Since the O.J. Simpson Trial verdict and the Million Man March on Washington, D.C., a feeling of racial tension has developed on the SIUC campus, Troy Alim, coordinator of the Black Affairs Council, said.

Alim said, he and other panel members will discuss these tensions tonight in a panel forum titled Race Relations:Moving Toward the Next Millennium.

Alim said the forum, sponsored by the SIUC Black Affairs Council, will give individuals on campus and in the community the opportunity to discuss the problem of racial tensions that is felt both on campus and nationwide.

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There is a simmering type of feeling at SIUC as far as race goes, he said. It seems people are on edge when confronted with the issue of race.

Alim said a forum such as this is needed for people to get their feelings out in the open.

It is important for people to express their feelings, he said. When people begin to talk about these problems, then we can start to come up with answers.

Alim said the panel is not intended to be just African-American oriented but a venue were all races and nationalities can discuss the issue of race.

The problem is far from just a black problem, Alim said. If people start saying what they feel, no matter what race they represent, we can start making some headway.

Among the participates will be Alim, Kim Clemens, vice-president of the Undergraduate Student Government and Marc Chase, student editor-in-chief of the Daily Egyptian as well as other student and faculty representatives.

Alim said though the forum is focused around a panel, audience participation is welcome. The panel will begin at 7 p.m. in the Student Center Auditorium.

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