wfn.org | Computer Gift to Black Colleges

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"UNITED METHODIST DAILY NEWS 97" by SUSAN PEEK on April 15, 1997 at 14:24
Eastern, about DAILY NEWS RELEASES FROM UNITED METHODIST NEWS SERVICE (145
notes).

Note 143 by UMNS on June 9, 1997 at 15:40 Eastern (2372 characters).

Produced by United Methodist News Service, official news agency of
the United Methodist Church, with offices in Nashville, Tenn., New
York, and Washington.

CONTACT: Linda Green                           331(10-31-71B){143}
         Nashville, Tenn. (615) 742-5470              June 9, 1997

Two United Methodist black colleges in Georgia 
receive computer investment from computer giant

                 by United Methodist News Service

     Two historically black United Methodist-related colleges in
Georgia are among six black colleges in the state to receive more
than $1 million in computer equipment from a computer giant.
     Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates, concerned about how the lack
of African-American computer science graduates stifles company
growth and the desiring to make computers more available to
African-American students, donated $1.2 million in computer
hardware and software to Paine College, Augusta, and the Atlanta
University Center library system, of which Clark-Atlanta
University is a part. 
     Gates, speaking to the Atlanta University Center community on
June 2 said, the vision of Microsoft has been "a personal computer
on every desk and in every home because we believe access to
information is so important." 
     There is a fear that the cost of computers and access to
computers could leave much of the population behind, he said. The
cost of a complete computer system lies between $1,500 and $1,700.
It is estimated that approximately one-third of American
households own computers.
     Also addressing the university community was William Gray,
president of the United Negro College Fund. Gray said, a 1989
study showed that 60.9 percent of all white students, from
kindergarten to eighth grade, used computers, compared to 38.4
percent of African-American students. "Just as the gap between the
rich and poor grows wider, the third gap -- race -- is growing
twice as fast."
     Gates acknowledged that his donation to the black colleges
was not without some bias. He said technology companies such as
Microsoft are limited only by the quality of their engineers.
Within the company, he said, 15 percent of personnel are racial
minorities and 30 percent are women. "We want to recruit more
African-American engineers," he said.
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