Urgent action

The entire University must ensure that black students are heard

Penn State, beware. You may lose one of the most important minority voices you have at the University, and you only have until 5 p.m. today to stop it.

Black Caucus, formed "to promote the positive and successful growth and development of black students," is close to dissolving its membership, effective Fall Semester 1997.

This organization provides students with speakers, as well as cultural and social programming that has enhanced the educational environment for many years.

In 1970, a group of students demonstrated and fought for the right to have a black student group on campus. And many challenges still face the black community at Penn State.

Black students are still fighting for rights; issues such as minority retention and recruitment, scholarships and programming are some challenges the whole University community must still think about.

Black students compose the largest enrolled minority group at the University Park campus -- more than 1,200 students at the University identify themselves as black. And of those students, about 350 are members of Black Caucus.

Yet, despite these numbers, only two students have come out so far and applied for executive positions in the caucus, leaving the largest voice for black students at the University in danger of dissolving.

Black students need a strong voice to keep minority issues at the forefront of the University agenda. The University could easily ignore the black population if this group is allowed to dissolve.

This must not happen. The responsibility for keeping this organization afloat does not rest solely on the members of Black Caucus. Should this group dissolve, the whole community could suffer, and it is the responsibility of groups such as the Undergraduate Student Government, the African Sudents Association and other organizations to make sure the voice of hundreds of students is not silenced.

No one can make any more excuses. Don't wait for someone else to step up and take control of the situation.

It's your turn to make a difference. Don't let one of the most important groups on campus fade into nonexistence.

Act right now, before it's too late. Contact the Black Caucus office in 213 HUB or call 863-0047 to ask for an application for executive office.

The deadline for applications is 5 p.m. today.