School spirit can manifest itself in any number of ways. Enthusiasm over sporting events is just one example; just as important are community action and the University’s ability to foster an atmosphere of participation and engagement among the community.

To this end, the 10th annual State of Race event held Wednesday in Glenn Memorial Auditorium, which featured internationally-renowned author Cornel West, was a tantalizing example of the ethically engaged community ethos Emory is seeking to promote. Even more encouraging was the fact that members from practically all corners of the student and faculty community were represented at the event. The event was set up and administered by campus leaders, and generated its own enthusiasm in the absence of a high profile national election or other event that would be expected to inspire more interest in a politically-tinged lecture such as West’s.

But while the success of the 10th annual State of Race should be held up as a model for future, similar speaker-based events to emulate, it is still important to focus on ways that the State of Race lecture event could be improved for future attendees. As has been mentioned, the event was organized by student leadership organizations and student leaders; as such, it was paid for by funds taken from the Student Activity Fee that each Emory student must factor into the cost of his or her Emory education.

For this reason, we hope that future, similar functions have more procedures in place to ensure that students have the maximum level of access that their interest necessitates. Because while in a way the problem is a consequence of the event’s success, it is still regrettable that, as the event was open to the greater community, there were many students who would have very much liked to attend West’s talk only to discover that no more people could be admitted to Glenn Memorial Auditorium.

Ensuring that the student community is given the utmost priority in seating distribution in the future seems easily attainable. Even a step as simple and small as increasing publicity for these events far enough in advance, so that potentially interested students know how to go about acquiring tickets, would be helpful. We are exceedingly proud not only that events such as these are open to the public, but also that those living and working in the Atlanta area have shown such an interest in Emory-sponsored events. There need not be a conflict between ensuring that students are given their due priority in attendance and maintaining of the impressive role Emory has increasingly been playing within the larger Atlanta community.

These situations aren’t impossible to foresee — an important lecture by a highly respected scholar like West is bound to attract interest not only from Emory students and faculty, but also from the rest of Atlanta as a national center of civil-rights history, thought and progress. For such events, perhaps organizers should consider utilizing the extra space offered by the Woodruff P.E. Center, which is used for other events such as President Carter’s annual town hall forum.

With all that said, attention should not shift far from the impressive feat that this year’s State of Race address represents. Chances are, most students either attended West’s speech, were interested enough to read about it and consider his message or have a peer who fits one or both of those criteria. During the days after West’s appearance the campus was buzzing, with students and faculty discussing some of West’s more intriguing statements and using them as jumping off points for further conversations.

With the college football season humming along, in some ways it does seem easier than ever to bemoan Emory’s perceived lack of community spirit or shared identity. But, with that said, a common identity forged by widespread civic engagement and community involvement is nothing to scoff at either — and in many key respects is even more crucial and impressive.

The above staff editorial represents the majority opinion of the Wheel’s editorial board.