<p>Princeton Plans Expansion of Black Studies Program (New York Times)</p>
<p><a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2006/09/19/nyregion/19princeton.html?ref=nyregion%5B/url%5D">http://www.nytimes.com/2006/09/19/nyregion/19princeton.html?ref=nyregion</a></p>
<p>Princeton University, one of the leading universities in black studies, yesterday announced an expansion in its program, including at least a doubling in the number of faculty members, the introduction of a major for undergraduates and the creation of a new center for teaching and research on race in America. </p>
<p>Shirley M. Tilghman, Princetons president, said in a telephone interview yesterday that she hoped the effort would help the university contribute greater insights to issues like the nature of racial identity and help train a new generation of leaders to solve problems that have persisted too long. </p>
<p>Robert Bruce Slater, the managing editor of The Journal of Blacks in Higher Education, called the change a big deal and predicted that it will broaden the base of knowledge and help Princeton attract more black students and professors.</p>
<p>The announcement, which grew out of a report by a Princeton faculty committee on African-American studies appointed last year, is sure to heat up the rivalry in the discipline between Princeton and Harvard. </p>
<p>Mr. Slater said yesterday that he could not say that one university was ahead of the other. Theyre both extremely strong, he said. </p>
<p>The program will also get a new home at the center of campus.</p>
<p>Dr. Appiah, who led the faculty committee on African-American studies, said a major goal of the center would be to reach all students, not just to concentrate on the undergraduate majors. </p>
<p>The African-American experience and questions about race in society are things that any educated undergraduate should have, he said. It is central to a liberal education.</p>
