While debates centering on the benefits of diversity are heating up on campus, the U.S. Census Bureau reported dramatic changes in American minority demographics in the 1990s.
According to a report released last week, the Latino/a population has increased more than 35 percent to 30.3 million people, and the Asian American population has grown more than 40 percent, to 10.5 million people.
Other minority groups, such as Native American and African American, have also seen an there numbers increase in relation to the overall population.
"We're using that information to thoughtfully think about how we're going to program," said Lisa McIrpley, a coordinator for Multiethnic Student Affairs.
One event through MESA being discussed for the Martin Luther King Jr. symposium in 2000 is titled, "The demographics of the new pluralism: dimensions of change." McIrpley said such programs make students more aware of what is going on in the world beyond the classroom and are important for students' education.
"We celebrate our culture and who we are. It impacts the campus because it broadens our learning experience - what we get from each other," LSA senior Meredith Hochman said of Latino/a campus activities. Hochman is Alianza's co-chair of public relations.
There has been a slight increase in the numbers of Latino/a and Asian Americans entering the University Law School. In 1990, there were 14 Asian American students and eight Latino/a students in an entering class of 381. In 1997, there were 30 Asian American students and 13 Latino/a students.
"There has been some increase, but I've only seen an increase in the past two years," said Nancy Marshall, spokesperson for the Law School. She said that one cannot make a conclusion about trends in enrollment based on just those numbers, especially since enrollment numbers fluctuate every year.
Some do not agree the demographic change is reflected at the University.
"It doesn't reflect that the Latino population is one of the largest growing populations in the nation," Hochman said in regard to all University admissions.
"They're changing at a U. S. level, but at the University level minorities are still underrepresented - on the college level or in the business world," said Jennifer Pace, a Kinesiology junior.
Tomas Almaguer, the director of Latino/a Studies and a sociology and American studies professor, also said there was a disjuncture between demographic realities and social realities.
"The Latinos still seem to be far behind - in education and socioeconomic status," Almaguer said. He said that one of the reasons for this may be that most of the Cuban and Mexican Hispanics coming to the United States are not coming as middle-class immigrants.
"I think that it's regretful that given the increase in populations that we're still so far behind the times in terms of higher education. I think it only hurts society not to educate all sectors of society when we're living together and working together," Jackson said.
"I really think that to be a true leader in society, you have to know how to work with all people," McIrpley said.
Number of minority students enrolled at the University:
1990 1996 1998
Black 7.1% 8.9% 8.5%
Asian American 7.5% 11.3% 11.7%
Latino/a American 3.2% 4.5% 4.4%
Native American 0.5% 0.7% 0.7%
- courtesy of the University News and Information services
Minority enrollment in four-year public schools across the nation:
1990 1996
African American 8.5% 10%
Asian American 4.3% 5.9%
Hispanic American 4.5% 6.2%
Native American 0.65% 0.9%
-courtesy of
the U.S. Department of Education
09-24-99
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