[Current Issue]

Front Page
Campus News
A & E
Sports
Opinions
Q & A...
NC Sees U
Letters
Sound Off

 Archives

 Staff
Ad Rates
Contact us

NCCU Year
in Pictures

NCCU home

Sixty-seven percent of N.C. Central University students said they agree with the statement that “Racism is something that will never go away. It’s part of the human condition,” according to a spring 2000 survey conducted by the Campus Echo and Public Issues Reporting, a journalism class taught by 
Campus Echo adviser Bruce dePyssler. 

NCCU Student Survey A four-part series Part two: Race Relations Roland Yearwood/ Echo Staff Artist

In the survey, 32 percent of Central’s students said that they would estimate that one in two whites could be described as “a little racist.” 

Twenty-six percent of Central’s students said that less than 10 percent of whites could be described as “very racist,” while 38 percent said that between 11 and 25 percent of whites could be described as “very racist.”

Twenty-four percent said that between 51 percent and 75 percent of whites could be described as “very racist,” and six percent said that more than 75 percent of whites could be described as “very racist.”

But most of Central’s students see no problem with interracial marriage for their kin or themselves. Only 11 percent agreed with the statement that “It would bother me if a close relative decided to marry a member of another racial group.” Seventy-three percent strongly or somewhat disagreed, and 15 percent had no opinion. 

Sixty-eight percent strongly or somewhat agreed with the statement, “I would consider marrying a member of another racial group, if I fell in love with that person.” Eighteen percent strongly or somewhat disagreed with the statement, and 14 percent had no opinion. 

Inequality and racial discrimination need to be addressed by governmental action according to students. 

Seventy percent agreed with the statement, “Employers should make special efforts to hire and promote qualified minorities to undo past discrimination against minorities.”    Sixty-six percent agreed with this statement when it was worded “to undo past discrimination against women.” 

While affirmative action gets a vote of support from Central’s students, reparations — for any racial group — gets less support.  Less than half (48 percent) of Central’s students agreed with the statement, “Because of slavery, the US government should begin paying reparations (or financial damages) to African Americans.” Fifty-two percent disagreed with the statement. 

Forty-five percent strongly or somewhat agreed with the statement, “I would favor a one percent national sales tax that would be used to repay American Indians for the land they lost when Europeans settled in the US.” 

Twenty-seven percent disagreed with the statement and 27 percent had no opinion. 

Interestingly, Central’s students do not confirm popular perceptions that African Americans feel that immigrants pose a threat. 

Most students (61 percent) had no opinion on the statement, "Immigrants are generally good for the American economy.” 

Indeed, only 9 percent disagreed with the statement. More than one in two of Central’s students strongly or somewhat disagreed with the statement, “The number of immigrants nowadays should be decreased.” Few strongly or somewhat agreed (15 percent). Many had no opinion on the matter. 

Supporting this position one finds that Central’s student do not completely buy into English only attitudes. The largest proportion strongly or somewhat disagreed with the statement, “The government should have policies that discourage the use of languages other than English,” though about one in three strongly or somewhat agreed with the statement. About one in four had no opinion.

Fifty-six percent strongly or somewhat agreed with the statement that “Inequality continues to exist because it benefits the rich and powerful.” Few (12 percent) strongly or somewhat disagreed with the statement, and 32 percent had no opinion. 

This series of reports on student life at NCCU is drawn from a Campus Echo student survey conducted in Spring 2000.

It’s the product of a partnership between the Campus Echo and Public Issues Reporting, a journalism course taught by English assistant professor Bruce dePyssler.

In all, the student survey asked 165 questions.

Some questions came from the National Opinion Research Center, and others were designed by the reporting class to be specific to Central.

Questions on a variety of topics were asked.

These included the NCCU experience and attitudes on a number of issues such as sex, relationships, media, race, immigration, religion, economics, and the role of government.

The Campus Echo will present its findings in future issues.

A random sample of NCCU students was provided by the Office of Research, Evaluation and Planning The survey was administered to over 150 students.