Diamondback Online - The University of Maryland's Independent Daily Student Newspaper

Issue date: 3/27/08 Section: News

The history department has drawn only about half the number of applications it would like to see for a new course examining the history of slavery on the campus, the course director said.

Officials introduced the course in February in response to criticism from faculty and students that the administration was hesitant to thoroughly investigate the role of slavery in the founding of the university.

But with less than a week left before the beginning of fall registration, history professor Ira Berlin expressed reservations about the department's ability to fill the new course with the best possible applicants after an interest meeting with students yesterday.

Seven students showed up for yesterday's meeting, the second the department has held for anyone looking to apply for two-semester undergraduate class.

Berlin and doctoral student Herbert Brewer have 40 applicants for the 30 available seats in the competitive enrollment course, but hope to have a pool of 80 students to choose from.

"We want to have a nice mix of students," Berlin said. "We're going to have a meeting with all of the students in the class before the end of the semester."

Despite the small turnout, students who did attend the meeting left with their interests piqued.

Junior history major Kevin Valdez heard about the class from his advisor only a few hours before the meeting. "I like learning about the origins of the university," Valdez said, "and slavery is something I always thought was fascinating."

Sophomore secondary education major Rebecca Hughes said she was excited for the course. "If I get accepted, I'll definitely take it," Hughes said.

Still, the number of students expressing interest hasn't met expectations. Berlin offered a couple of reasons for the seeming lack of interest. The two-semester commitment has deterred some students from applying, he said.

"I don't quite understand how to get the word out," Berlin said. "I've never had to recruit students before."

Berlin intends to hold more interest meetings in the coming weeks with students in the Honors and College Park Scholars programs, although he could not schedule another before students start to register for classes.

Brewer, the course's graduate assistant, plans to visit history lectures to gather interest in the class, as well.

"If we don't get the number of applicants we want soon, we'll figure something else out," Berlin said. "I think my big concern will be when we get started working with the class itself."

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