UT students can continue to participate in the President's Initiative for

Race in events sponsored by the One America Collaborative on Wednesday and

Thursday.

On Wednesday evening at 7, the collaborative is sponsoring a cultural

showcase in the University Center Ballroom. The showcase is designed to

give the audience a better understanding and appreciation for other

cultures, said Robbye Grier, a graduate assistant at minority student

affairs, who put the showcase together.

The showcase is supposed to serve as a social event to break the ice,

opening up the dialogue to talk about race, Grier said.

"We're hoping people will get a better appreciation for what other cultures

have to offer so we can open our minds," he said.

The collaborative will sponsor three discussion forums on race on Thursday.

All three will host Tim Wise, a nationally prominent social critic, who

will help open the doors to honest discussions on race, said Jo Milton,

assistant director of minority student affairs.

UT student leaders will meet from 9 a.m.-11:50 a.m. in the UC Ballroom to

have an open dialogue on race.

Wise will also speak at a National Council for Community Justice luncheon

discussion at Ramsey's Cafeteria at noon.

Later, Wise will take part in the community forum on race at West High

School, which begins with a reception at 5:15 p.m.

Milton said Wise's presence is very important when discussing racial

issues.

"When you start to talk about race, people automatically assume the

speakers are black, Hispanic or women," Milton said.

Wise does not fit into that category, since he is a white male who has

strong opinions about affirmative action and reverse discrimination, Milton

said.

"He captures an audience to where you are hanging on every word he is

saying," Milton said. "He brings another dimension to the

conversation."

As part of this week's events on an open week of campus dialogue, the Black

Cultural Center will induct Fred Brown, who was the first director of the

minority student engineering scholarship program at UT, into the

African-American Hall of Fame at 2 p.m. on Friday.