[mochabonnie]

For people who say it's time to stop separating...and who contend that black colleges were created at a time when blacks were separated from whites, and that blacks should get back into a 'real school'

...I see it the same way I would when comparing women's colleges and co-ed colleges. Women's colleges began opening at a time when women were prevented from going to college with men, because they were thought to have substandard learning curves -- the same predicament blacks were in. This lasted well into the 1950s. Over time, many schools went co-ed, but women still had women's colleges, and they still do. Much research is being done on how women achieve at women's colleges, and surveys show that women who attend women's colleges tend to do better in math, science in business fields; they are more likely to get a degree in majors that have higher average earnings; they are more satisfied with their college experiences, have higher self-esteem, and are more involved in philanthropic activities after college. Why?

Well, because at women's colleges, the curriculum is specially attuned towards the needs of women. In the classroom, learning styles can be tailored to the needs of women; outside of the classroom, the women have greater models of leaders, because 90 percent of women's colleges have women presidents, and 55 percent of the faculty is made of women. Also, all the student leaders -- president of the SGA, presidents of all the clubs -- are women, and the counseling services are especially tailored towards women.

It's the same thing with HBCUs. At an HBCU, the percentage of ethnic faculty and staff members is far greater than is usually found at a PWI. This way, the predominantly black student body can find leaders in their faculties, and also among their students, since all the clubs and stuff are going to be headed up by black people. Just because HBCUs were created at a time when prejudice was all around doesn't mean they are something that needs to be eradicated, just because prejudice and discrimination is suddenly 'over'.

I also agree that it isn't necessarily all about the college that you went to but the opportunities and things you put yourself up for. Certainly, I'm going to an HBCU, but that doesn't mean I'm going to be sheltered from the real world. Spelman is a member of the ARCHE, which means I can take classes at Emory, UGA, Agnes Scott, and Georgia State. I can go visit my friends on ASC's campus, my friends on Emory's campus; I can use Emory and ASC's libraries and even take out books. And we all have access to the huge city of Atlanta and beyond. And Spelman has exchange agreements with many PWI, including Wellesley College. Just because I go to an HBCU doesn't mean I won't get the total world experience -- it all depends on what you decide to do.