What should have been a move to build trust between black student leaders and the University administration has turned into yet another stumbling block between the two groups.

A team of social scientists investigated University Park's racial climate late last semester on the prompting of student protestors after April's Telecommunications Building sit-in. But the team may not have seen a clear picture of Penn State's relationship with the black community because they visited during the last two days of finals' week when many students already were home for break.

The timing of the visit has drawn criticism from black student leaders, who say the timing was "strategic planning by the University" and "short-sighted."

Once again the students' perception of the administration is that of distrust. Ironically, one of the three social scientists who assessed the University's environment noted that a culturally diverse climate cannot be achieved unless the "relationship between minorities and the administration here improves." Indeed, the University needs to establish a trust with students before their efforts to improve the institution's attitude toward the black community can be respected as sincere.

A return trip by the scientists is scheduled sometime after the report's release in February. In the meantime, the group's findings are likely to be incomplete when released next month.

To help build trust, the administration should make every effort to bring the study group back to the University at a time that black student leaders approve. Study group members should be able to talk with individuals and groups of students during most of their visit, unlike the short time allotted last semester.

They also should seek student input as to how the visit will be organized. Study group members should be able to visit with black students from all aspects of University life -- student leaders, athletes, members of the greek community, as well as opinions of students who are not affiliated with any organization. Candid meetings with faculty members also could add a needed perspective.

The scientists' visit suggests an administrative interest to cooperate. But they must further this trust by incorporating student perspective into their decision making. In the past, trust has been hindered because some students believe their specific requests are included in too large a category. For example, the students originally requested that a team of social scientists study the climate for black students at the University. While other ethnic groups bring special needs to the University, their needs are diverse and should be treated separately.

That the social scientists' visit materialized at all is an encouraging sign for students, especially those who have prodded the University to take a second look at racial and cultural matters on this campus. It appears that the University has begun to take action in lieu of the issues raised last year during the sit-in when 88 students were arrested for protesting what they called the administration's insensitivity to black students. But trust must be built before progress can continue.