It is time for university administrators to readdress campus diversity. According to estimates from the Penn State Office of Admissions, minority applications are down about 6 percent from last year.

In late January, Rodney Erickson, university vice president and provost, announced applications from prospective African-American students were down 15 percent from last year. In the last two weeks, that figured has gone to 10 percent.

While university officials said there are several causes for declining minority interest, one of the major reservations prospective African-American students voiced about attending Penn State was the racial climate on campus. Specifically, concerns were voiced about last spring's death threat to former Black Caucus President LaKeisha Wolf. As evidenced by the numbers, selling Penn State to prospective black students has become more difficult.

After April's sit-in at the HUB-Robeson Center, the university made several changes -- they were, however, not quite enough. It is true the university's reputation has been smudged, but incoming students concerned about racial tensions on campus should not be coddled with propaganda and public relations. The administration needs to address the issue honestly by not cutting corners, by listening to minority student concerns and by commenting on specific progress the university has made.Penn State also needs to start making constructive changes in its recruiting system. The university's face and image needs to be improved along with its outreach programs. High school seniors need more than a diversity video to ease their concerns over racial tensions on campus. One option is comprehensive recruitment packets. Another is more minority representation in the recruitment process.

In addition, prospective minority students should be assured the fabric of the campus as a whole is not racist. The student body has shown in the past, and will continue to show in the future, that it will not tolerate racism on campus.

The administration, above all, should not attack what happened last spring as a public relations issue. They expected lower enrollment after the sit-in and should address, not deflect, concerns stemming from it.