The recently released report by a team of social scientists reviewing the attitudes and programs on racial diversity here repeats many requests made by black student and faculty leaders at the University over the years.

The social scientists' report gives further credibility to black student demands, and reinforces the need for administrative attention to these issues.

Although the social scientists still need to return to talk with more students, their first report accurately portrays the University's needs for improving cultural diversity.

The report suggests many administrative programs are promising but do not receive the attention they deserve and therefore have not been implemented successfully. It also calls for additional programs and actions needed at the University, echoing in many ways previous requests of black leaders.

The report resulted from a week-long assessment of the racial climate here in December. However, because the social scientists' visit conflicted with finals week, they missed student input and subsequently will return for a second review next week.

While the University community awaits this second visit and second set of proposals, the first report offers well-reasoned suggestions and insightful conclusions.

In a 19-page report compiled by professors from Indiana, Temple and Arizona State, social scientists provided administrators with recommendations such as maintaining open lines of communication with black student leaders and creating a position to centrally coordinate these programs.

For the administration to implement projects such as a larger Paul Robeson Cultural Center or an autonomous Black Studies Program, it needs to continue reaching out to the students and faculty in the black community. Their input is fundamental as they daily combat obstacles restricting quality education and have been among the first to recognize the University's weak areas.

But seeking input from outside investigators only is part of the solution. The University must evaluate students' earlier demands.

Although the scientists lauded the Vice Provost for Equal Opportunity position in the works as a step forward, administrators should not lose sight of the request made by demonstrators and the Forum for Black Affairs last year for a Vice President for Pan-African Affairs. Concerns of black students stand separately from those of other ethnic and racial students on campus and deserve additional attention.

While the University seems committed to making "the required structural arrangements," the report states black students believe they are underrepresented within all levels of the administrative power structure and perceive administrative efforts are grudging in nature.

When the scientists return next week they will have the opportunity to seek out additional student opinion -- opinion paramount to stabilizing the University's racial environment.

University officials need to continue listening to the scientists and students, so they can act effectively to improve the racial climate at Penn State.