Earlier in my college career, there was no doubt in my mind that as a member of the Black community I was somehow ob1igated to this community and would utilize all of my present and future resources to benefit this community first and foremost. My experiences at Princeton have made me far more aware of my B1ackness than ever before. I have found that at Princeton no matter how liberal and open-minded some of my White professors and classmates try to be toward me, I sometimes feel like a visitor on campus; as if I really don't belong. Regardless of the circumstances under which I interact with Whites at Princeton, it often seems as if, to them, I will always be Black first and a student second.

These experiences have made it apparent to me that the path I have chosen to follow by attending Princeton will likely lead to my further integration and/or assimilation into a White cultural and social structure that will only allow me to remain on the periphery of society; never becoming a full participant. This realization has presently, made my goals to actively utilize my resources to benefit the Black community more desirable.

At the same time, however, it is conceivable that my four years of exposure to a predominately White, Ivy League University has instilled within me certain conservative values.

For example, as I enter my final year at Princeton, 1 find myself striving for many of the same goals as my White classmates--acceptance to a prestigious graduate or professional school or a high paying position in a successful corporation. Thus, my goals after Princeton are not as clear as before.

Today, the Dallas County Commissioners’ Court voted unanimously in favor of Court Order 23 to cancel a long-distance service contract with AT&T. At the same time, the County Commissioners unanimously agreed to renew a long-distance service contract with AT&T. Sound confusing? Well, it should since the Commissioners failed to carefully read what they voted for.

On Monday, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), an animal rights organization, launched a campaign against former Vice President Al Gore. PETA complains that Gore loves to eat meat.

Some Muslim leaders believe that Mecca is the center of the world time zones. Hence, they want the Greenwich Meantime (GMT) to be replaced by ‘Mecca Time.’

A group, describing themselves as “commandos,” who are terrorists aiming to cripple Nigeria’s oil export industry, have asked former President Jimmy Carter and Hollywood movie-star to help resolve issues in the oil-rich Niger delta.

The Texas prison system needs to hire 4,300 more guards, which means that 17 percent of its fulltime security positions are unfilled. About one-in-five of the state’s 106 prisons operate with fewer than 75 percent of its correctional guards.

President Nicolas Sarkozy of France is sending three top officials to China this week after a wave of anti-French protests erupted in the country. The diplomatic charm offensive is aimed to limit the political and economic fallout from the controversy surrounding the preparation of the Olympic Games.

Last week at a Shipley Do-Nuts warehouse in Houston, an immigration raid was conducted by federal agents. It was the first such raid in the city since early last year.

The Houston Chronicle reports that, “families are in hiding. Immigrants are lining up lawyers in case of arrest. Business leaders are nervous, and activists are outraged.”