Annenberg Studio 1 was the setting Tuesday night as Temple University hosted their third Race In Race student forum event. Sponsored by the Academic Center in Research and Diversity, the Race In Race seminar aims to stimulate conversation among students in regards to race in politics, and occurs with each election year. The discussion panel was comprised of leaders from various student organizations around Temple’s campus and the event also welcomed Pennsylvania Senator Vincent J. Hughes.
Senator Hughes opened the meeting with a dialogue about race and what people who feel that they are being underrepresented can do to address their needs. When asked by moderator Karen Turner what these individuals can do to draw attention to their demands, Senator Hughes made a point by saying, “Make sure you’re registered to vote and make sure you don’t miss an election. Vote at all levels. If you want to make a real change, to make difference, then you have to be engaged.” Hughes went on to mention the significance of elections and public participation. “Why would wealthy people spend billions of dollars to determine who wins this election if it wasn’t an important investment?” he questioned. “We need to increase democracy, as opposed to decrease democracy.”
The students on the panel also provided insight into how they feel race and social uprisings have influenced this year’s election. Senior Economics major and Temple’s Political Science Society President Taylor Taliaferro spoke on how the public can implement change into politics. “I feel like organizing is your best bet,” she explained. “It’s very important that you organize and that you reach out to your state and local representatives because those are the two big voices that any average citizen can use and take all the way to the White House.” Rebecca Gonzalez, a member of the Model United Nations added her opinion as well. “We as a generation are more informed than people may believe we are, and that we do believe that we have what it takes to make actual change,” said the junior Political Science major.
The discussion also included elements of political issues and how both presidential candidates have addressed them. Aside from race, these topics included education, social movements, crime, and young voter demographic sentiments.
Catch the 2016 Race in Race symposium on TUTV, or attend the next installment on Thursday, October 13th in Paley Library. The event will be held from 2:30-4:00 pm and is open to all visitors.
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