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About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (Feb. 28, 1997)
UO retention rates lower for students of color ■ RACE: A study found that only 59 percent of students finish, but rates for minorities are lower By Dana Williams Multicultural Issues Reporter More than half of African American University students who enrolled at the University during 1990 left without a de gree, and a lot of people on cam pus want to know why. A University study prepared by the Oregon State System of Higher Education monitored the freshman class of 1990 through the year 1995 and found that stu dents of color graduated at sub stantially lower percentages than white students. Of the total number of African-American students in the study, 62 percent dropped out and only 35 percent graduated. For white students, the numbers are almost reversed — 36 percent left the University and 61 percent graduated. Graduation percentages for other minority groups follow the same trends. Of Native Ameri can students, 38 percent gradu ated and 61 percent left. Of His panic/Latino students, 55 percent graduated and 41 per cent left. Of Asian-American stu dents, 58 percent graduated and 36 percent left the University without a degree. The Chancellor’s office ana lyzes these figures and advises the University on ways to im prove the educational system. An updated report is in the process of being published. Shirley Clark, vice chancellor of academic affairs, said the fig ures are “really a trigger that says the campus needs to look very closely at the campus environ RETENTION RATES The University tracked the 1990 freshman class through the year 1995. These figures show percentages of the initial cohort categorized by ethnic group. | GRADUATED | DROPPED OUT African Americans i SOURCE: OSSHE Native Americans Asian Americans Hispanic /Latino White /non Hispanic ment.” “Financial difficulties and also how they [students of color] experience the campus social environment are major con tributing factors,” Clark said. Other factors, including academ ic performance and personal and family difficulties, contribute to students leaving the University, Clark said. The director of the office of student advocacy, James Britt, said the dropout percentages re flect the University as a whole. “This University has a prob lem with attrition period,” Britt said. All told, 59 percent of the total number of students who entered the University in 1990 graduated by 1995. “I don’t think it’s just a stu dent of color problem, but I think it’s more critical because there are fewer students of col or,” Britt said. For Britt, the solu tion begins with recruiting more students of color to the Universi ty But even with increased re cruiting, many students of color feel overwhelmed once they ar rive at the University, said Gwen Tistdat, who works in the Coun seling Center. “They are asked to advocate for people of color; they are asked to be teachers on issues of race and that’s a huge burden,” Tistdat said. Racial incidents on campus are another burden that students face, she said. The Race Task Force asks stu dents to report racial incidents, and so far this year students have reported a total of seven. But Tistdat said the reports they receive don’t represent all of the racist occurrences on campus. “When each incident hap pens, I don’t get reports on it — what I get is a breaking point,” Tistdat said. “(Students say to DENNIS BOLT/Emerald themselves] I’ve taken it, and I’ve taken it, and now I’m tired so I’m going to fill out a report.” Two reports were filed about white supremacist flyers being posted at the University. Anoth er report described an incident where an African-American man was stopped, patted down and searched by officers and yelled at while shopping at the University Bookstore. Another student reported an insensitive professor in a classroom. In ad dition, a student filed a report on an incident at the recent UCLA basketball game. Another com plaint was made by an Asian woman who felt insulted by vis iting high school students who were walking on campus yelling racial slurs at her. The final re port filed was about intimida tion at the Multi-Cultural Cen ter’s budget hearing. Some students of color told members of the president’s of fifi I don’t think it’s just a student of color problem, but I think it’s more critical because there are fewer students of color. — James Britt Director of the Office of Student Advocacy -55 tice how they telt about the cam pus community. Dave Hubin, executive assis tant to the University president, said some students of color ex pressed “a sense of isolation, and in some cases, students have reported a sense of hostility within the community.” ASUO Vice President Glen Banfield said he has heard racist comments at basketball games on campus. “I’ve sat on the court level, and I’ve heard everything from ‘go back to jail,’ or ‘When did you get out on parole; who’s your parole officer?’ or ‘Hey, you’re a crack head’ and usually they are always directed toward the African-American players,” Banfield said. Banfield said he believes these aren’t isolated incidents and that the University as a whole is af fected. “It’s the tip of the iceberg, and a lot of people are concerned about it — the administration as well as students,” Banfield said. They said they are concerned be cause when students of color feel discrimination it affects at trition, retention and graduation rates at the University, Banfield said. Black Student Union will celebrate black history this evening ■ EVENT: People of all nationalities are invited to listen to speakers and performances in EMU Gumwood By Autumn De Poe Student Activities Reporter The Black Student Union is sponsoring a “Celebration of the History of the People of African Descent” tonight in the EMU Gum wood Room. The celebration from 6 to 8 p.m. will feature guest speakers Henry Lu vert, president of the Eugene chapter of the NAACP; Pastor Keith Jenkins and Univer sity student Yvonne Stubbs. The event will also include food, art, poetry readings and music. BSU co-director Taryn Thompson stressed the importance of having everyone BLACK HISTORY attend the event tonight. “We have contacted a large number of organiza tions and unions. People of all nationalities are welcomed and encour aged to attend the event,” Thompson said. “We need everyone’s support and we would like to . uriiig everyuiie lugtjmei. Jenkins, a pastor of the Junction City Fresh Wind Fellowship will give a speech entitled “Destined to Succeed.” Luvert will give a speech about the issues surrounding the history of the people of African descent. BSU office manager Yvonne Stubbs will speak on the relationship between Native fifi It is our job to educate people about and recognize the history of black people all year round and not just during the month of February. — Lakeyshua Washington BSU Co-Director -55 Americans, African-Americans and slav ery. She will also detail her research into her own African-American/Native Ameri can roots. Stubbs said she was able to count at least three generations of her family that lived on Native American reservations. She will speak about her research on five recognized Native American tribes that used African Americans as slaves and the positive envi ronment in which everyone lived. University student Jennifer Broadous will give a vocal performance, and Chris Stubbs will sing and play the keyboard. Thompson will also give a poetry presenta tion. BSU co-director Lakeyshua Washington said it was important for people to under stand that the celebration of black history will continue all year long. “It is our job to educate people about and recognize the his tory of black people all year round and not just during the month of February,” she added. The Relief Pitcher Tavern U of O's Party Headquarters 390 E. 40th. Eugene tourneys all the time $ii!) Ladies Night moil Micro Madness Mies Open Pool Tourney wed Trivia Night ttiurs Open Pool Tourney If! Come join THE FUN tat Open Pool Tourney Big screen & Lots of TVs - Sports, Sports, Sports Free Homemade Chili during all events Great Prizes & Great Fun_ Good Golly! (Miss Molly) We're out of hangers!! (Lucky You) So... (we’re baring a) 1/2 Price Sale (entire stock!!!!!) 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