A task force called “Breaking Down the Barriers,” met for the first time Wednesday, concluding that Ames is in need of services that cater to minorities.

The Ames-Iowa State task force is working to initiate plans for making minorities feel more welcome in the community. The task force is made up of Iowa State administrators, faculty and staff, and Ames civic and business leaders.

Throughout the meeting, panel members said the obvious problem in the community is tension and a poor social climate.

Steve McDonnell, manager of ISU Athletic Academic Services, said he has learned from minority athletes that there are three factors that cause minority students to leave Ames: social climate, financial-related circumstances and academic performance.

Karin Schoen, a training assistant with the city’s Office of Training and Development, presented the findings of various Ames diversity initiatives to the committee.

“We did a nonscientific study that had 12 minority students and staff. Participants were asked about their adjustment to the Ames community,” Schoen said.

Schoen’s data revealed that people wanted goods and services pertaining to their culture, such as more ethnic food. Other areas were entertainment, black hair-care products and services and cosmetics.

Schoen also found that none of the hair-care businesses listed in the Yellow Pages have someone on staff who specifically does hair for blacks. Also, there are no barbers in Ames that cut black men’s hair. And there are not many stores that cater to a variety of ethnic foods.

“I think it’s shameful that I have to leave Ames, my home, just to cut my hair,” said James Davis, enrollment services adviser with ISU Admissions.

Davis, who recruits minority students, said the city needs to look more inviting to potential new students.

“We are recruiting them to the city,” Davis said. “We cannot continue to practice the revolving-door process.”

Athletic Director Gene Smith agreed. He said, for example, he has difficulty finding African-American greeting cards for his family.

Rafael Rodriguez, director of minority student affairs, offered concerns from the Latino perspective, a group, he said, that is often left out.

“There is another group that is not being included. The library needs more Spanish books and videos. I have to get my Chicano and Latino music from Columbia,” Rodriguez said.

The need for Black Entertainment Television and Univision, a Hispanic channel, was also discussed.

The committee will meet again March 5.