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Tension between our Hispanic community and the rest of our area's population may be continuing to rise, thanks largely to certain politicians who pander to a frightened middle-class constituency. Fortunately, to help alleviate some of that tension, some Miami University students have been reaching out to the Hispanic community to make things better.

We recognize the problems of illegal immigration as well as anyone, but we also understand the fear our present cultural environment engenders in legal immigrants who have chosen Butler County as their home. No one wants to live under constant suspicion, harassment and the escalating potential for physical harm to self and family that many of our Hispanic neighbors now endure.

Miami students are doing what they can to ease the tension and we commend those efforts. Late last year, for example, Miami junior Kevin McLaughlin of Cincinnati helped organize "La Posada," a re-enactment of the search of Joseph and Mary to find a place to stay for the night. The event, in McLaughlin's words "a Hispanic Christmas celebration," gave Miami students

a chance to gather and donate toys to needy Hispanic children.

The students were involved in the university's relatively new "Think Tank" program, in which they interact with Hamilton's Hispanic community.

Think Tank participants sign up for a two-year commitment, according to Shelly Jarrett Bromberg, an assistant professor at Miami University Hamilton. They spend one year taking classes, learning about the city's Hispanic community, and planning projects that will have a positive effect on relationships between Hispanics and non-Hispanics.

The second year is proactive, with the students implementing their projects. This year, the students decided to establish a Hispanic business association and create a program to improve English language skills for Hispanics and, at the same time, improve their own Spanish language skills.

The Think Tank program is in its second year. The next group to take part in the program may decide to continue the specific projects already under way or they may come up with different ways to interact with the Hispanic community.

Either way, it's a good program for everybody.

As Miami junior Jamie Viars of Hamilton, a Think Tank participant, puts it: "Immigration is a big issue in Hamilton. It's just nice to know that not everybody feels the way certain individuals do (about the city's Hispanic population)."

We agree, and we're glad to see somebody is busy countering the tensions and fears being fostered in a vital part of our population by those who have political agendas and ambitions, instead of a desire to work toward a cooperative cultural diversity that can improve all of our lives.