S.E.E.D. to hold race forum

Jamie Paige
dm Staff writer

Students Envisioning Equality through Diversity (S.E.E.D.) will hold a student forum focusing on racial relations, specifically interracial dating, on Wednesday in the Student Union at 4 p.m.

Discussion could, however, extend to cover interracial friendships and adoptions, or any social issue in which race is a component.

The forum will consist of a panel of five to six Ole Miss studentss, including one S.E.E.D. member, J.P. Caldwell. The other participants were selected personally by S.E.E.D. members, and will represent various cultures, including international students. Consequently, each student on the panel will bring his or her own unique view to the discussion, adding new dimensions to the dialogue, according to S.E.E.D. member Melva James.

"We invited people that we knew would be interested in presenting different, distinct viewpoints," James said.

"I was kind of hesitant at first, because I knew about the anger people have regarding this subject," said panelist Cheryl Faubion, a junior exercise science major from Austin, Texas.

The forum will be somewhat informal. Audience participants will be allowed to interact openly with the panelists as the discussion progresses. This should facilitate an easier, freer exchange of ideas, according to James. Due to the accessibility of the selected topic, mostly anyone could participate and exchange thoughts -- a major S.E.E.D. objective.

"We wanted to introduce a topic that everyone could speak about," James said.

Through such open discussion, those who participate might be able to expand their views on the issue and better understand others.

"I hope people learn not to be prejudiced," Faubion said, "and to learn from discussing and getting their ideas out."

"I think people should come," said Tiffany Smith, a sophomore sociology major from Canton, Ohio and S.E.E.D. member. "We're trying to increase communication, and when you increase communication, people learn more."

S.E.E.D. plans to schedule a similar forum in the near future. This particular forum, however, will be more formal, and panelists will include Ole Miss professors, each of whom will represent a different field. The panelists in this forum will most likely attempt to answer the question "What is Race?" using information from their respective fields, according to James.