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Wednesday, April l , 1998 - Page 4 NEWS , Budapest Minority enrollment Continued from page J Continued from page I Music Glenn Caldwell, who is an African- suit of WMC's location in "a non-diverse American, said he has noticed an increase in area," remarked O'Connell. Despite Carroll minority students, particularly African- County's growth in recent years, the popu- Americans, since he started teaching at lation remains predominantly white, an en- WMCin 1991. vironment in which minority students may "Given the location of WMC," said not feel welcome. The percentage of incom- Caldwell, "we could not have the numbers ing minority students was as low 6.5 in 1995, of minority students we have without the she added. efforts of the Admissions Office." "There's a total difference from going to O'Connell explained that Admissions tar- a school where you are in the majority to a gets minority students in Baltimore City and school where you are in the minority," said Prince George's County, the two areas with first-year student Locke-Wilson. "There's the state's highest concentration of minority comfort in numbers." population. Nonetheless, the desire for a good edu- The college lacks the funding to target cation draws many minority students to the other areas, O'Connell admitted. In 1995, Hill each year, said O'Connell. "Many real- WMC had several billboards constructed to ize the social life may not be great." advertise the college in Prince George's "I want a good education at a small County, and each one cost between $8000 school," affirmed McLean, a sophomore so- and $10,000, she noted. The combination of cial work major. "The social life could be billboards and radio advertising helped in- better, but I'm making the best of the situa- crease the overall number of incoming mi- tion." McLean is a member of the Black Stu- nority students from Prince George's County dent Union, Gospel Choir, and ASAP, COURTESYOFTHEH1LLMACAZlNE by 50% in 1996, O'Connell explained. The WMC's AIDS awareness group. Students willjrequent many busy streets like this one in Budapest where they can shop or find something to eat. numbers have since leveled off. O'Connell attributed the increased num- Sophomore biology major Anita Miles ber and retention of minority students to or- Budapest. Singer will only teach two classes, little later than they do at WMC. Those go- said after she discovered WMC at a college ganizations such as the BSU, Gospel Choir, Corporate Finance and Intro. to Business. ing will leave about a week earlier than nor- fair, she received "tons of mail" from the and the Multicultural Student Association. In addition, Singer will act as a chaper- mal to get adjusted to their new living ar- college. Miles, one of several African-Ameri- Felton's work as director of Multicultural one for students 10 make their stay in Budap- rangements. can students interviewed, attended Services has also been beneficial, she noted. est more comfortable. Students of all majors are encouraged to Surrattsville High School in Prince George's Many minority students choose WMC Although Singer has been to Budapest participate in the program. Speaking Hun- County. because of the financial package the college before, she feels "incredibly lucky and for- garian is not required. Both Felton and O'Connell said that offers them. WMC has an incentive scholar- tunate" to be able to teach there. They can sign up for classes in the WMC works closely with Baltimore City ship program for minority students, Any credits taken in Budapest will trans- registrar's office and are not bound by the College High School (BCCHS) in recruit- O'Connell explained. The college increases fer to students' WMC transcripts. About 21 registration date. Students will need visas and ing minority students. BCCHS has a pre- scholarships by $1000 for minority students classes will be offered in the fields of Eco- valid passports. dominant African-American student popu- whose applications make it into the scholar- nomics/Business Administration, Communi- They should also send a letter 10 the hous- lation. Rodney Joyner, one of the high ship pool. cation and Political Science. ing committee informing them that they will school's guidance counselors, plays a key This makes a difference for some minor- There will also be general courses offered be living off campus for next semester. role in WMC's relationship with BCCHS, ity students when they choose a college or to hel~stUOetirS iUli'iil'th(;tr BCAR require- Students may also study in Budapest next said O'Connell. Joyner used to be part of university. ments. All classes will be taught in