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Recent controversy at UCLA has universities questioning their approach to admissions and how they ensure ethnic diversity on their campuses.
Two percent of UCLA’s incoming class is black.
At UCLA, however, the dwindling number of black students has spurred a dramatic change toward a more "holistic" approach in admissions.
The most recent statistics for Pepperdine show that Caucasians comprised 59.7 percent of the undergraduate student body in 2005. Following were Asians at 11 percent, Latinos at 10.1 percent and black students at 7.8 percent. International students mad e up 6.2 percent, 1.9 percent were Native American, and undeclared made up 3.3 percent.
According to Seaver Director of Admission Michael Truschke, the Pepperdine student body is composed of students from the United States and 70 foreign countries.
Truschke added that many factors are considered in the admission process.
“An applicant’s ethnic background is only one of the many factors we consider when shaping a new class,” Truschke said.
Because Pepperdine is a private institution, it is not regulated by Proposition 209, which required all public universities to remove race-based admissions quotas. "The Admission Office is fortunate to have the opportunity to shape the incoming class to be diverse across many different categories," Truschke said.
Chad Martin, a senior and president of the Black Student Union, said Pepperdine is making more attempts to be hospitable to ethnic students on campus. Martin points to the new Intercultural Affairs Office as a step forward in the direction of diversity.
In addition, the Admissions Office has instituted a new position to allow minority students a forum for feedback, and two diversity councils have also been formed, Martin said.
“But we are in no means there yet,” Martin said. “Our university still has very little racial interaction, and I hear at least one grievance a week from a minority student feeling discriminated against because of race.”
Latino Student Association President Artie Calhoun said greater ethnic diversity can be achieved on campus if there was more of an effort to recruit students of different backgrounds and ethnicities, which he says can be done by offering more scholarship and incentives to minority students.
“I feel Pepperdine needs to have more ethnic diversity on campus,” Calhoun said.
Truschke said admissions officers within the university also feel the need for more outreach to minorities and those from different backgrounds.
“As an office, I cannot say that we are ever satisfied with the diversity of our student body,” Truschke said. “Our mission and strategic plan calls for the College to enroll a diverse student body, with students from many backgrounds and heritages in an effort to create an educational community that reflects the diversity of the nation and the world.”
Senior Anita Handson said perceptions on diversity depend greatly on the people with whom you surround yourself. Handson, who is half Ecuadorian and half black, said she is pleased with Pepperdine’s efforts of diversifying the campus, but adds there is always room for improvement.
Sara Benavides, a junior and Inter-Club Council representative for LSA, said Pepperdine’s community is not as diverse as it should be.
Still, Benavides said she believes ethnic diversity has improved over the years.
Benavides said she joined LSA, because of the “certain level of comfort from being around people culturally similar to you.”
Junior and Asian student Nate Shin, a sports medicine major, said Pepperdine tries to make the campus more open to minorities. However, he added that once minority students actually come to Pepperdine, they sometimes feel as though the campus is not completely hospitable.
“Pepperdine is known for its white, rich population,” Shin said. “A lot of students don’t feel like they will fit.”
Shin added that he naturally gravitates toward peers of the same ethnic background.
“It has to do with how people grew up,” she said. “I grew up with a lot of Koreans in Seattle, and I tend to feel more comfortable around people who have the same background.”
Junior Pauline Yi holds a different viewpoint. Yi said considering the size of Pepperdine’s student body, the amount of diversity is good. In regard to the hospitality of the campus to minority students, Yi said, “I feel like it’s fair and equal. It’s a nice atmosphere.”
Submitted 09-14-2006
MALIBU, CA
