2008 Woodie Awards
Presentation promotes awareness of racial inequality
By: Brandon Thomas
Issue date: 12/4/06 Section: News
- Page 1 of 1
More than 50 percent of African-American students do not return after their first year of college at PUC.
Last Tuesday Black Student Union President Miranda Mathena, a senior majoring in political science, gave a presentation based on her research paper entitled, "Afro-Americans and the American Dream, The Role of Education."
The presentation focused on the disparities of ethnicity in education and the workforce and how this ties into the ideology of the "American dream."
"The 'American dream' is not promoting social change, it is upholding the status quo," said Mathena.
One reason for the disparity, which became a consensus among Mathena and the active audience, was the lack of a support system at PUC and the effects it has on a student's self confidence when faced with the challenging environment of college.
"Many people have the goal of getting into college," said tutoring and recruiting coordinator Raymond Davis. "Some get in and realized they are not prepared…The ones that have a support system stay around."
The next obstacle for students of all races is standardized tests, which has become an integral part of education and the evaluation of students.
"This obsession with number-based qualifications is like taking a snapshot of a person," said Alan Spector, professor of sociology. "You can't judge how well a car works from a snapshot and you can't tell what a person's academic potential is by a snapshot of some numbers."
Mathena originally attempted writing her research paper without the component of race. After doing the bulk of her research, she said she discovered it came up anyway.
"Many Afro-Americans are told they do not have the skills [necessary for college] and are being blamed for not having those skills," said Mathena.
Last Tuesday Black Student Union President Miranda Mathena, a senior majoring in political science, gave a presentation based on her research paper entitled, "Afro-Americans and the American Dream, The Role of Education."
The presentation focused on the disparities of ethnicity in education and the workforce and how this ties into the ideology of the "American dream."
"The 'American dream' is not promoting social change, it is upholding the status quo," said Mathena.
One reason for the disparity, which became a consensus among Mathena and the active audience, was the lack of a support system at PUC and the effects it has on a student's self confidence when faced with the challenging environment of college.
"Many people have the goal of getting into college," said tutoring and recruiting coordinator Raymond Davis. "Some get in and realized they are not prepared…The ones that have a support system stay around."
The next obstacle for students of all races is standardized tests, which has become an integral part of education and the evaluation of students.
"This obsession with number-based qualifications is like taking a snapshot of a person," said Alan Spector, professor of sociology. "You can't judge how well a car works from a snapshot and you can't tell what a person's academic potential is by a snapshot of some numbers."
Mathena originally attempted writing her research paper without the component of race. After doing the bulk of her research, she said she discovered it came up anyway.
"Many Afro-Americans are told they do not have the skills [necessary for college] and are being blamed for not having those skills," said Mathena.
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