2008 Woodie Awards
MDC Hosts First of this Year's Campus Summits
Students gather to discuss the
Issue date: 9/15/06 Section: Arts & Entertainment
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The crowd was sparse as MDC Campus Summit prepared to approach "The Black Table." MDC members rushed at 7-o-clock calling friends and recruiting audience members from the Pecan Court. The Summit was to "hear from different people about how we can better incorporate the African-American population and make them feel included so that they don't all sit at one table, i.e. "The Black Table," said Nathan Jefferies, Couch Hall Representative for MDC. The discussion, entitled "Breaking Down the Black Table," began with senior Andrew Vogler asking, "Why is there a 'black table'?" The panel that consisted of Senior Terrance Mackey, Junior Ryan Williams, Junior Meredith Williams, Senior Sid McMath, and Junior Kristy Chambers-Davis responded that was a so-called "Black Hole" that was really just a group of friends "more noticeable other cliques," said Mackey. McMath, an Anthropology Major, replied that is was "socially natural position to take." All members seemed to be at the consensus that the so called "Black Table" was merely a group of friends that hang out a lot, sharing classes, interests, and backgrounds.
The conversation then turned to the cafeteria itself and the intimidating nature of seeing tables of people one does not know as a new student. An audience member expressed that the table could be intimidating, to which Chambers-Davis replied that people should be intimidated to sit with people they don't know. "Get to know each other," she suggested. Then, McMath asked African-Americans in the audience if they found a table of white people intimidating. Sophomore, Shamus Ridgell replied that it was "not a table of whites, but a table of new people."
"When I scan the cafeteria for friends, I notice the 6' 4" black man first. ["The Black Table"] is not a conscious effort. It's not like we meet in the middle of the night plot out what table we are going to sit at. It just happens," said Mackey. James Tyus, a close fried of Mackey's and chair of the MDC said, "breaking down 'The Black Table' would mean breaking up a group of friends."
"Is it a race issue?" someone asked anonymously, to which McMath replied that was "a race issue, but not a racism issue. It's subconscious." The panel concluded that the so-called "Black Table" was not a problem any more than the soccer team sitting together. Senior, Chris Mosley said, "below 50 percent of the blacks [at Hendrix] sit at that table. It's flexible." McMath stated that the table is "most obvious in our minds due to the last 50 or so years of history. He encouraged the students to "bring your experiences to others. That what college should be about." Lastly, the panel proclaimed that "The Black Table" was not a Hendrix issue, but a national issue. Tyus said the Summit, "went well and broke down the ideas that the 'Black Table' is based strictly on race, but rather based on friendship and having a good time while sharing commonality with one's peers."
The next Campus Summit, which will discuss Columbus Day, will be on Oct. 5 in the Burrow.
The conversation then turned to the cafeteria itself and the intimidating nature of seeing tables of people one does not know as a new student. An audience member expressed that the table could be intimidating, to which Chambers-Davis replied that people should be intimidated to sit with people they don't know. "Get to know each other," she suggested. Then, McMath asked African-Americans in the audience if they found a table of white people intimidating. Sophomore, Shamus Ridgell replied that it was "not a table of whites, but a table of new people."
"When I scan the cafeteria for friends, I notice the 6' 4" black man first. ["The Black Table"] is not a conscious effort. It's not like we meet in the middle of the night plot out what table we are going to sit at. It just happens," said Mackey. James Tyus, a close fried of Mackey's and chair of the MDC said, "breaking down 'The Black Table' would mean breaking up a group of friends."
"Is it a race issue?" someone asked anonymously, to which McMath replied that was "a race issue, but not a racism issue. It's subconscious." The panel concluded that the so-called "Black Table" was not a problem any more than the soccer team sitting together. Senior, Chris Mosley said, "below 50 percent of the blacks [at Hendrix] sit at that table. It's flexible." McMath stated that the table is "most obvious in our minds due to the last 50 or so years of history. He encouraged the students to "bring your experiences to others. That what college should be about." Lastly, the panel proclaimed that "The Black Table" was not a Hendrix issue, but a national issue. Tyus said the Summit, "went well and broke down the ideas that the 'Black Table' is based strictly on race, but rather based on friendship and having a good time while sharing commonality with one's peers."
The next Campus Summit, which will discuss Columbus Day, will be on Oct. 5 in the Burrow.
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