黑人学校在经济危机中挣扎

音频下载[点击右键另存为]
Sophomore Zakiya Williams found a perfect fit at Spelman College.

“This place was meant for me.”

But when the tough economy hit her and her family hard, she packed her bags, ready to drop out.

"I wasn't able to get loans, neither were my parents."

It's a familiar story at colleges across the country, but especially at historically black colleges and universities where in some cases, up to 95% of students rely on financial aid to fund their education.

President Barack Obama has moved to increase financial aid with stimulus and budget funds, but still many black colleges expect enrollment rates to keep shrinking, as families and students struggle in the economic downturn.

"… many students wan to come. Will they be able to afford to come?"

Since 2004, 238 million dollars of federal funding was earmarked annually for historically black colleges. And in the last two years, those institutions also benefited from an extra 85 million dollars each year under the College Cost Reduction Act, which ends in May of 2010. So those institutions may feel the squeeze even more.

"We are underresourced. We try to keep our costs as low as possible. That means that our margins are always very tight."

In the Atlanta area alone, Morehouse College laid off 25 adjunct professors. Spelman is eliminating 35 jobs next year and Clark Atlanta University's budget ax fell with 70 professors and 30 staff members let go.

The White House budget office says President Obama's budget calls for a 5% increase in permanent funding for historically black colleges.

"We're saying you're moving in the right direction, but unfortunately in these tough times, not far enough."

For Zakiya Williams, a scholarship came through at the last minute and she says the struggle to stay at a historically black college was worth it.

"I was completely relieved and now I'm focusing on my studies."

Sandra Endo, cnn, Atlanta.

Vocabulary:

1.       be meant for sb.: to be intended for a particular person or purpose

2.       earmark for: to decide that something will be used for a particular purpose or have something done to it in the future

3.       underresourced: not provided with enough money, equipment etc