Student Groups Discuss Racial Lines
			From the Diamondback, Tuesday, February 13, 1996. An Independent Student Newspaper-University of Maryland, College Park. Maryland Media Inc. 1995 By Renee Cidell Samuels Diamondback staff writer
			It's natural to want to be around people who are similar to you, and many students identify with campus culturally oriented groups, said the Black Student Union's First Vice President David Hubbard. 'Organizations that are racially based are needed now and forever,' said Hubbard, a junior journalism major. 'Does Race and Culture Really Matter?' was the focus of an open forum sponsored last night by Elkton 3, NAACP and the BSU. The forum addressed questions about the practicality of racially based clubs. Nikki Poindexter, a Resident Assistant on Elkton 3, organized the forum between various organizations on campus after reading a commentary in The Diamondback. The column maintained that racially based organizations cause more separation between the races. 'I wanted a program that would open up the lines of communication between the separate groups on campus. As a leader in the BSU and in the NAACP, I know how much these organizations can do for the black community,' said Poindexter, a junior family studies major. She personally invited Jewish Student Union President David Plotinsky to the forum. 'It was good to meet the constituents. It's not often that one has the time or the chance to meet with the other organizations,' Plotinsky said. Members of La Unidad, Lambda Upsilon Lambda Fraternity, Inc., a new Latino fraternity, came to represent their organization and the Hispanic Student Union. Juan Sempertegui, president of the fraternity, expressed concern over the low retention rate of Latinos in college. 'Thirty-three percent of Latinos are dropping out of colleges and universities across the nation. In the last year, this campus has seen the birth of three Latino based organizations, two Greek organizations and a Latino business society. I think that it helps students to be around those who share the same cultural background,' Sempertegui said. 'Often times Latinos feel ignored because they are the smallest minority on campus. We need these organizations to make them feel at home,' added Lorn Hinish, a junior elementary education major and member of Lambda Upsilon Lambda. 'These organizations were formed during the 60s and 70s as support groups for these cultures. If it weren't for the BSU and the NAACP there would not be a African-American Studies program here,' said Melinda Chateauvert, a professor in the AASP department. The assembled leaders were concerned about the training of future campus leaders. 'There is a lack of leadership training among the underclassmen. We have to take responsibility for educating them. It's up to us to bring the younger students into the campus organizations' said Alana Murray, president of the Student Black Women's Council. The reputation of exclusiveness and cliques has plagued organizations like the BSU, Hubbard said. 'What I want is for the entire black community to be seen as a clique,' he said. 'A clique is a close knit group of people who choose to spend a lot of time together. The BSU is open to everyone. We may appear to be a clique because we work hard to put programs out for the community.'
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