Omega Psi Phi - FLA Senator To Co-Host Town Hall Meeting

Senator calls meeting to discuss education and black males Last update: July 26, 2005 Black males are at a "critical state" with regard to education in Florida, a Florida state senator says, and he's hosting a series of town hall meetings to discuss it. Sen. Tony Hill will host a meeting at 1 p.m. at Bethune-Cookman College in Daytona Beach at the Science Lecture Hall on Wednesday. The focus will be on middle school education. Hill is working with Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Inc. and the Black Male Explorers Program which aims promote self esteem to help more at-risk black males stay in school. Hill said that less than 1 percent of Florida's university students are black males, while the same demographic comprises nearly 40 percent of the state Department of Juvenile Justice and 48 percent of the Department of Corrections populations. The problem is not limited to Florida. Black males nationwide trailed their white and Hispanic counterparts in graduation rates in 2001, according to the Southern Regional Education Board. While just 43 percent of black males graduated from high school, 71 percent of white males and 48 percent of Hispanic males graduated. Black, Hispanic and white females all fared better, as well. Discussions on the issue are planned at all four of the state's historically black colleges and universities. -- Mark Harper. http://www.news-journalonline.com/NewsJournalOnline/News/Local/03AreaEAST08072605.htm