It's Time to Get Angry about Underserved Students

Among countless petitioners to the incoming president, higher-education leaders have sent Barack Obama position statements and requests for action that extol the strengths and accomplishments of this nation's higher-education enterprise but also warn of its increasingly dire financial situation. They have asked that a share of an impending economic-stimulus package be devoted to resolving colleges' fiscal problems through infrastructure additions and improvements, increases in the Pell Grant and Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant programs, expansion of the federal student-loan programs, and more support for academic research. Such entreaties are all deserving of consideration and even support. But the author is unconvinced that many colleges--in particular, many research universities--will use the infusion of capital to improve the access and education of economically disadvantaged students and underrepresented minority students, groups who are being increasingly underserved. In this article, the author maintains that everyone should stop blaming people and should start acting in behalf of underserved students.