I, like many students, initially reacted negatively toward Amos Jones' suggestion of an African American studies requirement. Distribution requirements are already enough of a hassle, but after having thought the issue over I now feel it might be a good idea.

I have lived more than 10 years of my life in the Atlanta suburbs and race is not some issue that only professors and politicians deal with. Here in the South, amongst reminders of the civil rights era, race is a subject we deal with every day. What goes on in the Emory bubble is often a microcosm of what goes on in the real world.

From school busing to Coca-Cola discrimination lawsuits, from rezoning to self-segregation, a course that helps us put race issues into context would be extremely helpful in our understanding of modern America and the modern South.

I believe, however, that any new requirement should not simply include courses on black-white relations, but also classes focusing on other growing minorities. Diversity is a word we use a lot in this country. The more Emory graduates knew about it, the more prepared they would be for the future.

Tim Kennedy
College