The Sagehen Multicultural Awareness Committee (SMAC) held two "Talking SMAC" workshops Friday and Saturday afternoons in the Smith Campus Center to address race relations at Pomona College.

Facilitated by SMAC student coordinators, the workshop was a modified version of the Day of Dialogue program that has come to Pomona in recent years during sponsor training and for first-year students.

The workshop began with white students and students of color splitting up into separate groups and listing the advantages and disadvantages of being a member of the other group. Biracial students had to choose which group they most identified with. The groups then exchanged lists with one another, and brainstormed discussion topics for the upcoming session when the two groups would rejoin for discussion.

The workshop ended with a large group discussion that covered topics on the brainstorming lists. The discussion was facilitated by SMAC members.

In its first year of existence, SMAC "is a very proactive venue for people to educate themselves and their peers about race," SMAC co-coordinator Lauren Shawn '01 said. "It enables students to become conscientious of race issues in our community."

Currently there are 35 SMAC members, who will facilitate various workshops and activities throughout the year, including the Crossing the Line program next semester.

"It's wonderful that these students are taking the initiative to address something so important," Dean of Students and SMAC advisor Ann Quinley said.

While coordinators agree that the first SMAC workshop was a valuable experience, there was some disappointment about the low turnout. Of 45 students who signed up for the five hour program only 19 actually showed up to participate. 14 students of color and 5 white students attended.

"There was a sense that the students that actually came weren't the ones that most needed to take part," Shawn said. "Many people at Pomona think that race is not an issue. That is something we try very hard to address."

Meanwhile, Shawn is encouraging the ASPC Senate to take a more active role in race on campus. Noting that the Senate is supposed to address issues of concern to the student body, Shawn expressed disappointment that Senate was not on the mailing lists of any of the cultural organizations on campus. Shawn also said that a resolution calling for the Senate to have greater involvement in race relations was passed four or five years ago. After some discussion, Senate decided to compile a list of organizations relating to race and gender issues and to do outreach with those organizations.

SMAC is facilitating screenings of the movie Color of Fear all this week in locations around campus. Students interested in SMAC should contact co-coordinators Lauren Shaun and Caroline Kuo '01.

Pomona's website lists its minority enrollment as 40 percent of the student body.