Black Student Union

The man who tried to assassinate George C. Wallace will soon be free after spending 35 years in a Maryland prison. Arthur Bremer could be released before December because of time earned for good behavior. The recent announcement ignited a flood of memories for me. Mr. Wallace was shot in Laurel while running for president in 1972. About three months later, the racist governor of Alabama was brought to a Birmingham hospital where I had a summer job. Spain Rehabilitation Center was known nationally for its work with spinal-cord-injury victims.

Johns Hopkins University officials have substantially reduced the punishment of a student suspended for posting online a "Halloween in the Hood" fraternity party invitation, according to an education foundation group that protested the university's actions. The Philadelphia-based Foundation for Individual Rights in Education said yesterday that Justin H. Park, a junior and former Sigma Chi fraternity member, contacted it with the results of the appeal. According to Greg Lukianoff, president of FIRE, Park said that he was satisfied with the outcome but wanted it to remain private.

Johns Hopkins University students and faculty members will have more diversity training, and the history of racism will be incorporated into the campus curriculum and workshops, Hopkins President William R. Brody announced yesterday, responding to an outcry over a racially offensive fraternity party.

2 school publications win awards from press association Two local school publications were recognized for excellence in the Maryland Scholastic Press Association's 2004 publications contest. Annapolis High School's literary magazine, Perception, advisor Leslie Gershon and the staff won an award in the first-place category. Wanda Trimnal, yearbook advisor, and the staff for Arundel High School's yearbook, Panorama, won an award in the third-place category. The Maryland Scholastic Press Association is a nonprofit association headquartered at the Philip Merrill College of Journalism at the University of Maryland, College Park.

Loyola junior Van Brooks remains at Maryland Shock Trauma Center after surgery that relieved pressure on his compressed spinal cord, the result of an injury Brooks suffered while making a tackle during Saturday's game at Georgetown Prep. On Sunday night, the hospital listed him in critical condition. Brooks was injured when his head collided with the leg of a running back. After the operation late Saturday evening, Brooks, 16, had feeling and movement in his hands, Loyola officials said yesterday, speaking on behalf of Brooks' parents, Shelly Brooks and Van Brooks Sr. Students and faculty gathered for an assembly yesterday morning in the school's gym, during which they were led in prayer by the Rev. Joseph Machini, head of campus ministry, and updated on Brooks' condition by the school's president, the Rev. Jack Dennis.

Activist to speak at McDaniel for Black History Month Kevin Powell, an author, activist and alumnus of MTV's The Real World, will present a lecture for Black History Month at 7 p.m. tomorrow in the Forum at McDaniel College. His topic will be "History is a People's Memory: The Importance of Black History Month." Powell studied political science and English at Rutgers University, where he became a student activist. He has been a social worker in Newark, N.J., and an English instructor at New York University.

Jasmine Senaveratna and Arthur Elder believe that diversity is more than a black-and-white issue. After attending a recent Student Diversity Leadership Conference, the co-presidents of the Black Student Union at Friends School in Baltimore came back inspired to make changes at their school. But they also expressed disappointment that most of the 300 private school students attending the conference were African-American. "We need everyone's voice coming together," said Elder, 17, a senior.

Western Maryland College will hold activities, including a soul food dinner and a step show, in February and early March in recognition of Black History Month. The events are open to the public, and are sponsored by the Black Student Union and the Office of Multicultural Student Services. They are free unless indicated. Feb. 11: Soul food dinner/Dramafest, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. in The Forum, Decker Center. Tickets are $10 for adults, $7 for students with ID. Tickets should be purchased in advance by calling 410-857-2791.

Western Maryland College will hold activities throughout February in recognition of Black History Month, including a lecture by Black Panther Party co-founder and chairman Bobby Seale, a gospel jubilee and a soul food dinner. The events are open to the public and are sponsored by the Black Student Union, the College Activities Programming Board and the Office of Multicultural Student Services. All activities are free, unless otherwise indicated. Tomorrow: "Wonders of the African World" Part I, 7 p.m., BSU Clubroom; viewing and discussion of the PBS documentary series.

University of Maryland, College Park police met with the state police, U.S. Department of Justice, FBI and U.S. attorney's office yesterday to plan the investigation into threatening letters sent to black student leaders and organizations this week."