The Michigan Daily - Thursday, September 6, 1984 - Page 5 Counseling for minority students is available By MARLA GOLD Minority students at the University frequently complain about feeling isolated, alone and out of place. They must adjust to a new environment - a predominantly white environment. And sometimes that can be difficult. In order to combat these problems, the University provides special services geared toward helping minority studen- ts adjust to and succeed in an un- familiar environment. Minority Student Services is the only University-sponsored resource which is staffed completely with minority per- sonnel. The office sponsors culturally- oriented programs for Native American, Hispanic, Asian American and black students throughout the year. In addition MSS offers personal coun- seling, advice about academic and financial assistance and has career fairs for minority students. The office also keeps a listing of Detroit-area non- University minority organizations. The Opportunity Program/Com- prehensive Studies Program, another University-sponsored office, provides academic and personal counseling to all students. However, the program's emphasis is on helping minority studen- ts succeed academically at the University. And according to Gus Pap- pas, an opportunity Program/CSP ad- visor, minority students are "highly represented" in this program although its services are available to all studen- ts. In addition to these services, there are several other campus organizations specifically for minority students. Dorm minority peer advisors and the Michigan Student Assembly office can provide more information about these groups. After a decades struggle, blacks at the University still find harassment and feelings of isolation a problem. Blacks' gains fall short By MARLA GOLD Randy McDuffie says being a black student at the University is like "being a foreigner in your native land." "I learned more about racism here in the last year than I had in my entire U e," said McDuffie who is the ichigan Student Assembly's vice president for minority affairs. HE IS A member of a small minority group at the University. And like many members of this group, McDuffie com- plains frequently about feeling isolated and being racially harassed. The LSA junior says he has experienced "beer cans being thrown at me from car win- dows, and being involved in alter- cations just because I'm black." Nevertheless, he has remained at the University. McDuffie says the only reason he stays here is to avoid becoming another statistic, another ~percentage in the already alarmingly high attrition rate for black students. For more than a decade, the Univer- sity has been struggling to improve its reputation with black students. And for the most part, it's efforts have been un- successful. sAST YEAR, only 4.9 percent of the 6 -tudents on campus were black. And although admissions officials an- ticipate this year's black enrollment >,rill be slightly higher, the figures are still dismal. They've been dismal for a Jong time. And fourteen years, ago, people tired to do something about them. Dissatisfaction with the University culminated with the Black Action Movement strike in March of 1970. Students, faculty members and Univer- sity employees who protested the school's low black enrollment virtually shut down the campus. Buildings were closed, classes were cancelled and promises were made. IN AN EFFORT to settle the strike, the University administrators pledged to boost black enrollment to 10 percent during the next three years. Trotter House, a cultural center for black students was also established. However, today, fourteen years later, few promises have been kept. Black enrollment never reached 10 percent. It peaked at 7.6% in 1976 and has dropped steadily every year since. AND TROTTER House is no longer a center solely for black students. Over the years, it's become a multi-ethnic center - a center which has been without a full-time permanent director for over a year. Despite the promises, problems - like harassment and isolation - still ,exist for black students. "Something about the University of Michigan separates people," said Michael Sudarkasa, a senior in the honors college. "People think the only reason we're here is because we're black," said Judy Creagh, an LSA sophomore. McDuffie says it's up to the Univer- sity to dissolve these prejudices and tensions. According to Yvette DeBois, an orientation leader, the phrase "Niggers go home," found its way onto an orien- tation sign-up board. McDUFFIE SAYS people bring stereotypes with them from home. Ac- cording to DeBois, black students "quickly get good at ignoring prejudice." White people "just assume that black people know what it's like to live on welfare and to use food stamps, even if you come from a white suburb." To Creagh, many white students believe black students are here just to fill an affirmative action quote. "UNTIL THE University starts changing those things, there will be a lot of tension between blacks and whites," he added. Black students say this tension is manifested by both subtle and blatant acts - like the incidents McDuffie describes - of racism. Racist comments are often scrawled on bathroom walls and bulletin boards, students say. AND RACIAL prejudices show up in conversations about as frequently as anti-black messages are found on bathroom walls. According to black students, sen- timents like these force black students to stick together. Bethany Spotts, a 1975 business school graduate, notes that black students and white students rarely mixed socially. She said she remem- bers "white students sitting with white students, and black students sitting with black students in the dorm cafeterias." THIS CAN be difficult for the student who is trying to be socially accepted. According to Creagh, the fact that "different (ethnic) groups didn't mix here, like in Lansing" - her home town - made it difficult for her to adjust. However, both black faculty mem- bers and students recommend joining organizations to overcome the isolation blacks often feel at the University. DEBOIS SAYS students should meet as many different people as possible. "Don't get involved only in minority government," she said, adding that he University acts as a mirror for society' attitudes. And what doesn't go over big at the University probably won't go over big anywhere else. But even though the feelings of ostracism can sometimes be over- powering, most blacks who attend the University say they don't regret their decision to come here. "Part of the education process here is meeting and interacting with different people," McDuffie said. Counseling can vent college pressures By MARIA GERMINARIO Being a student at the University has its ups and downs. Almost everyone, at one time or another, suf- fers from anxieties over midterms, dormfood, roommates, or simply adjusting to the world of college. But even when the problems seem insurmountable, you aren't alone. The University provides counseling to help students cope with these and other difficulties. COUNSELING SERVICES, located in the Michigan Union, aids people with long range concerns such as depression and academic pressures. Here, psychologists, social workers, and peer counselors help students come to terms with personal and interpersonal concerns. Initial appointments are available on a walk-in basis Monday through Friday at 10 and 11a.m. and 3 to 4 p.m. 76-GUIDE, a telephone counseling service, is af- filiated with the counseling services office. GUIDE, a per program staffed by trained student counselors, helps students deal with short term concerns. ACCORDING TO Evelyn Gauthier, assistant direc- tor of counseling services, GUIDE's primary fun- ction is "to listen and give feedback. People will use GUIDE when their normal support system isn't available to them," she added. According to Gauthier, there are three types of callers who use the GUIDE phone lines: " Crisis situation callers, who receive refereal in- formation or personal counseling; " Situational problem callers include problems such as disappointment or pressure build-up; " Regular callers, who use GUIDE for support of- ten. GUIDE LINES operate from 5 p.m. to 8 a.m. Mon- day through Friday. Weekend phones are in operation from 5 p.m. Friday to 8 a.m. Monday. Students can contact the service by dialing 76- GUIDE. Because of budget cutbacks, GUIDE does not operate during the spring and summer terms. All GUIDE calls are kept confidential. In addition to University services, students can receive personal and social counseling at the Coun- seling Center, located at 1007 E. Huron. Here, the staff consists of clinical psychology graduate studen- ts. The first consultation is free, however, a fee is charged for testing. University students can also receive informal counseling through residence halls and student sup- port groups. Being at the University can be difficult, but there is always a place for students to turn when they need help. LLLI GET ACQUAINTED ICE CREAM SOCIAL (FREE) Sunday, Sept. 11, 1984 Noon - 2:00PM WESLEY FOUNDATION (United Methodist Campus Ministry) 602 E. Huron Corner of Huron & State Across from the Frieze Bldg. All U-M students welcome For more info - Call 668-6881 4..' o1 QT~ CDM (0~r~ &, a -. c i I