New minority students will have the opportunity to get to know NIU’s faculty, staff and student organizations at an annual reception Thursday night.

Don Bramlett, an athletic counselor for the Counseling and Student Development Center, coordinated the event this year.

“Hopefully, it will let them (minority students) see administrators on campus and also identify the student leaders on campus,” he said.

The reception, sponsored by the center, will be held at 7:30 p.m. in the Regency Room of the Holmes Student Center.

Speakers at the reception include NIU President John La Tourette, Vice President for Student Affairs Barbara Henley, Black Student Union President Michelle Johnson and President of the Organization of Latin American Students Cesear Remond.

Bramlett said about 150 people were involved with the event last year. Hopefully, he said, more students will participate this year.

“We are hoping for a pretty good turnout,” Bramlett said.

Kathy Hotelling, director of Counseling and Student Development, said the reception helps minority students feel welcome. Students become aware of the resources available, she said.

“One of the things we’ve done is to make sure minority organizations are invited so students can see what is available,” she said.

Informational tables also will be open for minority student organizations.

“The student organizations are very enthusiastic,” Hotelling said.

Johnson said activities help students adjust and succeed in college. Students find support and mentors in these organizations, she added.

“It’s nice to get to know people who have been in your shoes.”

Johnson also will be stressing the importance of retention among minorities in her speech.

“The thing I want to stress is minority retention, because that has fallen so much in the past few years,” she said.

Johnson said new students should be persistent and seek help when they need it.