Multicultural admissions counselor's top goal: Education

Coming to Calvin in the mid-70s was not easy for Harvey Scott.

"There were fewer African Americans as students and faculty and staff then there are now," said the 1977 graduate. "I knew I was coming to a predominantly white college but I was determined to make it for me and my parents."

It is with this background that Scott speaks to potential students as the new multicultural admissions counselor for Calvin.

"I tell them it's not going to be easy academically or socially. It's going to be a lot of work," he said. "It takes somebody with a lot of perseverance and somebody who is not afraid to say, `I need help.'"

Given those conditions however, Scott believes that Calvin is the right place for some minority students.

"Calvin is very strong academically," he said. "It's a good Christian place to learn and there are a lot of good people here."

Scott's goal for the 1996-97 year is to recruit 5-7 new students here; a second goal is to get them to stay.

"A real challenge is retention," he said. "It's about not being educated about different cultures and that's a two-way street. The community of Calvin needs to be educated about more people than Dutch CRC but minority students need to do their research about Calvin. They have to take the initiative to get involved and to meet other people and no, not everyone is going to be nice. But whether or not they are isn't always based on skin color."

Beyond the recruitment and retention of AHANA (Asian, Hispanic, African and Native American) students, Scott's goal is to educate ethnic communities about Calvin.

"We really need people to know that Calvin wants to enhance the presence of ethnic minority students here," he said. "The culture at Calvin is so traditional; it's not geared towards embracing students of other cultures. Yet, efforts are being made to educate, inform and accept.

"This is a Christian college and we are all God's people. When God created this world a lot of races came from our biblical ancestors. We are all created in his image. Just because we come from different places, doesn't mean that some have to be excluded."

Scott would like to a stronger collective effort by the Calvin community to get minority students and keep them.

"They need to know that they will be engaged and welcomed here." he said. "That will take the collective efforts of everyone."

Throughout the year Scott will continue to build ties with Calvin and ethnic minority communities.

"I like my job," he said. "I'm proud to be at Calvin and I really believe in what I'm doing here. That's what I want people to see in me."

Lynn Rosendale