I just wanted to clarify one of the things I was quoted as saying in the article “Diversity Declining, SMU seeing white”.

I do not think that SMU officials have failed at sustaining strong minority programs, but have done the best with what they have. My comments may have been misinterpreted as criticisms of programs such as the Association of Black Students, Black Men Emerging, Sisters Supporting Sisters and a variety of other minority-based organizations on this campus, and this was not my intention.

You do not need to be on a campus of 50,000 to have sustainability, but you do need leadership and work ethic. The leadership qualities that every member brings to every single one of these organizations is unparalleled.

Through the leadership and work of SMU officials such as Jennifer Jones, Ke’Ana Hardy, Fernando Salazar, Nessa Duque and several others in the Student Activity and Multicultural Student Affairs office, these programs have become a cornerstone for minority development here at SMU and all of these programs are strong and very well sustained.

What I was commenting on was how the stereotype SMU has hindered us from bringing in as many minority students as possible into these organizations.

The simple truth is that SMU does have a specific image, and this image does not always appeal to people of different backgrounds.

– Elzie Odom