Indianapolis Recorder, Indianapolis, Marion County, 21 February 2003 — Page 9

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2003 ■ PAGE A9

The Recorder JAWS section (Journalism and Writing Seminars) is a nonprofit instructional program established through The Recorder Charities to provide students of color (interns) hands on training and exposure to the field of journalism. The goal is to encourage participants to pursue careers in journalism.

HISTORICALLY BLACK COLLEGES Some students fear increases in white attendance

By Hilary Powell bargain Black schools are providNorth Central High School ingRecorder Intern “The larger universities tend to have more money and to offer more Marisol Leon, 16, of Los Angeles, access to funding, but it’s really easy has considered the predominately for kids to get lost in the shuffle,” Black institution, Howard Univer- Spelman College admissions supersity, as one of her top college choices, visor Vivian Tillman said in an article Sixteen-year-old, Maya Watson of by Jet “At Spelman we are interraBrooklyn Park, Minn., also aspires to cial," Tillman added. “We have stuattend the Black school. Both have dents from over 45 other states and pride in their heritage. Both believe foreign countries, so in addition to a Historically Black Colleges and Uni- strong Black experience, they get an versities(HBCUs) are empowering, even broader experience with Watson is Black and Leon is people from around the world. But Hispanic. some Black students, like Watson, Leon is not a minority when it say the Black college experience comes to the number of non-Black should celebrate diversity of the students applying to historically Black culture within the Black comBlack schools. munity. With the decline in Black atten- “The HBCU experience is a dance, Black schools must recruit way to meet people like you who students of every race. Between have been brought up in the same 1976 and 1994, Hispanic enroll- background,” Watson said, ment at Black colleges increased North Central High School se45percentandenrollmentofwhite nior Traci Rollins said that she students climbed 16 percent be- expects to be in a different envitween 1990 and 1998. Overall, ronment than her currently mawhite enrollment has grown 30 jority white school when she enpercent within the past two de- ters Tennessee State University as cades, according to CNN.com. a freshman this fall. With Black schools making up “I take Advanced Placement only 3 percent of the country’s classes and I am the only Black colleges, the white population ac- person there and no one looks like counts for 13 percent of students me,” Rollins said. "I hope to find enrolled at Black schools. African-American girls just like me White and Hispanic students so when I sit in class at a Black realize that Black colleges offer school, I won’t be the minority.” education for half the price of “My two brothers, have gone to equivalent mainstream and major- HBCUs and my parents think it's ity white schools, CNN.com re- important to go to one because ports. you’re never going to have a chance According to the college saving to be at an all-Black school again,” service UPromise, college costs Watson said, will more than double within the Many Black college students next 20 years, said Jet magazine, associate attending a Black school With the average annual tuition with the tradition ofnot only being bill estimated at $31,000 in the a descendant of a Black college year 2020, both Black and non- alumnus, but also with the history Black students are looking for the celebrated on the campuses.

Howard University “Black colleges are all traditions,” Hampton University freshman Adrienne Slash said. “Almost every Black college has sacred spots on their campus. Slash, 18, said she chose to attend a Black college for the sense of a family environment. A sense of pride has developed with such traditions as dorm mothers, football classics, and band rivalries, she said. Indianapolis alone is currently the location of the Circle City Classic headquarters, the largest Black football classic event and a 20-year tradition that offers such events as a battle of the bands. But with Caucasian inflation at Black institutions, some college presidents believe that non-Black enrollment threatens Black attendance and infringes on historical tradition. At Lincoln University in Mis-

souri, the country’s oldest Black college, white students make up 70 percent of the school’s population. Lincoln is not alone. Since 2000, Bluefield State in West Virginia has the largest white enrollment of all Black schools, with whites accounting for 91 percent of its 2,900 students. “The problem we find ourselves in now is that the Black student population has declined to the point that it’s quite difficult to attract others to come to this institution,” says Bluefield President Robert Moore, on CNN.com. Moore is white. “If a white person wants to go to an HBCU, I say more power to them," Watson said. “But an (HBCU) should be the chance to be in the majority, not the minority." Rollins says non-Black students

should be allowed to attend Black colleges, but she chose Tennessee State University because of the majority Black status, she said. “I don’t see anything wrong with white students attending,” Rollins said, “but I don’t think they should take over Black schools, since they are historically Black.” But with federal court demands to desegregate Black schools by admitting more whites, the majority status is slipping away. The University of North Carolina has ordered all five of its Black schools to recruit more non-Black students, said the heraldsun.com However, some Black students don’t want whites attending majority Black univeristies if they are just “taking advantage" of them. “It’s wrong if white students are just attending for the money because they don’t know the history and they’re taking advantage,” Watson said. With the decrease of Black attendance at Black schools because of a rising white population, Black schools must recruit students of all races. Most are currently targeting the influx population of Hispanic Americans. "Not only white students, but Hispanic, Native Americans, and Asians as well,” said National Association for Equal Opportunity in Higher Education President Henry Ponder on heraldsun.com. “That’s the diversity.” From 1976 to 1994, Hispanic enrollment at Black colleges went from 3,442 to 5,012, reports the National Center for Educational Statistics. Some Black students, like North Central senior Dawn Patrick believe the enrollment of Hispanic and white students does not affect their chances of acceptance. Patrick encourages non-Black students to

