Southern Law Center's Increasing White Enrollment Concerns Lawmaker
By Scott Dyer

BATON ROUGE, La.

One of the most powerful African Americans in the Louisiana Legislature is warning that historically Black Southern University Law Center may be turning too White.

Caucasian students accounted for 33 percent of the Baton Rouge law school's total enrollment for the 2002-2003 academic year, while 65 percent of the student body was African American. Other races accounted for the remaining 2 percent.

But state Rep. Arthur Morrell, a Democrat from New Orleans who chairs the Louisiana Legislative Black Caucus, said he is concerned that the growing White enrollment may displace prospective Black law students.

"That school was created for a reason, and if that reason is dissipating, what's going to happen to the minorities who want to attend law school but can't get in?" Morrell asked.

Morrell said when he attended Southern University law school years ago, it was only about 10 percent White.

"What's going to happen if you get 60 or 70 percent White? Is it still going to be considered a historically Black law school?" Morrell asked. "The historical mission isn't being accomplished when there are more and more non-minority students being admitted," Morrell said.

Southern Law Center Chancellor Freddie Pitcher Jr. said he was surprised at Morrell's attack, which came at a state legislative budget hearing. Pitcher said the school's diversity should be applauded, not criticized.

"We have one of the most diverse law schools in the nation, and it's good for Southern University and it's good for Louisiana," Pitcher says. "It's a great mixture, and folks are getting along fine."

In addition to producing most of Louisiana's Black attorney and judges, the law center has produced a number of White judges, lawmakers and district attorneys, Pitcher said.

Among the White students who are currently attending Southern University Law Center is Louisiana Governor Mike Foster, who said he's not aware of race ever emerging as an issue during the three years that he has attended the school on a part-time basis.