If Chancellor James Ammons meets his goal for 2008, North Carolina Central University will have nearly 8,000 total students enrolled.

In order to meet that goal, the university will have to actively recruit more minorities.

There are currently 5,753 students enrolled at NCCU.

“We will not be able to do this if we do not seek a diverse population,” said Ammons. “We have a lot to offer students at NCCU. The university will offer grants and scholarships to recruiting white, Native American and Hispanic students.”

Minority attendance at NCCU has continued to grow. According to Paul Goldblatt, NCCU director of residential life, the campus conducted approximately 400 diversity programs last year alone. Some of the themes of last year’s programs included salsa dancing lessons, respecting differences in appearance, and programs to alleviate homophobia.

“I’d like to think that these programs are extremely important,” Goldblatt said. “I think it’s one of the reasons why we haven’t had any problems between minorities and non-minorities [on campus].” “There has been an increase [in minority enrollment] every year for the past five years.”

Ammons discussed some of his recruitment efforts on the WNCU 90.7 radio program “A Quien Corresponda.”

“Increasing the number of Hispanic students enrolled at NCCU is one of our enrollment goals. We are offering one of the best scholarships America has to offer,” said Ammons.

The chancellor is referring to a scholarship aimed at National Achievement, National Merit and National Hispanic Scholars. The scholarship pays tuition,

fees, room and board, in addition to a stipend to cover miscellaneous expenses. If possible, it may also provide four paid summer internships.

Ammons discussed the purpose of this particular recruitment focus.

“I believe that developing programs to adequately meet the needs of the Hispanic population is eminent because of the rapidly growing Hispanic population,” said Ammons. “The big news coming out of the 2000 census is that the Hispanic population in the United States has grown so rapidly in the past decade that it is roughly the same size as the African-American population nationwide.”

Ammons discussed the effect a more diversified student body would have of NCCU’s academic life.

“I understand the critical role that education can play in bridging the racial divide,” said Ammons. “I believe the nation’s future depends upon leaders trained through exposure to the ideas and mores of a diverse student population.

“Encountering students from different racial and ethnic groups helps students to get to know one another and appreciate both similarities and differences. I think that a diversified student body helps to prepare students for what they are likely to face when they enter the workforce.”

However, is it possible, in an attempt to promote NCCU’s growth, that the term “historically black university” will take on an all-too-literal meaning?

“I think that the morale of the school would change if the [minority] population goes up, and so would the family-like atmosphere,” said Sheena D. Taylor, 20, sophomore history major. “I’ve met a lot of students who have problems with race relations.”

David Gardener, 20, a junior English major, said that a change would be good once facilities are adequate to accomodate more students. But when asked about his feelings about a drastic minority increase, Gardener replied: “I think that the school spirit would change.”

Ammons said he doesn’t have such worries.