"We cast a broad net and bring in people whoare interested in public service but then we alsospecifically target minorities because thecommunities we serve are minority communities,"says Nerys C. Benfield '99, programming chair anddirector of the Dearborne After-School Program.

"Each program knows it wants to have morediversity so they all actively try to recruitminorities," Benfield adds.

PBHA recently sponsored a group discussion onminorities in public service.

"While we don't believe only blacks or Latinosmake good counselors, we think it's good for thekids' sake to have something in common with theircounselors," says Alix Guerrier '98 formerdirector of the Mission Hill After-School program.

"If the kids see that their counselors looklike they do, and their counselors just happen tothink that school is important, it's going to havea big impact on them," he adds.

Sending Out the Troops

Groups like AAA and the BSA, while oftentargeted by campus-wide organizations, say theyalso try to push their members to join otherorganizations.

"Even if groups aren't coming to us we're stilltrying to increase our membership in thosegroups," says Caroline T. Nguyen '00, co-presidentof AAA.

"We send out letters to our members tellingthem to run, to vote, to join organizations," addsNguyen, who is a Crimson editor.

"It's more like us getting them involved in thepolitics, journalism, or the arts--the biggerfields where Asian-Americans have traditionallybeen underrepresented," she says.

AAA Co-President Jay F. Chen '00 says his groupwants to make sure its members realize that nocampus group is off-limits if that is where theirinterests lie.

"We're not forcing students who are notinterested in doing these activities to do them,"says Chen, who is a Crimson executive. "There area lot of qualified students who don't necessarilyknow how to go about getting involved in theseorganizations."

At a recent panel discussion sponsored by AAAon extracurricular segregation, Jason B. Philips'99, the newly elected BSA vice president said hewants to make BSA members feel "uncomfortable" forbeing members of just one group.

"The onus is on black students to push otherblack students," said Philips, who is a Crimsoneditor. "Personal pushing is much more effectivethan The Crimson taking out full-page ads beggingfor black editors."

RAZA president Sergio J. Campos '00 says healso values extracurricular integration.