When he first got to the Graduate School of Education (GSE) three years ago, doctoral student Frank Tuitt says he didn't feel like he belonged at Harvard.

Comparing his experience to being "a guest in somebody else's house," Tuitt, who is black, shared that he sometimes didn't consider himself a "real" student and would often deny his own ethnicity in an attempt to fit in.

"In general, being a guest meant that I was allowed to be at Harvard, but only if I was quiet," he stated.

Tuitt's experience was only one of several that were shared last night in front of hundreds gathered at Askwith Lecture Hall during a forum designed to discuss diversity at the GSE and to introduce a student-produced anthology devoted to the topic.

"Meet us at the River: An Anthology in Progress," is a compilation of essays, poetry and art composed by 41 alumni and students of the education school. The anthology was the brainchild of current GSE students Ana Tavares and Rebeca Burciaga.

In addition to the personal experiences shared by the contributors of "Meet Us at the River," the forum featured speakers including Associate Dean Of Program Development Darryl Smaw, Assistant Professor of Education Eileen de los Reyes and Fletcher University Professor Cornel West '74.

De los Reyes spoke of the importance of hope and faith in the struggle for respect and diversity and went on to praise the anthology for airing issues that she said often go unmentioned.

"Without hope and faith, difficult questions will not be asked...hopelessness will paralyze us," she said.