Diversity is one of the thriving attributes of MSU's campus, and it is important for officials to keep this in mind when applications start rolling in.

MSU's freshman class is expected to have a lower number of minority students than last year for the four major ethnic groups - black, Asian American and Pacific Islander, Native American and Chicano and Latino. Black freshman students have seen the largest enrollment decrease - only 650 this fall compared to 707 students in 2002. And Native Americans have the smallest minority enrollment with only 45 enrolled, down 12 from last year.

But as MSU's total enrollment is expected to decrease by less than 450 students, MSU's diversity percentages have remained the same.

Total minority enrollment is expected to be about 16.6 percent of the student body, which is actually .2 percent higher than last year. Enrollment numbers were expected to be finalized Thursday, which was the last day to register for classes.

It's good to see MSU enrollment has maintained a consistent percentage of diverse students, but clearly increasing diversity by decreasing enrollment is not the best way to achieve this balance.

MSU is not alone in its efforts to attract minority students. Pamela Horne, director of admissions and assistant to the provost for enrollment management, said there is steep competition for minority students across the state and country.

"Right now, our proportion of students of color in the freshman class exceeds the proportion of students of color who graduate from high school in the state of Michigan," Horne said. MSU officials should be commended for this and should continue to place the university above the state high school level.

Encouraging and promoting diversity on campus should be a focal point for university officials.

It isn't enough to learn about different cultures in lecture halls, it is better to sit next to people of different cultures in that lecture hall and learn from each other.