Western State Seeks More Diverse Campus

Western State University College of Law has formed a committee to attract more minority students and faculty to the 31-year-old institution.

Western State officials said the goal of the Diversity Outreach Committee is threefold: It aims to provide information about law careers to minority communities countywide; to get the word out that the college is recruiting minorities; and to find out what the school can do to better serve minorities, said Joel H. Goodman, associate dean of administration and student affairs at the Fullerton law school.

“I really believe that this committee will get the word out that law school is a viable option of the historically underrepresented,� Goodman said.

The committee--made up of faculty, students, alumni and residents--includes Enriqueta L. Ramos, president of the Rancho Santiago Community College District, attorneys Rick Aguirre and Jess Aruajo and Westminster City Councilman Tony Lam.

As part of its efforts, the committee is planning public forums on issues that affect minorities.

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Minority Representation

About one-third of students at Western State University College of Law are minorities, most of them Asian or Latino. Five of 24 faculty members are minority:

Students: Percent

Asian: 14%

Latino: 11

Black: 7

American Indian: 1

Faculty: Number

Latino: 2

Asian: 1

Black: 1

American Indian: 1

Source: Western State University College of Law; Researched by MIMI KO CRUZ / For The Times

Los Angeles Times