Thursday, February 9, 2012
What would happen if the University of Illinois froze enrollment for everyone except African American students?
The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is the flagship institution in the state's higher educational system. According to the Division of Management Information (DMI) website (www.dmi.illinois.edu/cp/default.aspx), Illinois has 44,066 students enrolled on and off campus for the 2011-2012 academic year. Of that percentage, DMI indicates that 11.6% of those students are from "underrepresented" groups. What does "underrepresented" groups mean? Who is in reflected in that data set?, why isn't the data stratified based on race? What would happen if it was?
On another note, what is interesting is that from 1989-1998, the term "minority students" was used to reflect a portion of the percentage of students enrolled. During the 1998-1999 academic year, there was a total of 36,303 students enrolled. Of that percentage, 11.7% were minority students. Again, who is reflected in that data? Is it safe to assume that minority means racial or ethnic group? These are the things that must be teased out to understand how to hold the university accountable for insuring access for African Americans on all levels in the academy, and the first level is student admittance. Who's responsibility is it to sound the cry for change?
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To say the least, white students on campus would be outraged if the university where to freeze the enrollment of all groups except African-Americans. It is sad to say that many white students on this campus are oblivious to the issues facing African-Americans, and they endorse this idea that we live in a color blind society where race no longer exists. Countless studies done on this campus (studies done by Professor Mendenhall and Dr. Neville) have proven the presence of color blind racial ideology on this campus in particular amongst white students. What does that mean in regards to campus climate?
ReplyDeleteMinority definitely refers to racial and ethnic groups together and the ambiguity in this term is a strategic way for the university to meet their "quota". I do think that student admittance is a big piece that needs to be addressed, however retention is an even bigger dilemma. If there is not a system in place to ensure the retention of African-American students on campus then what good is admittance if they are not set up to succeed and only set up to meet a quota? I can think of at least ten African-American students I encountered during my freshmen and sophomore year that dropped out or transferred, and specifically because they did not included in the campus enviornment. I think it is the responsibility of both the administration and the African-American community on campus to challenge the system and create an inclusive enviornment. I think that black students need to sound that cry for change, because if they don't care enough to address the issue- why should administration care?
I agree with Brigitte that it is the responsibility of both the university's administration, as well as the African-American student body. However, I would like to point out that although we are conscious of the color blind racial ideology on campus, we are viewing it from that of the African-American first hand perspective. We are not the only race that is discriminated on, but naturally we can only expound upon what we experience. With that being said, it is not an excuse but a realistic assessment that many members of the caucasian student body are naturally oblivious to what they will not have to endure.
ReplyDeleteNow, if there was a enrollment freeze, I believe that those whom would be negatively affected by the change in policy would naturally fight it. Personally, I feel that subjecting other groups to unfair policies and procedures in order to close the gap is not ethical. In agreeance with Brigitte, there should be an equal emphasis on the retention of these students once they get here. At the beginning of my freshman year, there were nearly five hundred African-Americans admitted to the university. At the conclusion of the first semester, there were anywhere from one hundred to a hundred and fifty of these students no longer enrolled at the University of Illinois. Overall, we need to develop just programs to increase the enrollment numbers of African-Anericans supported by programs in order to ensure that most, if not all, graduate.
I believe that there are no clear answers to the questions posed by our instructor. However, my belief that "underrepresented" is determined by the program in which the students are enrolled. In the required reading, Cecil expressed that the we have seen funds, assistance, given to those that are "under represnted" such as women within engineering, or caucasian within cultural studies programs. In addition, the elimination of categories such as "race" allow the skewing of numbers in order present an misleadng image based on facts.
I pose the question, if we dove deeper into the enrollment numbers of African-Americans at these flagship universities such as U of I, Berkeley, etc...how many of those are athletes or performing arts admits?
