A needed lesson

The third day of instruction was my favorite because the lectures were intriguing and writing-based. My favorite lecture was the one about race (with Keith Woods of The Poynter Institute). I liked this lesson because it intermingled a social problem among minorities (racism) with our obligations as journalists. Too often, we (as journalists and minorities) are trigger-happy and ready to label people as racists instead of looking into whether comments and actions were based on ignorance or mistakes. Although the lecture was uncomfortable to sit through at times, it was a lesson that needed to be taught.

Random observations: As was evident at the Wildhorse Saloon, I am still struggling with line dancing, but man can I do the Cha Cha Slide. Perhaps the best thing about this weekend was seeing Bo Tweh's game faces during our intense games of charades. With all of the scrumptious food we've eaten this week, I probably gained 30 pounds.

-- Danny Davis, University of Montana, Austin (Texas) American-Statesman