I would like to thank The Hatchet for its work on the article Gore speaks at Howard (Sept. 17, p 1). As an African-American Washingtonian, I am always proud to see the city’s historically-black institutions given the respect they deserve.

As the article correctly pointed out, Howard University has served as a prestigious higher education institution for African Americans since 1867. It has educated some of the country’s brightest leaders and most talented scholars including former Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall and Pulitzer Prize winning author Toni Morrison. Howard’s alumni have always been significant contributors to American culture and politics helping to demonstrate the important role of African Americans in society.

Of the 105 accredited, historically black colleges and universities in the U.S., Howard University is one of the largest and most renowned. It is therefore not a surprise that Vice President Al Gore would rally for support of his presidential platform at one of the meccas, if not the mecca, of African-American talent and pride in the country.

Gore’s visit and the College Democrats participation in the event help to demonstrate the importance of diversity in the political process. The Democratic Party prides itself on being the party of inclusion. Visiting an important source of diverse talent shows Gore’s determination to help bring together all Americans.

With so many different groups in our country, ethnic diversity is a crucial issue in all aspects of life. One of the best ways to ensure multifaceted diversification is to improve education. With better nationwide educational systems, people of all ethnic groups and socioeconomic levels will have the opportunity to live and work as they please.

If elected president, Gore plans to invest more money in public education, hire new teachers to reduce class size, build more modern and better equipped schools and provide more early education programs. He also plans to make higher education more affordable by allowing families to save for college tax-free and by making up to $10,000 of college tuition tax-deductible. With these types of education improvements, more people from all groups, not just the less diverse wealthy class, will receive quality education from the start. College will be not only an affordable possibility but also an attainable reality. Vice President Gore is on the right track – the one toward a more diverse America.

-The writer is a senior.