May 1, 2002 - In this third report of series titled "An Education in Diversity," Mainstreet Radio's Jeff Horwich gets views on conflict resolution at St. Cloud State University over racial and religious discrimination.
May 22, 2002 - The state of Minnesota and two state worker unions have re-signed a contract that will continue to provide pay and health benefits for the state's workers. The contracts technically expired on Monday after the Legislature failed to ratify them during the Legislative session. The agreement effectively works around the refusal of House Republicans to agree to the contracts. They objected because part of the contract includes benefits for same-sex couples. Minnesota Public Radio's Tom Scheck reports...
August 13, 2002 - Last spring, the University of Minnesota Press was the center of a storm of protest over the publication of a book on sex education. Some representatives of the local media admit deadline pressures at the time kept them from in-depth coverage of Judith Levine's controversial book "Harmful to Minors: The Perils of Protecting Children from Sex." Levine sat down with with reporters and the public last night Helms reports.
August 15, 2002 - The Minnsota State Capitol has a new address. After months of discussions and six public hearings the St. Paul City Council decided the best place to name a street for Dr. Martin Luther King Junior is what is now Constitution Avenue. Minnesota Public Radio's Art Hughes reports.
August 21, 2002 - Mainstreet Radio’s Tom Robertson reports on Organizers of the Anishinaabe Coalition, a new spiritual-based group, formed to fight racism in Bemidji. Includes various interviews with residents and coalition members.
September 3, 2002 - For several years, Americans of Arab and Middle Eastern heritage have struggled to separate themselves from the stereotype of the Arab terrorist. That stereotype has become particularly troubling since September 11th, as Arab Americans find themselves the targets of discrimination, harassment and abuse. In this report, part of our series "understand Ameica after 9/11," Michigan Radio's Matt Shafer Powell takes a look at how one U-S group -- the Chaldeans (kal-DEE-unz) of suburban Detroit -- have sought refuge in those things that distinguish them from the terrorists of 9/11.
September 17, 2002 - The University of North Dakota plans tougher policies against discrimination and harassment. The new policies are the result of a Federal investigation at U-N-D. Some American Indian students say the changes don't go far enough. They want the Universities Fighting Sioux nickname changed. Mainstreet Radios Dan Gunderson reports.
September 25, 2002 - Mainstreet Radio's Tim Post profiles Jane Gray Swisshelm, a St. Cloud newspaper editor of the 1850s-1860s with strong opinions. She used her position to fight against slavery and for advancement of women's rights…but while she wrote articles advocating more freedom for some, she also pushed horribly racist views toward Native Americans, such as the complete extermination of the state's Dakota Indian population.
December 10, 2002 - Minnesota's colleges and universities are about to go online with a new federal electronic database designed to track the state's nearly 9 thousand international students. The idea for a system to track foreigners emerged after terrorists bombed the World Trade Center in 1993. The project was a low priority for years. But, post-September 11th anti-terrorism legislation put the database on the fast track. International students say they don't mind the increased scrutiny, as long as it doesn't lead to discrimination against them. Minnesota Public Radio's Marisa Helms reports.
December 10, 2002 - MPR’s Cathy Wurzer interviews W. Harry Davis, prominent local civil rights activist and educator, about his autobiography, entitled "Overcoming." In it, he describes growing up in poverty, helping found the Minneapolis Urban Coalition, running a local Golden Gloves Boxing organization and serving on the Minneapolis School Board for 20 years.