Twelve Boston University students and faculty gathered in the African American Studies Center library last night for an open forum on race and democracy led by African American Studies professors, who discussed yesterday’s election and how it pertains to cultural issues.

African American Studies Director Ronald Richardson, who organized the event, said he and the other panelists had considered the topic of race and democracy independent of Election Day and said it was “simply an occasion” for the discussion.

Although the forum took place before Republican gubernatorial candidate Lt. Gov. Kerry Healey conceded victory to Democrat Deval Patrick at 9:15 p.m., the panelists discussed the future of Massachusetts under the commonwealth’s first black governor.

Richardson called Patrick’s impending electoral victory a sign of “fundamental change,” but cautioned it may also be the result of Patrick’s political prowess. According to Richardson, citizens should wonder if Patrick’s election will “mean anything for black people in Massachusetts” and whether the governor is “going to do anything progressive.”

Professor Allison Blakely, who is black, commented on Patrick’s effect on the Big Dig, joking that “black people are always good at cleaning up messes.”

African American history professor Mary Anne Boelcskevy said college students are likely to forget Election Day issues.

“When you’re in college, you tend to forget you’re a citizen,” she said.

While most students “have already done their voting,” Boelcskevy said the open forum “gives them a focus” about the election.

Cartoon Bob the Builder and his mantra, “Can we fix it? Yes, we can,” was cited by Richardson as a potential “show about the nature of American foreign policy.” He said differences in race cause policy makers to “look at the world in such simplistic terms.”

Blakely read an excerpt from his unpublished essay on the initial division between northern and southern Democrats. He said the “southern ethos” still exists and “now controls the Republican party.”

African American history professor Linda Heywood asked whether the “exclusion of women from power historically contributes to the flawed view” of foreign policy. Her question led to a discussion of female leaders who had made decisions outside of a male-dominated power construct.

Heywood said she “wanted people to get the issue of gender in foreign policy.” She said she felt the conflict between the assimilation of African Americans into mainstream American culture, as well as “using history as a point of mobilization,” were important topics.

Forum topics also included whether race will continue to be an issue in the 21st Century, the role of race in global wars and conflict, apathy in voting and religion in the black community.

It is important for students to attend forums like last night’s because it exposes them to different viewpoints, Heywood said.

“Students should be aware that college is where different ideas are discussed,” she said. “Many students are not aware of the important role BU played to bringing black people and women on campus.”