Hoping to learn more regarding diversity issues on campus, nearly 200 people gathered on Monday for the Campus Dialogue on Race held in NC State's Stewart Theatre.

After Provost Stuart Cooper opened the event by recognizing the special guests, he then turned the program over to Dr. Rupert Nacoste, Alumni Distinguished Undergraduate Professor of Psychology, who served as moderator for the discussion.

"Dialogue is a mechanism, a way to find out what is really going on," Nacoste said. "It is a way to get into the social fabric of our campus to see what is really going on, and that's the point of what we're going to do today."

A total of 21 people - faculty, staff and students representing a mix of white, black, Hispanic and Native Americans - made up the panel. The discussion focused on such topics of racial climate on campus, diversity education and personal experiences of discrimination. After nearly 45 minutes of discussion amongst the panelists, Nacoste opened the floor to audience questions and statements.

Monday's gathering - which was co-sponsored by the Provost's Office, Student Government and the Office for Diversity and African American Affairs - was the first of at least three Campus Dialogue events scheduled for the 2002-03 academic year. November's event will feature Dr. John Matlock, associate vice-provost and director of the Office of Academic Multicultural Initiatives at the University of Michigan, which recently faced a court challenge to its diversity program. A March event will feature Dr. Peggy McIntosh, associate director of the Wellesley College Center for Research on Women and author of "White Privilege: Unpacking the Invisible Knapsack."

Posted October 22, 2002

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