Southeast Missouri State University president Carlos Vargas-Aburto vowed Wednesday to "follow through" on a task force's recommendations to improve race relations by providing a more welcoming environment for minority students.

"I don't want them to sit there," he said of the task force's recommendations.

Vargas said he and his executive staff will look at ways to implement the suggestions offered by a 32-person task force of faculty, staff and students.

Vargas made his comments at a public forum at Academic Hall Auditorium that drew a crowd of about 50 people. Faculty, staff and task-force members comprised most of the audience. Only a few students — mostly task-force members — attended.

Vargas said he wants any diversity efforts to be included in the "life of the university" and not developed as a separate entity. Some recommendations will require funding, he said.

The task force grew out of a student protest at Southeast in November 2014 in response to the fatal shooting of an unarmed black teenager by a white police officer in Ferguson, Missouri, and the decision of a grand jury not to charge the officer.

The task force recently released a report that, among other things, calls for a leadership commitment to creating a welcoming campus climate for diversity, development of a strategic plan and implementing new diversity training for employees.

The task force also recommended expanding diversity course offerings and pursuing efforts to recruit more first-generation and low-income students.

The task force suggested the school needs to host events for alumni in "communities of color, international communities, urban areas outside of St. Louis and rural areas."

It advised the university to commission a study of the historical participation of minority students enrolled at Southeast and honor the history and traditions of these students and their achievements.

Black student Kevin Windham, a member of the task force, said the university needs to recognize minority students' accomplishments and display that information on campus.

"It would give students, especially who look like me, a sense of belonging," he said.

The first black student enrolled at Southeast in 1954, and that accomplishment should be recognized, he said.

Windham said black students need good role models. He added he didn't meet a "professional black man" until he came to Southeast as a student.

After the meeting, Windham acknowledged few students had attended the forum. Still, Windham said the efforts of the task force have helped engage students in the diversity issue.

When asked how to increase student involvement, he said, "I think we get people involved by giving them a voice."

The majority of students, faculty and staff at Southeast are white. In the 2014-2015 school year, minorities accounted for less than 13 percent of the university's employees. In fall 2015, white students made up nearly 70 percent of total enrollment. Blacks accounted for 8.5 percent of the student body, the task force reported.

University staff member Kei-Shae McCrary, who deals with student retention and is black, came to hear Wednesday's presentation. After the meeting, she expressed optimism the university won't pay just lip service to improving the climate of diversity on campus. She said the campus community will want to see results.

"We will look for action," she said.

mbliss@semissourian.com

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