Blacks Enrollment

The number of blacks planning to enroll at University of California campuses has dropped by 24% and the number of Latinos by 5% in the first year after the state's premier public universities abolished racial preferences in admissions. The declines, as expected, were particularly pronounced at the most competitive campuses, such as UC Berkeley, where only 98 African Americans will join 3,562 other students who have agreed to register as freshmen in the fall.

As one activist described it, the reaction was disbelief when the African American community learned that this year's freshman class at UCLA included only 96 blacks. Akili, who goes by one name, told an audience at the First African Methodist Episcopal Church how he tried to fathom the news -- 96 out of about 4,800 freshmen. "What? That can't be," he recalled saying to himself. Heads throughout the meeting room nodded, as if recalling their own similar responses.

Re "A Startling Statistic at UCLA," June 3 As times change, it appears that issues stay the same. Articles similar in tone to this one were common 35 years ago. Many remedies were discussed to increase minority enrollment. Affirmative action programs grew out of the hand-wringing that accompanied widespread discussion of social inequality. Yet here we are in 2006 with black enrollment apparently spiraling downward. The answer to resolving this issue does not lie at the point of acceptance to a university at age 18. It is more likely to stem from earlier influences in life and agendas of parenting of children at younger ages.

Re "A Startling Statistic at UCLA," June 3 As times change, it appears that issues stay the same. Articles similar in tone to this one were common 35 years ago. Many remedies were discussed to increase minority enrollment. Affirmative action programs grew out of the hand-wringing that accompanied widespread discussion of social inequality. Yet here we are in 2006 with black enrollment apparently spiraling downward. The answer to resolving this issue does not lie at the point of acceptance to a university at age 18. It is more likely to stem from earlier influences in life and agendas of parenting of children at younger ages.

Enrollment of black students in California community colleges dropped 17% last fall, according to a survey. The colleges' Board of Governors was told at a meeting in Sacramento that attendance by black students fell to 88,700 last fall from 108,100 for the same semester in 1983. The survey showed that inner-city colleges, which educate the most minorities, suffered the sharpest losses, with some losing more than a quarter of their students.

As one activist described it, the reaction was disbelief when the African American community learned that this year's freshman class at UCLA included only 96 blacks. Akili, who goes by one name, told an audience at the First African Methodist Episcopal Church how he tried to fathom the news -- 96 out of about 4,800 freshmen. "What? That can't be," he recalled saying to himself. Heads throughout the meeting room nodded, as if recalling their own similar responses.

A revolution is needed to halt the decline in black student enrollment at colleges across the country, and students must lead the rebellion, according to educators at a conference on blacks in higher education last weekend at UC Irvine. "The survival of black students on college campuses is an issue we have to undertake.

Black freshman enrollment at the University of Florida is expected to be down by nearly half this year under Gov. Jeb Bush's ban on racial preference in public university admissions. Blacks represented nearly 12% of the freshman class last year, but the class starting this month will be only 6% to 7% black, said officials at the state university. "This is disappointing," Provost David Colburn said. "We were a segregated institution for a long time.

The University of Texas law school, forced to abandon affirmative action, began classes Wednesday with only four blacks and 26 Mexican Americans among 468 new students, according to preliminary enrollment figures. The numbers were down from 31 blacks and 42 Mexican Americans last year. Final enrollment figures won't be known until Sept. 12.

UCLA is searching for causes for the decline in the number of white, black and Latino applicants for this year's freshman class, Chancellor Charles E. Young told UC Regents Friday. Because of those drops, about a third of the class at the Westwood campus is expected to be whites, down from nearly 42% last year; blacks are expected to account for 7%, down from 8.6% in 1989, and Latinos 18%, compared to 19% last year.

Black freshman enrollment at the University of Florida is expected to be down by nearly half this year under Gov. Jeb Bush's ban on racial preference in public university admissions. Blacks represented nearly 12% of the freshman class last year, but the class starting this month will be only 6% to 7% black, said officials at the state university. "This is disappointing," Provost David Colburn said. "We were a segregated institution for a long time.

The number of blacks planning to enroll at University of California campuses has dropped by 24% and the number of Latinos by 5% in the first year after the state's premier public universities abolished racial preferences in admissions. The declines, as expected, were particularly pronounced at the most competitive campuses, such as UC Berkeley, where only 98 African Americans will join 3,562 other students who have agreed to register as freshmen in the fall.

The University of Texas law school, forced to abandon affirmative action, began classes Wednesday with only four blacks and 26 Mexican Americans among 468 new students, according to preliminary enrollment figures. The numbers were down from 31 blacks and 42 Mexican Americans last year. Final enrollment figures won't be known until Sept. 12.

When history major James Wilson uses the library at predominantly black Southern University here, he encounters a facility that has almost no computer technology, a skeletal support staff and a book collection that is more typical of a junior high school. If Wilson gets hungry, there is no food--the college closed its only cafeteria last year because of budget cuts. He must sleep off campus because Southern has never had enough money to build dormitories for its students.

For the second year in a row, the number of African-Americans and Latinos enrolled as freshmen at the University of California dropped last fall, according to a report discussed Friday at a UC Board of Regents meeting. UC officials said the decline could be a result of the recession and higher student fees. In the previous decade, both African-Americans and Latinos showed gains.

As the time approached for Ayanna Woodard to graduate from high school, the 17-year-old spent her time like many other seniors: poring over brochures and touring schools in search of a college that would fit her needs. She was concerned about the cost of tuition, distance from her home in Sylmar, and the college's size.

As the time approached for Ayanna Woodard to graduate from high school, the 17-year-old spent her time like many other seniors: poring over brochures and touring schools in search of a college that would fit her needs. She was concerned about the cost of tuition, distance from her home in Sylmar, and the college's size.

For the second year in a row, the number of African-Americans and Latinos enrolled as freshmen at the University of California dropped last fall, according to a report discussed Friday at a UC Board of Regents meeting. UC officials said the decline could be a result of the recession and higher student fees. In the previous decade, both African-Americans and Latinos showed gains.

UCLA is searching for causes for the decline in the number of white, black and Latino applicants for this year's freshman class, Chancellor Charles E. Young told UC Regents Friday. Because of those drops, about a third of the class at the Westwood campus is expected to be whites, down from nearly 42% last year; blacks are expected to account for 7%, down from 8.6% in 1989, and Latinos 18%, compared to 19% last year.

A revolution is needed to halt the decline in black student enrollment at colleges across the country, and students must lead the rebellion, according to educators at a conference on blacks in higher education last weekend at UC Irvine. "The survival of black students on college campuses is an issue we have to undertake.