Race-based orientation programs under scrutiny

Universities are facing pressure to reevaluate freshman orientation programs for minority students after the federal government launched an investigation of MIT.

Tufts has short summer programs for Asian- and African-American students, but these appear to comply with federal law because they do not bring members of particular racial groups to campus earlier than others and all students can attend, whatever their racial background.

The Department of Education began investigating MIT's programs last spring after receiving complaints from the Center for Equal Opportunity and the American Civil Rights Institute, two organizations that oppose race-conscious college admissions policies, the Chronicle of Higher Education reported recently.

In order to avoid similar government scrutiny, Princeton University changed its race-based orientation programs. Princeton plans to develop programs "that have the same impact [but are] consistent with the law," university officials recently told Chronicle.

At Tufts, cultural centers on campus sponsor short summer orientation events that focus on race. The Asian American Center sponsors a day on George's Island in Boston Harbor and the Africana Center holds a two-day retreat at Cape Cod that target specific cultural groups.

Both retreats focus on building communities and discussing the problems minorities face. "[The African-American program] is for those who are interested in the problems black students face at a predominantly white university," Africana Center Director Lisa Coleman said.

Tufts programs are smaller and shorter than those that are currently being investigated. They are also held between orientation and the start of school, unlike the pre-orientation programs at MIT.

Another difference is that Tufts' programs are open to students of all races and ethnicities, according to Dean of Students Bruce Reitman. And Africana Center director Lisa Coleman said that the Africana Center does not have any criteria for who can participate in its program. "How black you are is not something we ask," Coleman said.

But the Asian American Center's website states that their George's Island Outing is an event "open to all Asian/Asian-American first-year students," though the Asian American Center Open House is "open to all new students and parents."

Staffers at the Asian American Center declined to comment.

Tufts receives federal funding and therefore must comply with the 1964 Civil Right Act, which states that no one can be excluded from programs or be subjected to discrimination at universities that receive government money.

It is unlikely that any Tufts student would not be allowed to participate in an event, both Reitman and Coleman said. Reitman said that cultural groups at Tufts tend to be very inclusive as well. "I know of students living in the START house who were not Asian, and students in Capen who were not of that cultural group [African-Americans]," Reitman said.

But problems could arise because information on the programs is only sent to members of particular cultural groups. The Africana Center, for instance, sends invitations only to students who describe themselves as being of African decent on their admissions applications.

But Reitman said that focusing on the details of cultural orientation programs was unfair. "A lot of groups get together throughout the year to build support, and get to know the other people involved," Reitman said. "It's a fairly common experience."

Freshman Sarah Lim described the Asian American Center's George's Island Outing as a chance to build friendships before starting classes at Tufts. "We were able to talk to other freshmen and see if we had shared experiences," Lim said.