University of Nebraska Student Government Seeks Apology From Regent Over Remarks - Abstract - Brief Article

Black Issues in Higher Education, March 29, 2001

LINCOLN, NEB.

Students and faculty have said remarks by University of Nebraska Regent Drew Miller on recruiting minority students made them feel insignificant and unwelcome.

The Association of Students of the University of Nebraska voted to ask Miller to apologize.

Last month, Miller said recruiting more minority students could hurt the Lincoln campus' national ranking. He made the comments during a discussion of student recruitment plans at the Board of Regents meeting.

"If you try to target minority populations," Miller said, "you will run into problems in the long run, because you will drag down your test scores."

Scores from standardized tests like the ACT and SAT are used by U.S. News and World Report and others to rate colleges. There is a longstanding argument that the tests are culturally biased, putting minority students at a disadvantage.

NU President L. Dennis Smith criticized Miller's remarks, saying he did not agree with them, and they did not reflect the position of the Board of Regents.

Miller later said he was not against recruiting minority students. However, he said the university does have to recruit some high-scoring students and watch its rankings.