Witt urges racial diversity in fraternity system but not by force

[Kevin]

Associated Press
March 5, 2003

Witt urges racial diversity in fraternity system but not by force

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. -- University of Alabama President Robert Witt is
encouraging racial diversity in the Greek social system at the
Capstone but says the administration should not compel it.

"The more diverse the environment is, the richer the academic
experience is," Witt said Tuesday. "I do not think it would be
appropriate to force the issue."

Witt, who spent the weekend unpacking boxes in his new office, spoke
at a news conference on his first full day on the job as Alabama's
new president.

While touching on a number of subjects, he said educating students on
the need for diversity and creating social awareness would be more
effective than administrative intervention in the fraternity and
sorority system. UA has 21 all-white fraternities and eight all-black
Greek groups.

Melody Twilley, a black honors student who drew news media attention
when she was rejected by all of UA's white sororities in 2000 and
2001, started a new multicultural sorority last year. Also, Lambda
Sigma Phi, a faith-based group, is the only majority white Greek
organization on campus that has accepted black members.

On other subjects, Witt said that while the university's party-school
ranking has drawn wide notice, its recent achievement of having five
students named to the USA Today All-USA College Academic Team
received a lot less attention. No other university had as many
students on the team.

"The university that led that list by far was the University of
Alabama," he said. "That story came and went in a day."

To revive it, Witt has made a commercial emphasizing the achievement.
It will be aired during Alabama sports broadcasts.

Witt said increasing academic standards may cost the university some
students, but he said it will ultimately attract more and
better-qualified students.

"The signal that you send to students is that the university is an
institution that places an emphasis on academics," he said.

(c) 2003 The Associated Press.