The Number of Black Students Applying to Duke University Holds Steady

Despite an avalanche of negative stories in the press on race relations at Duke University as a result of the well-publicized incident in which members of the university’s lacrosse team were accused of raping a black student from nearby North Carolina Central University, the number of black students applying to the university is near record levels.

This year there are 2,037 black applicants. Blacks made up 11 percent of the total applicant pool, up from 10.8 percent a year ago.

A spokesperson for the Office of Undergraduate Admissions at Duke University told JBHE that the admissions office has taken a number of steps to counteract the negative impressions of Duke that were portrayed in the media. These efforts included a new publication outlining the close relationship Duke has with the city of Durham and a new booklet profiling the activities of 30 Duke students who graduated in 2006.