Jasmine Senaveratna and Arthur Elder believe that diversity is more than a black-and-white issue.

After attending a recent Student Diversity Leadership Conference, the co-presidents of the Black Student Union at Friends School in Baltimore came back inspired to make changes at their school. But they also expressed disappointment that most of the 300 private school students attending the conference were African-American.

"We need everyone's voice coming together," said Elder, 17, a senior. "We have to erase the perception that this conference is just for African-American students."

Students from 17 Baltimore area private schools attended the conference at New Psalmist Baptist Church in West Baltimore. Many agreed that the word diversity has become synonymous with race, though it has much broader connotations. They also shared problems they face as people of color at institutions where the majority of students and faculty are white.

Mostly, students were looking for ways to effect change at their schools.

"They are standing in a place where being different makes them uncomfortable," said Ronald S. Goldblatt, executive director of the Association of Independent Maryland Schools. "Our schools have made a lot of progress with diversity; 18 percent of the students and 12.5 percent of the faculty are people of color. But we don't want to stall. The schools and administrators care very deeply about this issue."

Goldblatt said students are impatient because they have a powerful conscience.

"They see the same things that we want to change," he said. "But there are no snap answers and quick solutions."

Chris Nelson, 16, a junior at McDonogh School, said students came away with a sense that they would be able to accomplish some of their goals, which include recruiting more minority students and faculty and creating a better understanding of what diversity means.

"Sometimes, students are apprehensive about expressing their feelings," Nelson said. "The conference empowered us to suggest changes and to stand up for some issues so that we can make things better."

Boys' Latin senior Juan Solera, 18, said all students need to look beyond race when they talk about diversity. It's about bringing together thoughts and ideas from people of all races, sexes, religions, socioeconomic backgrounds, and gender orientations to build understanding, he said.

Called "Let Me Be Me: Taking the Initiative," the student-led conference is held once a year. But Nelson thinks once is not enough to resolve issues facing students of color. "We need to work together all the time," he said.

Working together means including school administrators, Nelson said. Students have to feel comfortable talking with adults.

Goldblatt said that the teens are prodding the schools and that administrators are taking diversity issues very seriously.

"There's a reason for this conference," Goldblatt said. "We are acknowledging the students' special insights and this is a way for the leadership to hear them formulate their issues and perspectives. They have good things to say."

Susan Mund, assistant to the upper school principal at Friends and the conference coordinator, called the gathering "a very powerful day" for students. The 20 students from her school came back with suggestions for changes, including involving more faculty members in diversity issues; allowing students to help recruit minority faculty members; and fostering better communication among students and staff.

Elder said that in the past, students at the conference complained about problems at their schools, but didn't offer realistic solutions.

"I'd feel better if people were honest," said Senaveratna, 16, a junior. "We need everyone's opinion if we are going to go further."

Sydney Hargrove, 15, a Friends sophomore, said students of color have to shoulder some of the responsibility for not encouraging other students to attend the conference.

Senaveratna thinks school administrators should be doing more to bring in students of color.

"We need to try and recruit students from public schools," she said. "We also need to make them aware of the financial aid that's available and assist them with transportation."