RIVERSIDE – The University of California will try to recruit more minorities and provide more diversity training, the president of the UC system told students last week at an annual conference in Riverside.
About 600 students from the nine UC campuses attended the seventh-annual African Black Coalition Conference, which aims to promote the success of African-American students, said UC Riverside spokesperson Kris Lovekin.
The message was similar to one delivered in Temecula in February by Karen S. Haynes, president of California State University San Marcos. Haynes spoke of intensified minority recruitment efforts and other topics at a pair of services at Mountain View Community Church.
During last week’s Riverside conference, students questioned high-ranking university officials about various issues, such as diversity and budget problems.
The highlight of the conference for some students was an appearance via video link by Mark Yudof, the president of the UC system. Students urged him to dedicate more money for classes and financial aid for African-American students, Lovekin said.
Yudof, who spent 40 years as a civil rights attorney, pledged to increase the diversity of the students, staff and faculty and to offer more diversity training for police officers and others, the spokesperson said.
The event included workshops on various topics, such as career development, international politics, goal-setting, student activism, health and increasing the diversity of graduate schools and social events, such as poetry readings and talent shows.
The conference was organized by UC Riverside students with help from the Office of African Student Programs, Lovekin said.
