The World is Opening Doors to Higher Education, what about Buffalo?

NPR and the Global University:

I have really enjoyed Joyce Kryszak ongoing articles about the University at Buffalo, and how international students and even offshore campuses have expanded our local university, I think for the best. However, last week you segment (or an ad for it) was closely followed by coverage of Buffalo Schools Superintendent James A. Williams’s convocation for this year’s public school session. He commented on the lack-luster high school graduation rates across the city and the down right deplorable odds for African-American boys in our city schools. Is it possible that a UB student is more likely to encounter someone from Singapore than a black person from University Heights neighborhood? While I am glad that UB has made the effort to distinguish itself as a diverse international institution; I am saddened that the impenetrable heart of intellectual darkness may be right across the street. I wonder what the University had done about attracting and retaining racially, ethnically, and culturally diverse students from the Western NY area and Buffalo specifically. Especially when these students may be the ones who will want to stay here, to attract employers, or become employers themselves. They could become human capital investment that Buffalo has longing for.

I did not grow up in Buffalo, but I am a UB Graduate, and UB’s graduate architecture program is one major reason that I decided to stay in Buffalo. The field of architecture is not known for its diversity, and has long been the purview of old white men. This is changing, and nearly half of my classmates were women. Because UB attracts so many international students, I had the benefit of a studio environment that included European, Canadian, and most notably Asian students. In many ways, this enriched our learning environment. However, as an African-American woman, I was nearly always the only representative of this group. In my first year, many students and sometime professors referred to me by the name of the only other African-American woman who was there, we shared no classes, and really do not look anything alike. When she graduated, at least people knew who I was; or should I say EVERYONE knew who I was, I wasn’t famous, I just stuck out. Why were there be more international architecture students than black, Hispanic, Native American, or even White students from Buffalo. This always seemed particularly hurtful to me just as I would leave south campus; I would drive through hurting neighborhoods that are in such dire need of design and of the designers who are intimate with and invested in them. I knew that many of the talented students I went to school with were going to leave not only Buffalo, but also the country when they graduated.

This is not just UB’s problem; they cannot enroll students that are not ready for higher education, nor is it just the problem of Buffalo Public schools. As we know, Buffalo is a poor city, and not yet healed from the scars and scrapes of its industrial history. The high school and college education of the not-so wealthy, and minority student is a looming community and national issue. It is be unfair to portray these students as any less hungry or knowledge than their Singaporean counterparts. Why do not UB’s globalization efforts start by reaching across Bailey Avenue? If culture, national origin, religion, even language are bridged, why not race, neighborhood, and socio-economic status? I cannot say I have an immediate solution to this complex problem, but I am interested in raising awareness, and doing what I can to contribute to its long-term solution. I think that UB has and will be a key to that solution. UB should continue to distinguish itself as a Global University, but it should also look towards the world away that is at its front door.

Politics for just a min. or "you are what you have to defend"

As it turns out we (democrats at least) are more sexist than we are racist and we (Americans) will probably turn out to be more ageist than we are racist as well. At least thats my hope but it doesn't really make me feel any better, I'm Black, also a woman, and if I'm lucky, and I don't do any thing to stupid eventually I'll be old too.

Don't get me wrong for even a minuet, I'm behind Obama wholeheartedly. And it would mean so much to my son to see someone who kinda looks like him have such a public seat of power. (There are many more, and more important seats of quiet un-elected power in this world, but that's another topic for another blog.) But I'm struck by the fact that we will not have an young white man running for President. When apparently they are the demographic that movies, tv, car, video games, magazines, cheerleaders, Wal-mart, pop music and everything else has been invented for. I'm proud of Americans for that. And disappointed that gender race and age have ANY bearing on this discussion that is supposed to be about ideas, policy, intelligence, diplomacy, integrity, dependability, vision, hope, democracy, and all that other stuff that elections are supposed to be about. Instead of weather the poor white folks will vote for a black man.

Don Cheadle on African American Lives 2 found out via genetic testing that he was in fact part native American and European American, but said it almost didn't matter to him as and African American, because in fact"you are what you have to defend." And this election is somehow bringing this fact to light. Clinton, Obama, and McCain each have their strengths and weaknesses, which largely have to nothing to gender race or age. If they are related to those descriptors it is only because these are constants in their lives and again and again they have to defend that part of who they are. Like the publication of McCain's medical records, or that Obama's former minister isn't a fan of white folks, or especially the 3 days of press coverage when Hillary Clinton cried in front of the cameras. Thats all really just fluff, it really is it has nothing to do with the price of tea in China or the price of gas on Main street. I'm not going to say that race, gender and age aren't going to be important factors in this presidential campaign. I just wish they were not, because then I could find out more about the idea the candidates have, and less about what they have to defend.

BTW Who is my grandmother supposed to vote for