Preliminary numbers released by Ohio University yesterday show first-year black enrollment decreased by 82 students from last year’s final head count.

Although enrollment of first-year black students increased 6.7 percent in the past 10 years, 175 of the 4,023 currently enrolled first-year students are black.

Final numbers should be released during the week of Oct. 22, said Sally Linder, senior director of media relations and university spokeswoman. She declined further comment because she said preliminary numbers can change drastically.
The preliminary numbers show the 4,023 freshmen enrollment has decreased 17.9 percent from last year’s final 4,902 amount.

Both Asian American and international first-year enrollment grew significantly. The first-year class includes 80 Asian Americans and 80 international students, up from last year’s final numbers of 40 and 42 respectively.

First-year Hispanic enrollment, however, decreased to 49 students from 86 enrolled
last year.

Although more than 90 percent of the first-year class is white, first-year enrollment of white students decreased 18.7 percent since last year, from 4,466 to 3,631. Over the past 10 years, white enrollment has decreased 7 percent.