Lafayette Journal & Courier

Black Expo to be Córdova's first stop

June 26, 2007

Marland Richardson, a Purdue University senior, has attended the annual Indiana Black Expo in Indianapolis for as long as he can remember.

But Richardson, president of the Purdue Black Student Union, is especially excited about this year's event. He's looking forward to shaking the hand of France Córdova, Purdue's incoming president, who will make her first major public appearance at the expo.

Córdova will attend a corporate lunch on July 19. The following day, she will be the keynote speaker at the Youth Summit as part of Purdue Day at the Expo, which the university has sponsored for the past three years. An estimated 250 young people from across the state are expected to participate in the three-day summit.

Richardson hopes to exchange ideas with Córdova and discuss how students and the administration can tackle problems minorities face on campus.

"I think it's very encouraging that the new president would put herself in the public eye with minority students," he said. "The whole notion of diversity -- whether it exists, whether it's a facade or whether it's simply a question of meeting a status quo -- is one of the biggest topics on college campuses."

Córdova, 59, is the eldest of 12 children in a Hispanic family. On July 16, she will become Purdue's first woman and first minority president.

This alone, Richardson said, has leaders of campus minority groups "buzzing."

"Her presence at this event, at least in my mind, says a lot about her and her intentions," he said. "I've seen certain things improve. The administration has good intentions, and it makes me feel proud that my university has such a presence at an event that attracts so many minorities."

Likewise, Córdova said she is looking forward to the event.

"I hope it gives me the opportunity to show my commitment to the diversity as a vital part of Purdue's aspiration for pre-eminence," she said. "I look forward to meeting and hearing from our future students, parents, alumni and leaders of the African-American community."

Alysa Christmas Rollock, Purdue vice president for human relations, said she's happy Córdova will participate.

"Dr. Córdova certainly follows President (Martin) Jischke in affirming Purdue University's support for the Youth Summit, the importance of education and the desire to communicate to students in particular the opportunities that are available at Purdue," she said.

"Purdue has selected an extremely talented person to serve as president -- it does certainly indicate, for those who had any doubt, about the possibility of a woman or person from a historically underrepresented group reaching the highest level of this university.

"It's certainly historic but we shouldn't lose sights of her accomplishments, as a leader and a scientist."

Although Richardson believes Purdue is moving in the right direction with campus diversity, he said the university has a long way to go. He cited retention of minority students, minority faculty numbers and communication between the university and minorities as areas needing improvement.

Richardson believes Córdova's first experience with many Purdue students will be a good one.

"Hopefully, this first impression will be a lasting impression."