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Meredith Herald Educating Women to Excel October 10, 2001 Is diversity at Meredith obsolete? Volume XVIII, \ssKte„Sf^ On the inside: □ On Wings of Hope has grossed nearly $12,000. Page 5 □ Joni Smith didn’t vote for Bush, but she will give him a few golf claps. Page 6 □ Students process terrorist attacks through poetry. Page 6 □ Serendipity will teach you to believe in fate. Page 8 □ Meredith College is the largest women’s college in the Southeast. And nearly all of its women are white. Ava Leigh Jackson Stan Reponer Browse the Meredith Col lege homepage and one will notice the three ethnically diverse faces on the banner. However, the three faces repre senting diversity on the campus do not accurately represent the actual ethnic backgrounds of the student population. It’s a question that current and prospective students are asking-especially in the wake of tuition increases that could deter students from middle- class famililies from attending Che College; Is diversity at Meredith obsolete? According to unofficial sta tistics released by Sue Kearney of the Enrollment Planning/Institutional Effec tiveness Department, in 2000, 89 percent of Meredith stu dents were white or non-His- panic. Only nine percent were a minority race, one percent foreign and one percent Students LEESHA AUSTtN Features Editor □ Students say that the College has kept them ‘in the dark.' Forum brings discussion of tuition, unknown. In 2001, white or non-His- panic students decreased-but only by one percent. The enrollment of minority and foreign students remained the same as in 2000. The lack of ethnic diversity in the current student popula tion is not something that has gone unnoticed by administra-' tors of the College. This year, the college is tak ing active steps toward making the campus more diverse with in both the student and faculty population. Admissions Counselor Dot Livsay says the admissions department is recruiting new their voices are not being heard, or if heard, not truly considered. Senior Suzanne Parker shared her concern that an increase in Meredith's tuition combined with a limited amount of scholarships may decrease the number of gifted students that Meredith is able to attract. "Meredith needs full schol arships because honors stu dents have other choices." she said. "Without these scholar ships. these students will likely begin to exclude Meredith froiTi their choices." Dr. Maureen Hartford, presi dent of the College, explained that tuition increa.ses annually minority students in a number of different ways. “We are traveling to other states that we don’t normally go to for recruitment. We are recruiting at college fairs that are targeted for minorities. We are getting alumni to represent the college, and we are going to national, college fairs where attendance is diverse." said Livsay. “We target out-of-state students and students of color to come to these programs and look at us.” Depanment counselors are traveling to more than other states in the United States. They are also venturing inter nationally to recruit students. because of inflation and because of salary increases for faculty and staff. "At Meredith we are pretty much tuition driven. Meredith has a modest endowment, and a large portion of the endow ment supports our scholar ships." Hartford said. Hariford added that the administration is trying to announce tuition increases as far in advance as possible to help students plan. "We are balancing out our merit-based scholarships with our need-based scholarships because it all comes from the same pix>l." Hartford said. Bill Wade, vice president for Business and Finance urged Counselor Heidi Fletcher went last summer to Puerto Rico to recruit students, and sending a counselor to Canada this coming year is being con sidered. “We are also using more of our diverse student body to recruit a more diverse popula tion," Livsay added. ‘The stu dent body is now very willing to help out with recruiting a more diverse student body geo graphically and ethically," Meredith College is attempt- See DIVERSITY page two students to come by and talk to him about their financial aid status- One student explained that her father's business is slowing down as a result of the slowing economy, and she is unsure of whether she will be able to afford Meredith next year. She asked. "Why spend money on things ^Ae don't need if there aren't going to be peo ple here to enjoy it?" Bill Cox. director of the Office of Financial Assis tance.urged the student to talk See FORUM page two Meredith Herald at Meredith College 3800 Hillsborough St. Raleigh, NC 27607 (919) 760-2824 FAX (9X9) 760-2869 holderc@meredjth.edu technology. Students, faculty and admin istrators met and discussed campus concerns at this year's first "Free Your Mind Forum." sponsored by Student Life on Tue.sday. Oct. 9 at 6 p.m. Topics ranged from tuition increases to graduation with distinction changes and the fact that many students feel thai MI KI 1)11 H COI LtCJI-: I XAMIMNG DIVI RSn Y Photo Courtesy of Mehedith College Homepacf express irritation at Forum
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Oct. 10, 2001, edition 1
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