Spring Break
SMU's reputation deters minority students
Tamara McCullough, Contributing Writer, tmccullo@smu.edu
Issue date: 5/4/07 Section: News
Kidi Amanuel stands out in her biology class. She is the only black student in her class, which isn't unusual for SMU.
"Personally, I don't let things like that really affect me, other than noticing the fact, so I don't dwell on it much," Amanuel said. "But maybe it shows that I'm getting used to being a minority."
Amanuel is not alone. According to the Blanton Division of Enrollment data, Southern Methodist University is currently 29 percent minority for the 2006-2007 school year. During the 1996-1997 year, minorities made up 17.8 percent of the student body.
Even though the minority population has increased by 63 percent over the last 10 years, many students and administrators feel that social and economic reasons are keeping minorities away.
Fernando Salazar, coordinator of Hispanic services at SMU, believe financial reasons are keeping many minority students away. Tuition, fees and room and board at SMU currently cost $41,700 annually.
"It's expensive here. A student may get a nice financial aid package the first year, but it goes down during the junior year," Salazar said. "By the senior year, students are asking, 'What should I do?'"
Amanuel agrees that many minorities don't know about their financial options.
"Lots of minorities don't try to come here because they don't know about the scholarships. There's not a lot of advertising," she said. "After all, SMU is one of the most expensive schools in Texas."
In addition, many minority students believe SMU has a reputation as an elitist institution.
The campus is tucked safely into Highland Park which boasts a median household income above $150,000 and the population is over 95 percent white.
In fact, the university is commonly referred to as Southern Millionaires University because of its abundance of affluent students.
"Some students ask, 'Do I see myself here? Do I feel comfortable here?'" Salazar said.
Tallia Burris, a senior business major, said some students see SMU as out of their league.
"Personally, I don't let things like that really affect me, other than noticing the fact, so I don't dwell on it much," Amanuel said. "But maybe it shows that I'm getting used to being a minority."
Amanuel is not alone. According to the Blanton Division of Enrollment data, Southern Methodist University is currently 29 percent minority for the 2006-2007 school year. During the 1996-1997 year, minorities made up 17.8 percent of the student body.
Even though the minority population has increased by 63 percent over the last 10 years, many students and administrators feel that social and economic reasons are keeping minorities away.
Fernando Salazar, coordinator of Hispanic services at SMU, believe financial reasons are keeping many minority students away. Tuition, fees and room and board at SMU currently cost $41,700 annually.
"It's expensive here. A student may get a nice financial aid package the first year, but it goes down during the junior year," Salazar said. "By the senior year, students are asking, 'What should I do?'"
Amanuel agrees that many minorities don't know about their financial options.
"Lots of minorities don't try to come here because they don't know about the scholarships. There's not a lot of advertising," she said. "After all, SMU is one of the most expensive schools in Texas."
In addition, many minority students believe SMU has a reputation as an elitist institution.
The campus is tucked safely into Highland Park which boasts a median household income above $150,000 and the population is over 95 percent white.
In fact, the university is commonly referred to as Southern Millionaires University because of its abundance of affluent students.
"Some students ask, 'Do I see myself here? Do I feel comfortable here?'" Salazar said.
Tallia Burris, a senior business major, said some students see SMU as out of their league.
Viewing Comments 1 - 3 of 5
Jane
posted 5/04/07 @ 10:16 AM EST
I think this story rings true. I had two friends who applied and were accepted to SMU, both of them non-white. Neither of them came precisely because of the lack of diversity on campus. (Continued…)
RON
posted 5/04/07 @ 9:52 PM EST
As a student of SMU in the mid 70's and a supporter since then to the present day, the story rings true but there is more to the story. Minority students should feel uncomfortable at SMU because if the people who support SMU sports and other programs are any indication, the movers and shakers at SMU seem to be KKK members without the white robes. (Continued…)
Kerm
posted 5/17/07 @ 9:04 AM EST
"I am getting used to being a minority"??? As a black, you are a minority and unfortunately, always will be. You have been a minority all of your life. (Continued…)
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