I agree with Nino when he states that it would be unethical to freeze enrolment within the University, because everyone deserves a chance within education. However, it is clear that the vague terms "minority students" and "underrepresented" groups are an attempt at the university to meet their quota. When I came here in August, i felt the environment on campus very much similar to my home university. The way i see it, a university is just a business nowadays. In the text, Brown highlights how many white middle and upper class students have easy access to scholarships and loans. Sadly, it seems that they are more likely to give out this money to them because at the end of the day, they want to make as much profit as they can, especially from students enrolled within Engineering programs.
ReplyDeleteFrom a white perspective, I agree that there is a colorblind atmosphere on campus. I own up to the fact that if my major was not in African-American classes, I too probably would not understand the extent of the issues facing African-American students. When I arrived here, my friends and I were only offered temporary housing, the majority of us being in FAR, PAR and ISR. I was pretty shocked to see the amount of segregation with regards to housing around the university, especially with the influence of the American Greek system.
In conclusion, I think it is a difficult situation to address because the university's attention is always going to be focusing on income, and the main chunk of that income comes from white students. I think that it is the duty of the university as well as students to educate others about these situations on campus. The whole point of a university is to allow a young student to develop into an adult whilst experiencing a variety of different cultures and events. From my experience here, I find that the majority of students are kept sheltered from the real issues that surround them.
I agree with Brigitte that minority definitely refers to racial and ethnic groups and that it’s used in a strategic way by universities in order for universities to meet their required quota for the academic year. Last semester I took Psychology of Race and Ethnicity and we had a discussion about the lack of African Americans on the U of I campus and one guy said that he only got to this university because he was black. Although he got very high grades, he personally had trouble seeing that he did well academically and believes he only got into this uni based on the colour of his skin as he suggested there were white people from his high school who did better than him and got rejected from U of I. I found it really shocking that he didn’t have any faith in himself and believed it was his race that got him to this uni. I find this a really difficult question to answer and comprehend because back in England race is such a different issue. Obviously there are still racial issues back in England, however at the Uni of Nottingham there is not a noticeable divide between any racial groups or ethnic minorities on campus. However, on this campus, I live in FAR and even in the first week I could tell instantly there was a huge divide between the races. As Nino mentions above, I can’t see a clear answer to any of the questions posed because every institution will have a different interpretation of each question in order to work in their favour as Brown mentions by institutions using the term “minority students.” I feel this question is difficult because on this campus, when going about my day, I come across race issues all the time, yet in England, it’s never really spoken about because it’s never really in the public eye or at unis. It’s more individual cases as opposed to collective ones such as the disappearance of a black studies department.
ReplyDeleteI agree with James and Nino that to out-rightly freeze all enrollment of other groups except African Americans would be unethical. More so, because I feel modern day blatant segregation is frowned upon in many circles because of America's history with segregation. However, indirect segregation or policy driven segregation is often overlooked as being detrimental as blatant segregation. I would argue that it may be worse for the reason that many do not know it exist. It's practices and ramifications can be seen as being a result of some other issue or condition, thus not being challenged because people are unaware of it unlike the knowing that comes with blatant segregation. For example, does the current numbers of African American at the university enrollment reflect a freeze on African Americans? If there are recruitment efforts or retention efforts being put into place do they negate the current enrollment? The recruitment efforts could say that they are actively recruiting and retaining African Americans but the numbers would suggest something different. It would be interesting to look at enrollment numbers over a few decades. It could be the case that since it appears that efforts are being made that it minimizes the pressure put on individuals to make that change.
ReplyDeleteAs James stated universities are businesses. It is unrealistic to discuss the universities decisions without addressing the influence and power that its stakeholders hold. Alum make contributions to the university with specific goals of where they want their funds to go. They also have power to influence policy and the direction of the university based off how much money they contribute. I would imagine that this freeze would not be aligned with all of their wishes, because their agendas or the populations that they want to benefit from their contributions may not be the African American community. To stick to the scenario if the university stayed with that position it would lose funds which would shift the availability of resources, opportunities and other university attributes. Another issue that would arise would be the composition of professors at the university. Cecil (54) points out that the rationale often used for the lack of Black professors is that there are not a lot of Black students so why should their be a lot of Black professors. If that point held true it would challenge the campus's professorship, staff and administrators contribution.