THE OPEN FORUM JUST WRAPPED UP BUT PANELISTS ARE STILL TALKING ONE ON ONE WITH PEOPLE TONIGHT THE CROWD ASKED TOUGH QUESTIONS AND STUDENTS WE TALKED WITH SAY IT'S A DISCUSSION THAT NEEDED TO HAPPEN. IT WAS NEARLY STANDING ROOM ON AS HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE ATTENDED THE MEETING SAFE PLACE- LET'S TALK RACE. THE CONVERSATIONS OF RACIAL DIVERSITY, SENSITIVITY AND INCLUSION WERE DIVIDED INTO THE PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE. THE CHANCELLOR AND ATHLETIC DIRECTOR WERE ON THE PANEL. ATHELTIC DIRECTOR CURTIC JANZ TOLD THE CROWD HE DID NOT BELIEVE THE COMMUNITY REACTION WAS BLOWN OUT OF PROPORTION AFTER COACH JIM BOONE WAS CLEARED OF ALLEGATIONS OF RACIAL DISCRIMINATION. THE ALLEGATIONS CAUSED CONCERN THROUGHOUT THE AREA AND WITH STUDENTS. "this helps we're discussing everybody is getting out what they need to say and they're hearong responses from different types of the community." "I'm glad that we're getting all the information like what people think now it's just a matter, what are we going to do about it, how are we going to make it better, how are we going to stop this from happening again." THE CHANCELLOR SAID THEIR WOULD NEVER BE A POLICY GOVERNING HOW STUDENT ATHLETES WEAR THEIR HAIR THE ATHLETIC DIRECTOR SAID HE SUPPORTS ADDING A DIVERSITY COMMITTEE AND AN ADVISORY COMMITTEE FOR THE ATHLETIC DEPARTMENT. COACH BOONE WAS NOT AT TONIGHT'S MEETING HOSTED BY THE BLACK STUDENT ASSOCIATION. A REPRESENTATIVE SA THEY INVITED A MEMBER FROM THE ATHLETIC DEPARTMENT AND NOT THE COACH SPECIFICALLY. WE'LL HAVE MORE TONIGHT AT 10. LIVE IN FORT SMITH BRETT RAINS 40/29 NEWS.