Senate hopeful proud of surviving Baltimore streeets

U.S. Senate hopeful Kweisi Mfume took a break from the campaign trail yesterday to sit down and discuss race, politics and his past.

The Daily Pennsylvanian: Why is is important to continue talking about race and cultural differences?

Kweisi Mfume: For me it's important to talk about the significance of race, where we are and where we are not in this country.

I think it's important for all people, whether they are white, black, latino or asian, whenever we can engage in discussion or dialogue on race we ought to do that so we are at lease affirming to one another our belief that a multi-racial, multi-ethnic society is best for America.

DP: What must be done to get students to care about elections and the voting process?

KM: Students have to talk to students about the issues that matter the most to students.

You are not going to do anything in life, unless you have a reason to believe that somehow or another it impacts you, or it is something you are extremely interested in.

The masses have to have a message that is catered to the interest of them in their time.

It's young people who know those things that young people are most concerned about that have a direct connection back to government, so devising that or crafting that in such a way that it is a simple message and a direct message and then giving that to students as a reason will I think get more people to participate.

DP: What concerns you and makes you hopeful about our higher education system?

KM: What concerns me is the ever increasing cost of tuition, both in private and state run institutions.

We ought not be raising the threshold for college entry, I think we ought to be lowering it with respect to cost.

What makes me hopeful is that I still see a lot of young people even faced with that barrier finding ways to find scholarship money, through organizations in their community.

DP: How can young people today make a difference?

KW: I've always believed the great change that takes place in our society does not come out of the minds of people as old as I am, but rather out of the minds and hearts of people who are much younger, in those years where college is a huge part of their lives, where there taught to be critical thinkers and question authority.

That's one of the best things about this or any nation, the best of what we've done has come when we've been challenged by young people.

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