The University’s Black Male Leadership Initiative hosted its second annual LSU Preview Day on Wednesday to provide insight into college life for young black males as they explore their options after high school graduation.
Aside from touring the campus, more than 100 black males from seven schools in East Baton Rouge and one from New Orleans met members of the Black Male Leadership Initiative, or BMLI, to discuss the experiences of black males at the University.
“Among college enrollment rates between the ages of 18 to 24, black males represent 33.8 percent, which is about 10.4 percent of the total male population, that’s entering into college,” said Vincent Harris, graduate coordinator of BMLI.
Harris said an important part of LSU Preview Day is to address the lack of black males in college and to urge them to attend the University.
“It’s important for all individuals to have the best opportunities that they can in life, and research has shown that college and postsecondary opportunities are the best way to ensure that students of all ages, and especially black males, have a better chance at reaching their potential,” he said.
Students start considering college from seventh through ninth grade, Harris said. He also said departments ranging from the Office of Multicultural Affairs to student athletic programs will help students during their experience at college.
Karon Alexander, petroleum engineering junior and member of the BMLI, volunteered to be a panelist who told students what to expect in order to get into college.
“College gives you that way of actually obtaining a degree which will actually help you further and better yourself in all aspects of life further down the line,” Alexander said.
Alexander compared LSU Preview Day to SpringFest, an event he attended his junior year of high school hosted by the Office of Multicultural Affairs to bring minority students to the University for a weekend.
“They had Greeks come speak to us, they had upperclassmen speak to us and it really just enlightened me on LSU as a whole,” he said.
“… Research has shown that college and postsecondary opportunities are the best way to ensure that students of all ages, and especially black males, have a better chance at reaching their potential.”
