The possibility of discrimination at several Illinois colleges and universities has raised concerns with the Illinois Board of Higher Education’s Student Advisory Committee about the severity of the problem among state institutions.

Student Advisory Committee Adviser Abdul Akbar said it was brought to his attention that students are being discriminated against for their sexual orientation and their racial background.

e said the problems of discrimination are not only at Sangamon State University, where Akbar is a student, but also at Western Illinois University, the University of Chicago and NIU.

To discover which Illinois institutions have a high level of discrimination, a conference has been scheduled for Oct. 31 at Chicago State University with a delegate from each state college wishing to attend, Akbar said.

Larry Robertson, NIU Student Association minority relations adviser, said he will attend the conference to discuss the possible ways universities might be able to delete or reduce any type of discrimination.

e said there is discrimination everywhere, and it will not vanish because it comes from prejudice and prejudice comes from the mind.

obertson said because there always will be some form of discrimination, it is important for students to know where they can receive help if they are harassed.

It is harder for a student to be a minority at NIU because of the widely dispersed ratio between the minority and the majority, Robertson said. He said NIU’s population is about 12 percent minority, and with this type of ratio it is likely there will be some discrimination.

Jim Jacobsen, University of Chicago’s student government vice president, said, “In my opinion there is not much discrimination on campus.” He said this is true partly because of the low percentage of minority students, about 1 percent.

“Discrimination is a deep-rooted problem. I don’t think it can be solved soon, (rather) it will take a long time,” Jacobsen said.

Akbar said he was informed of discriminatory acts at WIU which did not involve the college; rather, the acts have been said to come from the town’s people. It is more difficult for a university to control harassment when an incident is not connected with the institution, he said.

A universiy has great impact in small towns, and a college should try working with the community to restore the unity necessary to an institution’s success, Akbar said.

obertson said he does not know how other colleges deal with discrimination, but NIU confronts it straight on. “We (minority relations committee) do not want to push it (discrimination) under the carpet,” he said.

IBHE Executive Director Richard Wagner said he is deeply concerned about students being harassed, but the issue should be addressed on campuses. He said more should be done to eliminate discrimination.

NIU is concerned with discrimination and they are willing to help those who have been harassed, but students must report the incident to the proper authorities to receive the administration’s help, Robertson said.

e said rallies and protests are an admirable way to inform students of the problems of student harassment, but if an after plan is not conducted, the protest probably will not have as much impact.

“I’m not a protest person. I’m heavy on education and appealing to peoples’ intelligence and common sense,” Robertson said.

Akbar said if the conference discovers a small number of universities characterize discrimination as a problem on their campus, then the advisory committee will work with the respective student governments and university administration to solve the problem.

owever, if many colleges show concern about students being harassed, it is the advisory committee’s policy to inform the IBHE, Akbar said.

Dispersing fliers and holding workshops to inform students about discrimination and where to find help is being planned soon, Robertson said.