Race seems to be on everyone’s mind lately here at Binghamton University: just this week, it’s been the subject of two forums and a demonstration. A collection of multicultural fraternities vocalized their feelings on racism, Rosa Parks, Hurricane Katrina relief and a number of other things they feel are tinged with racial overtones.

For all the merits of the demonstration and the forums — they were inclusive and timely — they probably fell on a lot of deaf ears. All they did was demonstrate students’ dissatisfaction with the state of multicultural affairs here. It’s just about as useful as shooting blanks: sure, people can hear you. But they know that aside from the inconvenience of the noise, they have little else to fear.

The time for this kind of blustering, one-way communication has come and gone. Movements don’t succeed through the megaphone; they start with a clear agenda, solid planning and dedicated execution.

Culture groups: it’s time to get organized.

No longer should we accept the sad state of multiculturalism here at BU. At the same time, though, a demonstration in front of the Bartle Library Tower is no longer a sufficient response. In this day and age, it only makes organizers look like they’re impotent, on their last resort. Instead of merely cosponsoring each other’s events every now and then, culture groups need to seriously sit down together and work out the following concepts:

1.A few overarching goals. We’re not talking about vague ideas like “make BU less racist.” Rather, the kind of goals we’re referring to are long-term and need to be quantifiable. An example: “Get more minority representation on the Student Assembly.” You can tabulate the results of your efforts with a simple headcount.

2.Detailed timelines for action. Once the goals are set, work backwards from each and figure out what will need to be done to achieve it, and the steps leading up to it. Delegate each task to a person or group, and make them accountable for its success or failure.

Once these things are discussed and put to paper, execution will be critical. Students are both busy and inherently lazy, so frequent consultation to make sure everyone’s doing their job will likely be a necessity. And be vigilant: a well-calculated plan that falls apart because nobody sticks to it only makes those involved look incompetent.

The basic infrastructure for such thorough organization of culture groups already exists, even if it’s underused. The Intercultural Awareness Committee, divisive and fractious though it may be, is the perfect place to hash out the goals mentioned above. This page said it last week and we’ll say it again: the ICA should be more powerful and autonomous.

Someone needs to head up the continuing discussion of what’s most important to the multicultural-minded among us. Accordingly, the VPMA office — though we don’t think it necessary — should be leading the charge, along with the ICA chair, to guide BU’s culture groups in planning detailed courses of action towards practical, attainable goals.

But with that increased power comes an obligation, a responsibility to represent anyone who wants to change the way things work around here. This means actually viewing a “multicultural” landscape as a mix of cultures, and not just a dichotomy of white people versus those of color. ICA will have to move beyond its original mandate of serving “historically underrepresented” minority groups, and toward making things fairer for people of every culture — even if that culture happens to manifest itself in white skin.

Organizers also need to keep in mind that the people they’re trying to appeal to — BU administrators and the student body — have other things on their plate, too. Immediately labeling anyone who won’t take action on the spot a racist, as tends to happen here, is counterproductive and only alienates those who otherwise might be able, even enthusiastic, to help out.

We here at Pipe Dream obviously don’t have all the answers, or even some of the answers. But what is clear is that more nuanced, top-down strategic thinking among culture groups would go a long way towards making them — and all students, for that matter — look less like desperate protesters and more like the organized, confident power players we’re learning to become.