English. spring. WMC's Admissions staff. Locke-Wilson said, "Morgan [State Uni- Many opportunities are available for spe- For any additional information, contact WMC students Bianca Locke-Wilson and versity] didn't give me any money." Locke- cial/independent studies and internships in Dr. Martine Motard-Noar(x467) or Ms. Sue Lynnell McLean said Joyner's encourage- Wilson considered attending Morgan State any major. Singer (x454) immediately. ment aided them in choosing WMC. Locke- which has a predominant African-American Classes for the fall semester will begin a Wilson recalled that Joyner once told her, "If population. you put school first, you can make it [at "WMC offered me the most financial Campus Safety Blotter WMC]." Joyner was unavailable for com- aid," commented Kash Wright, major. Wright ajunior mu- ment. sic theory and composition Every fall, BCCHS's senior class visits applied to six colleges and universities, in- -On 3/6/98 at 2:35 am DoCS reported fail- facement of property in Blanche Ward Hall. WMC, said Felton, who gives the students a cluding Morgan State. ·On 3/8/98 at 5:02 am DoCS reported dam- campus tour and provides information about But not all minority students are content age to property in Rouzer laundry room. WMC's admissions process and financial with their experience at WMC. Wright said ·On 3/16/98 at 9:45 am DoCS responded to aid. O'Connell further explained that WMC he thought about transferring during his first a report of harassment in Englar dining hall. waives these students' application fees as an two years at WMC. -On 3/17/98 at 2:30 pm DoCS reported al- incentive to apply to the college. Admissions "The [basketball] team was not very cohol violations in Rouzer Hall. also codes these applicants, who then receive balanced ... not very fair," said Wright, a -On 3/24/98 at 2: 04 am DoCS reported in- letters about the resources available to mi- former team member. Still, Wright, a mem- decent conduct in Memorial Plaza. nority students at WMC. Admissions is care- ber of the Gospel Choir, decided to stay at -On 3/25/98 at 3:31 pm DoCS ful not to place minority students into the WMC. "I might as well finish [school], get same category, O'Connell added. For in- my degree, and move on," he added. stance, Admissions would send a prospec- Senior Michelle Marrero, a Hispanic stu- furnish identification tive Hispanic student information about the dent from Puerto Rico, said she's not both- in the DoCS office. Spanish Club or the Hispanic-Latino Alli- ered because there a few students with her -On 3/6198 at 11:39 ance, not the Black Student Union. pm DoCS reported In the spring, Admissions sponsors an cultural background on campus. "1 don't feel displaced," she added. disorderly conduct African-American weekend, said O'Connell. Marrero and Jesse Watts, another student African-American WMC students host a pro- from Puerto Rico, started the Hispanic- spective African-American student for the Latino Alliance to promote Hispanic aware- weekend. The students arrive on Thursday ness on campus. The Alliance currently has night and attend classes on Friday. The Black eight members. Student Union and Admissions plan a social The Board of Trustees addressed minor- activity for Friday evening. On Saturday, the ity student recruitment during their Febru- African-American students and their fami- ary meeting. A task force is currently study- lies participate in a regular Admissions Day ing the issue, and language regarding diver- along with other students and their families. sity will be added to the college's strategic -On 3nl98 aI5:00 pm DoCS documented a a student for a failure to comply in Blanche The program allows African-American plan, said O'Connell, who emphasized that student for a traffic violation in PELC Lane. Ward Hall. students "to get a good idea of what [WMC] Admissions can only do so much to attract -On 3/8/98 at 12:35 am DoCS responded to 'On 3128/98 at I:37 am DoCS documented is like," said O'Connell. "Even if only six or minority students to "get our numbers where an incident of lewd conduct in ANW. a student for an alcohol violation on the first eight African-American students decide to they should be." To retain these students, the On 3/8198 at 2:0 I am DoCS documented stu- floor of McDaniel Hall. enroll after being here for a weekend, it faculty and curriculum need to become more ... dents for alcohol violations in Blanche Ward 'On 3/28/98 at 3:53 am DoCS responded to makes a difference because our numbers are diverse, she added. Hall. report of an individual tampering with a so small." -On 3/8/98 at 4:52 am DoCS reported de- parked car on Main Street. These low numbers are primarily the re-