Compton and the UCSD Controversy
I had a lot of interviews for this story, from NAACP officials and Council members expressing their anger and concern for students at UCSD to UCLA students talking about their disappointment at seeing these types of incidents happening within the UC system. But the one that stood out the most was Kennedy Evans, the high school student from Compton.
She spoke about how it shocked her to see problems out of the 1960s showing up on a college campus in 2010. Just 16, she is a junior, but so eloquent and thoughtful way beyond her years. She was very offended by the "Compton Cookout" theme of the party, but even more upset by the incidents that have followed it on campus.
At UCLA, I spoke with a student who said he was new to California, and having left the South, hadn't expected to see race issues here. He was in a fraternity and said it upset him to see a group that is supposed to welcome people from all backgrounds "shaming themselves" by hosting such a party. I had his interesting sound byte in the story, but at the 11th hour it had to be cut down for time. The last track was also cut in half. It's always hard to cut things down last minute because it's your baby!