WASHINGTON

In spite of California's Proposition 209 and the U.S. Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals Hopwood decision. minority students who hope to go on to major institutions of higher education shouldn't fret.

That was the sentiment expressed here at a national college fair by recruiters who reject the idea that the anti-affirmative action legislation would have a negative bearing on minority enrollment at private institutions.

"In fact, probably just the opposite,' said Edward Suarez, assistant director of admissions for Pitzer, a private college in Claremont. California. "We're thinking that private schools are perhaps going to receive more minority applications and, hopefully, enrollments."

A desire to attract African American students to their campuses was one of the primary reasons 165 public and private colleges attended the national fair in Washington. D.C. which has a high concentration of African American high school students. The fair, which is an annual event, was held at the D.C. Convention Center, and was attended by approximately 5,000 college hopefuls. Many of the high school juniors and seniors attended as part of field trips organized by their schools, which could account for the seeming lack of interest displayed by many of the students.

Suarez said that Pitzer would be eager to pick up the slack of the post-Prop 209 minority students who would perhaps not go on to the California state schools. Indeed Pitzer, which boasts a minority enrollment of 35 percent - only 5 percent African American - actively recruits minorities throughout Los Angeles and other cities in California. Suarez would like to see more Black and Hispanic students at Pitzer, and considers measures that may keep minorities from attending state institutions as a blessing for private schools.

Richard Blomgren, dean of admissions for Warren Wilson College, a private school in Asheville, North Carolina, echoed the same thoughts.

"The bad news is affirmative action is wavering," he said. "The good news is, for private colleges. that may mean an increase in minority applications."