Panel presents bleak view of future
When family problems kept Harvard research psychiatrist Robert Coles at home last night, a panel titled "Altruism, Bigotry and Diversity: A 21st Century Perspective" became a discussion of bigotry and diversity. Samuel Betances, a sociology professor at Northeastern Illinois University and Roger Wilkens, a history professor at George Mason University were featured on the panel, which also included five students, who questioned the professors. Perhaps the absence of the speaker on altruism contributed to the bleak atmosphere in the sparsely filled Cook Auditorium, as both panelists presented grim visions of the present and qualified hopes for the future. Wilkens said progress has been made against racism in the 20th century, but predicted slow progress in the future. "The grim and bloody present that we're living in around the world doesn't give us very great hope about eliminating bigotry on our soil in the next century," he said.