“Black student enrollment has been relatively stable at approximately 500 undergraduate students for the past decade — it was 515 this year, for example,” Cubbage says. While Black enrollment figures have remained constant, Black representation on campus decreased as Northwestern’s overall undergraduate enrollment grew, he says.
A private institution, Northwestern did not provide historical enrollment data. The student newspaper reported in 2006 that Black student enrollment hadn’t hit the 500 mark since 1992. Numbering 667, Blacks made up 9.6 percent of the undergraduate student body in 1976. In 2005, Blacks made up 5.5 percent of Northwestern undergraduates, the newspaper reported.
Cubbage says the university will not reverse its decision on awarding Rev. Wright an honorary degree. This is the first time in 150 years of commencement ceremonies, that Northwestern rescinded an honorary degree invitation.
However, Dillon says President Bienen has agreed to meet with her and others involved in the campaign on July 10.
“We are hopeful that this meeting is going to have real progress and a good outcome,” says Dillon.
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