2008 Woodie Awards
University recognized for its diversity efforts
Andrew Whitman
Issue date: 10/31/07 Section: News
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The UW-Whitewater academic programs that encourage students of color to excel through its culture was recognized by the editor of UMOJA Magazine for the diversity efforts.
Milele Chikasa Anana is in charge of operating the magazine featuring success stories from various black artists. The latest edition featured a painting by UW-Whitewater alumnus Jerry Jordan.
"Because of the success rate in graduating students, UW-Whitewater has been nicknamed
'The Black College' in the Midwest," she said in the article. "But that success rate is a good thing and we hope Whitewater is exerting more efforts to retain that title."
UW-Whitewater does offer several programs to encourage multicultural students, however, Anana said it is not so much the programs that need be credited but the staff and the culture. "The Black College" in the Midwest is not an official title.
"I don't get my information from statistics, I get it from talking to students," she said. "From time to time I have been able to feature [UW-Whitewater] students. [UW-Whitewater] does make an effort to retain students [of color]."
Anana credits UW-Whitewater's success with the culture and staff.
"There are a number of professors there who want students to succeed and give them success," she said. "It's deliberate on professors to nurture the students."
Culture is not something an institution comes with, but is created through interaction. Anana compares the culture on campus to walking into a store.
"If you walk in and nobody says anything to you, you may walk out, but if people start asking you questions you'll stay," she said.
The reason most colleges do not do enough to retain students of color is there is not a level playing field. Anana said there are more blacks in prison than in college.
Universities had been closed to black students for 400 years, and it has only been open to blacks for 50 years, she said.
Milele Chikasa Anana is in charge of operating the magazine featuring success stories from various black artists. The latest edition featured a painting by UW-Whitewater alumnus Jerry Jordan.
"Because of the success rate in graduating students, UW-Whitewater has been nicknamed
'The Black College' in the Midwest," she said in the article. "But that success rate is a good thing and we hope Whitewater is exerting more efforts to retain that title."
UW-Whitewater does offer several programs to encourage multicultural students, however, Anana said it is not so much the programs that need be credited but the staff and the culture. "The Black College" in the Midwest is not an official title.
"I don't get my information from statistics, I get it from talking to students," she said. "From time to time I have been able to feature [UW-Whitewater] students. [UW-Whitewater] does make an effort to retain students [of color]."
Anana credits UW-Whitewater's success with the culture and staff.
"There are a number of professors there who want students to succeed and give them success," she said. "It's deliberate on professors to nurture the students."
Culture is not something an institution comes with, but is created through interaction. Anana compares the culture on campus to walking into a store.
"If you walk in and nobody says anything to you, you may walk out, but if people start asking you questions you'll stay," she said.
The reason most colleges do not do enough to retain students of color is there is not a level playing field. Anana said there are more blacks in prison than in college.
Universities had been closed to black students for 400 years, and it has only been open to blacks for 50 years, she said.
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howard ross
posted 10/31/07 @ 5:46 AM CST
According to Milele Chikasa Anana, Universities had been closed to black students for 400 years, and it has only been open to blacks for 50 years, she said. (Continued…)
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