The news media has provided intense coverage to the University of Illinois lately, including front-page headlines, editorials and pundit commentaries. And many discussions have focused on the board of trustees and their suggested wrongdoing in the clout-based admission of some students to the university.
A blue ribbon committee was formed to investigate and evaluate the practices, and they recommended to Governor Pat Quinn that the entire board resign.
All but two did -- the two so-called minority board members, Dr. Frances Carroll and attorney James Montgomery.
Montgomery clearly argued that a resignation would be an admission of guilt, and that he and Carroll had done nothing wrong, so a resignation was not in order.
These two board members held their positions, issued a challenge to the government's just cause to remove them and, thus, threatened a lengthy, drawn-out and very public court case.
It is quite likely that Gov. Quinn would have suffered political consequences. It's also quite likely that the governor realized that he did not have just cause to remove them in the first place, so he retreated, and the two remaining Board members will complete their six-year terms.
Whiteout on The Board of Trustees
In the coverage and subsequent discussions of The University of Illinois as it relates to race relations, some facts regarding minorities were not covered. The Montgomery / Carroll position was a correct one to take.
But who has been sitting on that board for the past 60 years?
Upon review, the summary for minority participation is shameful, with fewer than 20 black board members serving their appointment terms. Among the blacks who have served are:
- Richard Harewood (1959-1962)
- Theodore Jones (1963-1971)
- Earl Neal (1971-1983)
- Albert Logan (1983-1989)
- Ann E. Smith (1985-1988)
- Roger L. Plummer (1997-2003)
- Frances G. Carroll (2003-2011)
- James Montgomery (2007-2013)
Montgomery's and Carroll's simultaneous service marks only the second time in recent history that two blacks have served on the board at the same time; previously, it was Albert Logan and Ann E. Smith who served.
Beyond just focusing on the board members, we should also focus our attention on the dismal black enrollment statistics at the university.
According to fall 2008 data from The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a government organization that collects, analyzes and provides education-related data:
- White: 44.7 percent
- Asian/Pacific Islander: 22.8 percent
- Hispanic: 17 percent
- Black: 8.6 percent
Now that there is a new board of trustees at the University of Illinois and the controversy has lessened, perhaps the focus can shift to the lack of black students.
Perhaps an aggressive initiative to recruit, retain, and graduate minority students should be set forth.
Perhaps a blue ribbon committee should be established to investigate the diversity problem. Or maybe someone will decide to write front-page stories and take firm positions in the editorial pages.
Perhaps, just perhaps, attention could be paid to this minor issue as we continue to pay taxes that support the schools just as the political season approaches.
Perhaps now is the best time to expect the issue of higher education to actually be addressed and perhaps we'll find some real solutions.