Student leaders, University faculty and administrators disagree on the extent of each group's contribution to Black History Month programs.

Some student leaders say black organizations contribute enough programming for Black History Month, but administrators and faculty need to get more involved.

"It's easy to see the major programming that's going on for Black History Month has been initiated by student organizations, specifically African organizations," said Norman Eric Bigelow, assistant vice president of Black Caucus. "I think this shows where the commitment lies -- from the students and not with the administration and most faculty."

But Cyril Griffith, professor of African history and studies, said he believes black faculty members do play an important role in the month's programming.

"Black faculty are involved in doing a number of things," Griffith said. "We all have different roles to play. Black students may not see us all the time, but that's OK as long as what we do is beneficial to the community."

Griffith said the public information office in Old Main has been putting him in contact with radio stations across the country to talk about Black History Month.

"The students should make more of an effort to see what faculty are involved in," Griffith said.

Vice Provost for Underrepresented Groups James Stewart said he believes the administration does a good job of providing programming through the Paul Robeson Cultural Center, but other groups need to make a better effort to provide programming.

"We need to encourage organizations that are not directly linked to black culture to provide programming," Stewart said. "When they continue to bring on more culturally diverse activities this will be evident that the background culture is changing."

Enough programming does exist for Black History Month, but too few students and members of faculty and staff attend the programs, Bigelow said. If more University community members would attend, they would gain a better understanding of black culture, he added.

"In a truly culturally diverse society, there should be no need for a Black History Month, women's history month or Latino or Hispanic history month," Bigelow said.

Bigelow said the faculty must realize the influence it has over white University graduate and undergraduate students in spreading awareness about black culture.

"If European undergraduates and graduates don't see a commitment to programming (from the faculty) for awareness of black culture, then why should they themselves foster the concern?" Bigelow said.