I want to thank The Daily Tar Heel for commending the PURSUE program ("Granting Opportunity," Oct. 27) for its role in creating opportunities for minorities in graduate programs. I cannot emphasize enough the need for programs such as this.
As a recent graduate of this University and as a Native American, I am keenly aware of how under-represented minorities are in higher education, at both undergraduate and graduate levels. I often found myself being not only the sole Native American in my classes, but also the only minority. As a school that is committed to the state of North Carolina and its people, UNC should be more diversified at all levels. This includes not only the graduate level but also the undergraduate, staff and faculty levels as well.
In order to create a "stronger ethnic community in graduate programs," as the editorial stated, we must first increase ethnic visibility in the undergraduate community. This involves aggressive recruitment by the University and the minority students themselves. It is not only a desire but an urgent necessity that UNC become a better representation of the people that it serves.
And it is opportunity (which PURSUE is graciously creating) that is key to helping achieve diversity at UNC. If no opportunity is offered, then it is difficult to enrich this school, this state and its people with the unique and vitally important perspectives offered by minority students.
Jake Brayboy
Research Technician
Pathology
