Chideya said has been distorted. "When you start to consider the facts instead of the rhetoric, you get a different view," Chideya said. Chideya encouraged people of all races to take an active interest in the future of the country by promoting equality. "All of us cannot afford to be bystanders," Chideya said. Her message was well-received by many audience members. "She was a very good speaker" said Kinesiology sophomore Tumeka Harris. "She targeted a lot of diverse areas." Before joining CNN, Chideya was a staff writer for MTV News and Newsweek. In 1995, she wrote "Don't Believe the Hype: Fighting Cultural Misinformation About African- Americans," a book that used govern- ment statistics to respond to negative media portrayals of blacks. Students march in memory of King WARREN ZINN/Daily CNN Political Analyst Faral Chldeya speaks to a crowd of 300 in the Michigan Union Ball Room yesterday. Chideya called equality an ongoing "process." Professor says 'U' can't produce another King Bf Jonni Yachnin Daily Staff Reporter E4archers carried signs for their organi- zations, flags from their countries and chanted together in memory of Martin Luther King Jr. at yesterday's Unity March. "When students come out to march ... they can see other people with the same positions," said Black Student Union speaker Jeanne Harris, an LSA senior. "I think it will go well. Since it warmed up, people are going to feel the need to mobi- lize." lose to 200 students attended the arch, and Harris said not all of the marchers were associated with BSU, which sponsored the event. Marchers met on the corner of South University and South Forest avenues. Police blocked' off the streets for the march, which traveled up South University Avenue to State Street and then to the Diag. Marchers chanted, "No justice, no peace" "The people united will never be defeated." "People don't have an excuse not to come oqt," said LSA sophomore Rhapsody Griffin, a member of Students in Stockwell Transmitting Ethnic Relations. "(When) we don't have classes you should come out and march." ,Griffin said she came to the march to "carry (the spirit of) MLK and the things that he embodied and embraced." everal other student organizations 1nded the march. "I am a Latina student and it's about time I marched," said LSA senior Maria Alejandra Perez. "I've always gone to keynote speakers and this is my first march." An extensive e-mail was sent to motivate Latino/a students to come and carry their native flags, Perez said. "MLK Day is an important day. In the past, Hispanics haven't had a big show- ing - it's important to us, too," said Oreste Prada, president of the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers and Scientists. Prada, an Engineering senior, said the flags signify that Latino/a students come from different places. "It's a big day for our community and for everyone" he said. Members of the United Asian American Organization also attended the march. "I'm here to help represent the Asian Pacific American community. I think all aspects of community should be represent- ed," said UAAO Advocacy Chair Ponni Perumalswami, an LSA junior. "Change does need to be made." Although the march was a first for many students, seasoned marchers also attended. "(I'm here) because I always go on marches on MLK Day. I've been to a lot and if I'm in town I go (to a march)," said Kate Zirbel, a graduate student. "You have to do this - there's so many students here. You think more people would be doing it." Both students and alums spoke to the ralliers at the Diag, where they congregat- ed after the march. "Dr. Martin Luther King ... had an honorable dream' said Richard Clay, who graduated in 1995. By Carrie Luria For the Daily Thirty years after the civil rights movement, black students and facul- ty still face struggles in the universi- ty setting, according to a sociology lecturer. Prof. Aldon Morris, chair of the department of sociology at Northwestern University, opened his speech yesterday with the question, "Could the University of Michigan, or another predominantly white university, produce a Martin Luther King?" Morris, who is a former University sociology professor, said the answer is no. He argued that many "Kings" never make it to universities because standardized test scores stand in their way. "I contend that there is still a deep-seeded belief of black inferior- ity even though survey question- naires reflect a belief in racial equal- ity," Morris said. LSA first-year student Kyra Williams said test scores may not be the best reflection of a student's ability to succeed in college. "I agree that standardized test scores are not a good way to measure intellec- tual ability," Williams said. "However, I think that academic standards for col- lege admissions should be the same for all students except when the education- al opportunities are unequal." Morris said university officials are in ,the dangerous business ofjudging intel- ligence, but that they lack the knowl- edge of the African American experi- ence. "Most institutions have had only about 30 years dealing with black stu- dents and less time dealing with black faculty and professors," Morris said. "This contributes to the loss of the black experience at universities." Morris said the belief in black inferi- ority has led people to under-estimate black students' abilities, which then affects their aspirations in life. "The belief in black inferiority has translated into money, power and lead- ership for whites," Morris said. Morris discussed the methods cur- rently being utilized to bring more black students into universities. "When have you heard the argument that we need more blacks in universities because they are every bit as smart as other students?" he asked. Sociology Prof. Jim House said he, thought the speech was constructive. "I think it is important to speak about the conflicts that are a part of our soci- etal institution," said House, director of the Survey Research Center. JOE WESTRATE/Oaily Students met on the Diag yesterday after they marched from the corner of South University and Forest avenues to the Graduate library. B i T I rix, make erence! *: CITRIX Windows Without Walls www.citrix.com 4 p. I I I i Citrix (NASDAQ: CTXS) is the leader in multi-user Windows NT-based application server and Internet software. We're looking for System Software Engineers who want to develop or test leading edge technology including: C/C++ Windows 95 Win d nws NT internals Java ActiveX Networks s