With a recent University admissions extension for potential minority student applicants, candidates running for the Michigan Student Assembly face challenges in increasing campus diversity.
The Office of Undergraduate Admissions sent out 4,000 letters to high school minority students and top scholars encouraging them to apply.
Matt Tomback, vice presidential candidate for the Pissed Off with Korrupt Executives Party, said it is obvious there should be more minority students on campus.
"There seems to be a definite division between a lot of different groups," Tomback said. "It's our responsibility to work toward uniting everyone."
United Rebels Front vice presidential candidate Stuart Krein said the University can increase minority retention by creating a comfortable atmosphere on campus, which will improve the University's reputation and attract more minority applicants.
"If you're uncomfortable all the time, when can you be happy?," Krein asked.
Students' Party presidential candidate Mike Nagrant said one of his party's ideas includes the formation of a minority student leaders roundtable discussion.
"What we're proposing to do is setting up dialogue with minority students on campus," Nagrant said.
Nagrant said MSA could create a liason position that would communicate with minority student groups at least every two weeks.
Michigan Party presidential candidate Probir Mehta said increasing financial aid and lowering textbook prices, along with better academic services will help combat low minority retention.
"I think the biggest issue is the availability of financial aid," said Mehta. "(The Michigan Party has) worked on minority retention and will continue to do so in the future."
Liberty Party vice presidential candidate Liz Keslacy said the problem with minority enrollment doesn't lie at the University level, so MSA cannot have a direct effect on the issue.
"It's not the University's fault black kids didn't apply here," Keslacy said. "(Sending the letters) seems a little extreme to me."
Liberty Party presidential candidate Martin Howrylak said this is an extremely complex issue that probably begins at the community level.
Jessica Curtin, an independent presidential candidate, claimed minority enrollment is low because of high tuition and not enough financial aid.
"We don't think this a diverse campus," Curtin said, adding that the student population is becoming richer, whiter and more male. "We want to increase minority enrollment. We think that it is going to take building a student movement to do that."
Jim Riske, the Victors Party's presidential candidate, said MSA can't do much except work with high schools to produce quality students that diversify the campus.
"That in it of itself will help improve the number of minority students coming here," Riske said. "MSA can't play a direct role, but it can make a difference."
Riske said the University is a diverse campus, but not as diverse as it could be, and that the University should not look solely at applicant percentages to measure the campus climate.