Interracial relationships are becoming more socially accepted, according to general responses at an NIU forum Wednesday.

As part of Ethnic Awareness Week, long-term relationships between people of different races were discussed in the Holmes Student Center’s Diversions Lounge.

A five-member panel answered questions and possible solutions to the problems racially-mixed couples experience. Panel members expressed their personal experiences involving interracial relationships.

Otis Moore, an NIU senior, was the only member of the panel voicing discouragement about interracial relationships.

“Interracial relationships, in the most part, go deeper than skin color,” he said. “Personally, the problems outweigh the benefits.”

Moore said he does not think long-term interracial relationships work because of the two people’s different cultures.

Jorge Fonseca, panel member and president of NIU’s Organization of Latin American Students, said, “The only reason interracial relationships are blown way out of proportion is because there are evident physical differences.”

Fonseca supported interracial relationships, but said “there could be language barriers with my family.”

Mary Lou Ramirez, OLAS treasurer and panel member, said the key to a successful interracial relationship is “loving the person for who they are and making the best of it.”

Panel member Morenike Cheatom said she has been involved in an interracial relationship for four years and has plans to be married. “It’s enriched us as people,” she said.

“I think it’s much harder for people who are white or black” to have a relationship,” Cheatom said.

Minority Relations Adviser and panel member Joan Clay said she becomes angry when she sees a black man with a white woman because of increased competition to find a “good black male. I can’t help but get mad,” she said.

While the majority of panel members voiced acceptance of interracial dating, some said people of different races shouldn’t date just to find out what it would be like.

“It’s not right to date someone because they’re of another race,” Cheatom said.

Reaction from the 25-member audience was mixed. NIU junior Lorne Hartman said, “I believe that it’s all right” to have a racially-mixed relationship.

Freshman John Branch said, “I feel there’s nothing wrong with interracial relationships. It does depend on the individuals to work the relationship out.” Sophmore Opra Thomas said, “I would be inclined to talk against” an interracial relationship.

Freshman Steven Morrison said parents can influence the relationship, but the two people involved should decide what they want for themselves.