BLACK STUDENTS REFLECT AT CSUN.

Byline: Yvette Cabrera Daily News Staff Writer

Twenty-nine years ago, CSUN's African-American students fought to establish a Pan African Studies Department. Today's generation of students are faced with their own battle - succeeding without affirmative action.

The day after the U.S. Supreme Court endorsed California's Proposition 209, the dismantling of affirmative action was the primary topic of panel discussions and open forums held Tuesday at CSUN to celebrate the 29th anniversary of the university's Pan African Studies Department.

The Supreme Court's decision Monday spurred varied reactions among panelists. Some encouraged students to become watchdogs and form multiethnic coalitions to ensure their universities are diverse in the post-affirmative action era. Others saw the dismantling of affirmative action as the opportunity for minorities to show they can succeed without it.

``I see serious problems for minorities and women already,'' said James Bracy, Pan African studies professor and panel speaker. ``I don't want to call it a crisis call, but that is the only way we react. We almost have to form coalitions as we did in the past - minorities have to talk about strategies.''

The panel discussions were part of the larger celebration that included poetry recitals, play excerpts and essay readings. Students, faculty and Los Angeles area high school youths attended the event held at the Cal State Northridge Performing Arts Center.

Though Bracy's panel was set to discuss the role of the Pan African Studies Department and the Black Student Union in the 21st century, the panelists' messages were centered on Proposition 209, which already has affected law and medical school acceptance figures, Bracy said.

``The bottom line for minorities and women is to look at the numbers. If the numbers are going down of people applying, being admitted and graduating from universities then something is wrong,'' said Bracy, who encouraged students to be watchdogs.

Pan African studies professor James Dennis said he was not surprised with the Supreme Court's decision and described Proposition 209 as a blessing in disguise - as was the U.S. Supreme Court decision in the 1896 Plessy vs. Ferguson case.

That case upheld the later-discarded ``separate but equal'' standard. It forced African-Americans to train their own teachers and open their own insurance agencies, hotels and restaurants, Dennis said.

``It's the same with Proposition 209,'' Dennis said after the discussion.

``At some point or another if it forces us to do what we can do, it's a blessing for us.''

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PHOTO (1 -- 2) Ashante Stoner, above, plays the title character Tuesday in a one-woman show, ``The Life of Fannie Lou Hamer: Celebrating the Warrior Spirit in African-American Women,'' at Cal State Northridge. Tyrone Fox, left, talks about the 29th anniversary of the Black Student Union at CSUN.

Terri Thuente/Daily News