Teaching children about reality, racism and respect is crucial to the way they will view life when they become an adult.

That is a continued theme that will be recognized at a conference entitled, "The Other 3 R's: Reality, Racism and Respect."

The conference will focus on race and its relation to children.

Cathy Lubbers, academic adviser for TLRN, thinks the conference is a good opportunity for students studying education.

"The focus of the funding for this conference is for students majoring in early childhood studies," Lubbers said. "This age group is consistent with the certification they receive from the State of Illinois."

Professors Joe Feagin and June Gordonwill be speaking at the conference.

Feagin is the graduate research professor of sociology at the University of Florida. His primary research interests concern the development and structure of racial and gender prejudice, stereotyping and discrimination, Lubbers said.

In addition to his research, he is the author of more than 160 articles on gender, racial and urban issues, and he has written 44 books on the subject matter of race issues.

Gordon, who is an associate professor at the University of California, Santa Cruz, focuses on issues dealing with economic impacts and educational access and success of marginalized student in the United States, Britain and Japan, according to a recent press release.

"This conference is made possible by the generous contributions of an anonymous donor," Lubbers said. "The donor is providing this to the students in the early childhood studies program as an opportunity to learn from and interact with nationally recognized experts in early childhood studies."

Lubbers thinks this conference is important for children.

"Young children, ages 3 to 5, develop racial views at an early age and many adults find themselves in denial of this," Lubbers said.

The 2003 NIU Student Conference on Southeast Asian Affairs was attended by 50 students, professors and Southeast Asia enthusiasts Saturday at the Holmes Student Center's Illinois Room.

The conference, hosted by the Southeast Asia Club and the Center for Southeast Asian Studies, was an opportunity for students to present papers about "religious accommodation and conflict in Southeast Asia."

"[The conference] can provide a general background into the history, politics and culture of Southeast Asian countries. We work to spread knowledge about them," said Jessica Rinehart, president of the Southeast Asia Club.

Five papers were presented by graduate students from the political science and anthropology departments.

Topics ranged from women in Indonesian politics from the Islamic perspective and the influx of Buddhism and the role of Buddhist monks in politics to Muslim-Christian intermarriages in the Philippines.

Each presentation was followed by commentary from an expert on the subject and left open to questions from the audience.

The highlight of the conference was keynote speaker Kathleen Adams from the Loyola University at Chicago anthropology department.

"I have a fond place in my heart for NIU," Adams said. "The library has some of the best resources in Southeast Asian studies."

Adams, a cultural anthropologist of Indonesia, gave a presentation on "Images of peacemaking and conflict in Eastern Indonesia." She presented local examples of peacemaking attempts using linguistic and artistic means through her paper and a slide show presentation.

Maria Ernita Joaquin's paper about unfounded mandates in the Philippines won the best paper at the end of the day and was awarded $250.

Daniel Unger, an associate professor in the political science department, brought an end to the days discussions with a brief talk about accommodation, conflict and survival in Southeast Asia.

"I enjoyed hearing some of the discussions on the hot topics," said Jenn Weidman, an anthropology graduate student who attended the conference. "It provided greater awareness and depth of the issues."

Neil Foley, an associate professor of history and American studies and associate dean at the University of Texas, will speak at 6:30 p.m. today in the Moot Courtroom at Swen Parson Hall, Room 170.

Foley will discuss the issue of the construction of a Hispanic identity in America.

"He grew up in Alexandria, Virginia, with an Irish father and a Mexican mother," said J.D. Bowers, chair of the history graduate student colloquium committee. "His scholarship and work reflect the border of ethnic identity with a specific reference to south central Texas."

His book, "The White Scourge: Mexicans, Blacks and Poor Whites in Texas Cotton Cultures," addresses how the different cultures interacted in the cotton industry of Texas.

"It is about identity, race and the legal process," Bowers said. "He will bring up issues of legality where Hispanics have challenged the law."

Bowers expects to get a fairly large audience to attend the lecture.

"I have gotten calls from other colleges," Bowers said. "We definitely expect a large audience of students and a widespread audience. I expect mostly students to attend."

People attending the lecture will learn that our identity and race are negotiated and are not predetermined, Bowers said. It is a more complex issue far more than somebody's skin.