Race and politics at BC

U.S. Sen. Barack Obama encouraged students at Boston College's convocation ceremony for freshmen on Friday night to start their college careers with open minds and to transcend racial boundaries.

"Just try to break out of your comfort zone," Obama, an Illinois Democrat, advised. "Try every week to talk to someone who doesn't look like you or sound like you."

Obama told students it was everyone's responsibility to stay open-minded. "It's not just a white responsibility," he said. "You've got to actively seek out what's going to shake you up."

BC freshman Ijeoma Nwafor said the most important message of Obama's speech was "to reach out to those who don't look like you." Coincidentally, Obama delivered his speech at time of increased racial tension at BC.

BC's newspaper, The Heights, delivered an apology Thursday for an allegedly racist headline, which prompted activists to set a rack of newspapers ablaze and destroy many additional copies.

The furor erupted when three black residence hall directors offered their resignations on Sept. 9, two days after police caught them smoking marijuana in a residence hall. The Heights headlined an article about the resignations "RDs resign following drug bust," which activists on campus charged as a racist assumption.

BC's African American, Hispanic, Asian and Native American, or AHANA, student organization demanded an apology for the headline because they said it wrongly characterized the incident as a "bust," implying an organized police raid.

In an apology printed Sept. 15, The Heights apologized for what it called the "misleading" headline.

Newton Fire Department helped put out the blaze, which caused $500 in damages.

Although Obama was scheduled to speak to BC freshman since August, his appearance took on new importance following last week's events, according to several BC students.

"His speech was timely and necessary," said Tiixa Chukwuezi, a freshman at BC. "He said what we needed to hear."

Freshman Atakelti Desta agreed that Obama's speech helped students comprehend the week's events.

"Boston College's racial barrier is really strong," Desta said. "It was important to have him speak here."

Obama also discussed the issue of race as it relates to the tragedy of Hurricane Katrina. But Obama said rap artist Kanye West's claim that "President Bush doesn't care about black people" is unfair.

"He got it wrong. I don't think that anybody in the White House or the regiments of FEMA said, 'these are poor people'," Obama said. "What was apparent was that whoever was in charge assumed that all Americans were able to hop into their SUVs, spend $100 to fill up the tank, fill their trunk with sparkling water, grab their credit cards and check into a hotel.

"When tragedies like this happen, they take us out of the ordinary, they shake us out of complacency, no matter for how short," Obama said. "There is nothing inevitable about being able to fill up a car with a tank of gas. There is nothing inevitable about turning on a tap and filling a glass of water. The majority of humanity on this planet at some point in their lives will know the ravages of flood, warfare and famine."

After the speech, a student asked Obama about his senatorial position, and asked what "greater things we can expect."

Obama said he enjoyed his duties as a senator and was spending his time focused on his current responsibilities.

"Being a senator is a great job and I just got here," Obama said. "The other stuff will take care of itself."