attend for a unique experience. “I think it’s good because you’re going to have to interact with Black people in the real world anyway, so why not start in college," Patrick said. Yet, the Alliance for Equity in Higher Education predicts that college enrollment in 2015 will increase by 73 percent for Hispanics compared to just 23 percent for Blacks, an increase that will shift college enrollment nationally. “The best education is not necessarily an integrated one,” said Black Issues in Higher Education publisher Frank Matthews on heraldsun.com. Matthews said Black institutions are treading on “thin ice” when they alter their missions. Black colleges with a majority white population have changed their identities and character, he said. In contrast, Leon says the allwhite schools are going to be lacking, and so are the all Black schools in terms of diversity,” she said. “You don’t get to interact with people of other cultures and ethnicities and get their insight and perspective.” Yet with the rise of schools catering to specific minority populations, such as the 135 Hispanicserving institutions selected by the federal government, the diversity on campuses of higher learning will continue to be die subject of debate. But Black students and college presidents alike attribute the longevity of Black colleges to the sense of a close-knit family through the continuation of traditions and heritage, rather than the ethnicity of the student. “I know my brothers and friends are going to HBCUs and they’re going to instill the same thing into their kids.” Watson said.

Youth Minister tells teens to follow the path of Jesus Christ By Jocelyn Hurst Cathedral High School Recorder Intern “I’ve been saying that I was going to preach since I was three. I felt the power of the Holy Ghost and heard the voice of God even at that age,” said Rev. Charles McClain. McClain first stepped into the pulpit at the age of 15. Now, at the age of 20, he continues to spread the word of God. McClain credits his ability to go and deliver his message at different churches in Indianapolis to Rev. Roosevelt James-Sanders, the pastor of his home church, Mt. Vernon Community Missionary Baptist Church, located on Belmont Street. According to Rev. McClain, his mother and grandmother kept him in the church, since birth. His involvement in the church has included directing the choir and teaching Sunday school. As a graduate of Arsenal Technical High School, he was honored with the position of national president for the Indiana Black Expo Youth Summit last year. This position consists of coming together with youth from all over the United States, and other areas such as the Bahamas, to prepare for the youth events of Black Expo. "Sometimes you do feel alone. Even though you feel alone, remember God is ever present. Keep seeking the Lord with all your heart, resist the devil and he will flee from you. All you really need is a mind and the desire to resist the things of this world," said Rev. McClain. He advises young people to try to stay faithful in their walks with Christ.

Rev. Charles McClain first stepped into the pulpit at the age of 15. (Photo/Jocelyn Hurst) According to Rev. McClain, in order to keep drawing the young people of this generation, the same gospel (the gospel of sanctification) and true holiness is what it will take. He believes that he has been blessed with the ability to preach to any age group, but also to people of any religion. Desiring to be a pastor and have a ministry of healing and deliverance. Rev. McClain plans to get a doctorate degree, start a family, and continue to follow the will of God.

Schools work to involve Black students in activities

By Donesha Smith Southport High School Recorder Intern Young Black teens of today aren’t being involved in school activities, such as Key Club, Student Council, cheerleading, volleyball, and many others in predominately white schools. Some students feel they won’t get picked and decide not to try out for anything. Other students just want to go to school and get it over with. Students don’t think these teams or activities are interesting without even trying them out. & Sometimes students are just afraid to get out there and try something new. Teens often have jobs and don’t have the time for after school activities. Other teens don’t really pay attention to those who don’t participate. Aaron Sterling, a Southport High School junior, said, "People make their own decisions. It doesn’t make me feel a certain way when Blacks don't get involved. Some complain about how the school is boring but don’t do anything about it." "I know some have jobs, but not a lot do. Those that don’t have jobs just sit around and do

nothing. I’m on the speech team and involved in Black History Club at my school because it keeps me busy and off the street." "I’m also manager of my school drill team. I don’t think there’s any hope in getting Blacks involved in extra curricular activities. Some African-American students tried to get others involved in the drill team, but they didn’t show up," Sterling said. Tequila Marky, a sophomore at Southport, says, "I would be involved in after school activities, I just don’t have the time. I normally have a lot of homework to do and don’t get enough sleep for the next day. I also want to keep my grades up. If I had the time to be involved in anything, I would be involved in my school’s drill team." "From what I've been told, Black students don’t feel there are enough activities that interest them," said Southport high school Dean of Students Nicole Chisley. "Some feel unwanted. Since the year 2000 girls have come to ask to make a drill team. I was told they didn't follow through on expressing interest. Terry Thompson, the principal of Southport High School, asked and encouraged me to go ahead and make a drill team and gave me his support." "While having a drill team I would like to accomplish a friendship with all of the girls. I want

them to become friends with each other and to have school pride. I would like for them to have a sense of self-worth. If more students would put aside feeling that coaches don’t want them and go out for activities anyway, then I think that would help to get more Black students involved,” said Chisley. "I have a lot of concerns about Blacks not being involved," said Southport High School Principal Thompson. "I want all students to be connected in Southport High School. The issue is some students don't feel connected. At faculty meetings I challenge teachers to develop a relationship with students. I want teachers to have a connection with student’s learning and understanding." Thompson continued, "I think there’s something that must be done to get all students involved in school. It starts with me encouraging teachers. We need to do what’s in the best interest of all students. I thought it was the right thing to do to have a drill team." "When some students performed for our Kwanzaa celebration, I asked Ms. Chisley if she wanted to do it. I wanted students to have a great experience at Southport High School. It’s going to take effort from the students, parents, and teachers to get students involved," Thompson said