The editorial staff of The Panther, the student publication of Prairie View A&M University, was greatly intrigued by the article entitled "Jacob Lawrence: One of the World's Most Preeminent Artists" in the 1st Semester Issue 1998 of your fine magazine.

As a historically Black university, we are constantly trying to enlighten our students about African Americans who have reached success. Regretfully, art is an area often overlooked.

Tina M. Ellis
Copy Editor
The Panther
Prairie View A&M University
Prairie View, TX
 

I am director of Equal Opportunity at Wellesley College.  In that capacity, I work with our president and members of our college community to address issues of inclusivity and diversity on campus. These issues are of central importance to both the mission of our institution, and to me personally as a black woman in academia.  Wellesley is one of the most diverse colleges on the East Coast, with a non-white student population of over 40%. 

I am a long-time admirer of THE BLACK COLLEGIAN. Your magazine provides students all across the country with valuable and timely information.  However, I felt I needed to write to you after reading the article titled Covering Up Hate-Crimes on College Campuses: A National Tragedy {First Semester Super Issue, Oct.'98}.   Although I commend you for bringing to light an extremely important subject, I believe the article contains unintended and potentially damaging inaccuracies.

In the article the author mentioned that Wellesley College Professor Tony Martin opens and starts his car from 50 feet away to guard against an explosion from a bomb hidden in his car.... This sentence appears to suggest that a bomb was in his car, and this is inaccurate.  Professor Martin may have felt the need to take certain precautions because of the controversy generated on and off campus by the use of a particular text, but this is different from appearing to state that an explosive device was actually placed in his car.  In addition, the article does not mention that the administration supported his right to use the text although some individuals and groups criticized both that decision and the book.  The last is an important point because it illustrates a distinction between having a right to freedom of speech, and being greatly criticized for exercising that right. The first is guaranteed by law; there are no guarantees for the second.  Finally, the article uses the term hate crime without making clear the distinctions between what are offensive, racist acts and what are actual crimes which have racism as their motivating force.  Again, this is important because in our capacity as change agents we will need to distinguish between different kinds of conduct as we forge appropriate remedies to address them.  Whether it is a racist act/comment or a racially motivated hate crime, we will need to have the tools to fight against it.  How we fight, however, will be determined by the nature of the act.

Again, I applaud you for addressing this vital subject and thank you for giving me an opportunity to let you know of my concerns.
 

Very truly yours,

Linda M. Brothers  J.D.
Director of Equal Opportunity
Wellesley College
Wellesley, MA
 

My name is Mary Lynn Cossier. I am a junior at the University of Central Florida. Recently, I stopped into the Career Resource Center at school and picked up THE BLACK COLLEGIAN Magazine. I just wanted to let you know that as a young African-American female, I believe that this magazine is a valuable asset to young African-American scholars. You are proving to be a resource that I have never seen before, and am grateful to have found.

I am the State President for the Florida Chapter of Phi Beta Lambda, a national business organization. From what I was told, I am the first Black female State President in Florida Phi Beta Lambda history. I just wanted to express my gratitude for having such a valuable resource available to us students.

Sincerely,

Mary Lynn Cossier
1998-99 FL Phi Beta Lambda State President
University of Central Florida
Casselberry, FL