There has been a 30 percent increase of white enrollment at Historically Black Colleges and Universities since 1970. A extreme example of the increase is Bluefield State, a HBCU in West Virginia, which is now 91 percent white.
This truly defies the historical aspect of an HBCU, because the only thing black about this school is its history and foundation.
With all of the inevitable changes taking place within HBCUs, including Winston-Salem State University, one has to examine the effects that this will have on our college experience and the experience of future students wanting to attend an HBCU.
At the State of the HBCU forum on Feb. 19 in the Thompson Center, student panelists talked about why they to come to a HBCU.
They said that they wanted to attend a HBCU to be around others like them and to be inan atmosphere among other black intellectuals. Panelists also spoke of the rich historical tradition of HBCUs as motivation to attend. This sentiment is much affirmed among the student body population.
“The HBCU, particularly Winston-Salem State University, should not become more racially inclusive because doing so will be abandoningthe principles in which it was founded, and doing so would also erode the very foundation of this university and universities like it,”said sophomore Erica Gonde.
However, many students welcome the changes happening at HBCUs.
“Winston- Salem State raising admission requirements is a good change. It means that the university will begin to recruit a higher quality of students thus the graduation rates will increase,” said senior Merid Fetahi. “In addition to this, a more racially inclusive university will attract more funding and programs, which will be good for the university and the students attending. The changes that are happening to HBCUs should not be looked at in a negative manner but should be considered as an evolution of HBCUs to a higher plateau.”
When the facts are examined regarding the HBCU and what the HBCU is becoming, one is left to contemplate what all of these alterations truly mean. If change causes an increase in funding and programs, is that not a good thing for the university? Or arewe selling our principles and identity for funding?
If admission requirements are raised, what does that mean for black students who do not have high GPA’s or SAT scores, who often turn to the HBCU for a chance to obtain higher education? On the other hand, do under- qualified black students not deserve to be at the university? Is there even a need for the HBCU in 2008?
As we see WSSU become a part of the NCAA’s Division I athletics, the university recruits more racially diverse studentsin addition to raising admission requirements. We as students must take an active interest in what happens at our university and decide where we stand about the issues at hand.
The HBCU is becoming less true to its name. As HBCUs become more diverse, we must decide if this change is positive or negative.
Whether you agree or disagree, I challenge all students on this campus to take note of what is going on because inevitably we are tied to this university and its fate.