The University's interim representative for underrepresented groups aims to improve the University's public image to increase the recruitment of minority students.

While officials say it could take from one week to a year to permanently fill the position, W. Terrell Jones will serve as special assistant to the Vice Provost for Academic Services pending permanent selection.

The interim position was announced at last month's University Board of Trustees meeting.

"Part of the negative image we have . . . we earned it," Jones said.

But misconceptions that the University is the state's "most racist institution" need to be corrected, he said of his primary goal. "That's not a logo we can recruit under."

To accomplish his goal, Jones said he plans to meet with parents of prospective students, visit urban recruiting centers, and develop television and radio advertisements portraying a positive University climate.

"We want to see about interacting with some . . . media advertising people," he said.

But student leaders are optimistic that Jones will work on more than the University's image.

Contact with students will be another important part of his job, Jones said, noting he recently sent about 60 letters to student organizations to learn about issues that concern them most.

International Student Council President Abbas Aminmansour said he has received such a letter from Jones and is optimistic about what Jones can accomplish in the new position.

"I'm confident that Mr. Jones will do his best. He's a capable person," he said. "Yes, I wish we had a permanent person, but I'm not unhappy with the present situation, either."

Although he expressed concern after the trustees meeting that the interim position would cause complications, Black Caucus President Walter Mosley said he approved of Jones for the temporary position.

"He's always been concerned for all student concerns," he said. "His efforts are sincere."

Jeff McCarty, political co-director of the Lesbian and Gay Student Alliance, said two of his organization's main goals are adding sexual orientation to the University's anti-discrimination clause, and improving the atmosphere for gay, lesbian and bisexual students on campus.

Although he does not expect LGSA to receive top priority from Jones's office, McCarty said he believes Jones will treat everyone fairly.

"I don't think that LGSA is going to get a back burner," he said.

Since the position is a new one, Jones said it is important to start establishing new programs and addressing important issues now, clearing the path for whoever eventually takes over.

"I think you have to start framing the position for whoever is involved," he said. Starting now will help, rather than hinder the future vice provost, he added.

"I don't think I'm starting anything that unusual," he said. "The more foundation there is, the more directions there are to take off in."

Duties of the permanent office were announced at a fall 1988 trustees' meeting and include:

-- Overseeing the Equal Opportunity Planning Commission.

-- Acting as an administrative liaison for the Commission for Women.

-- Taking responsibility for a commission on minority affairs, on organization the administration plans to create at the urging of the group Men and Women of Color, a faculty and staff organization.

-- Coordinating equal opportunity efforts between various colleges and non-academic units University-wide.

-- Supervising Faculty Senate issues pertaining to minorities.

-- Drafting proposals to implement the University's diversification goal.

-- Periodically reporting on the status of racial and ethnic diversification efforts.

Jones is filling some expectations of the permanent position as he said he serves on the Equal Opportunity Planning Commission and is taking part in most of these duties in one way or another.

He said it would be "politically astute" for the permanent vice provost to be involved in each of these duties. But, he said it would be impossible for one person to perform all of them alone.

"I don't think one person can do everything," he said.

The vice provost position was formed partly as a result of the Spring 1988 Telecommunications Building sit in. Protesting what they termed administrative indifference to racial concerns, students presented administrators with a list of demands, including a vice provost for Pan-African concerns.

The Forum on Black Affairs, a group of faculty and staff members, made a similar demand to the administration in the fall 1987.

Vasundara Varadan, chairwoman of the vice provost search committee, said it took about a year after the protest for administrators to develop a job description. The search committee was appointed in February 1989, she said.

"Our search committee has not been searching for two years," she said.

Finding another qualified candidate to fill the permanent position could take anywhere from one week to another year, she added.

Although the new provost will address the concerns of groups other than black students, Varadan said the broader scope will enhance the position.

"I don't see how the concerns of one group are different in philosophy from the concerns of another group," she said. All groups will benefit from the new position, she said.