Final answer:
When founded, the University primarily served African American and Hispanic populations. The term "model minority" is often associated with Asian Americans, and ethnic categories in the U.S. have evolved to reflect a diverse society.
Step-by-step explanation:
The ethnic populations that the University primarily served when founded were African American and Hispanic. These groups, along with Asian Americans and Native Americans, were central to the civil rights movements in the 1960s that led to demands for equal rights, including educational opportunities. Asian Americans formed alliances like the Asian American Political Alliance to address discriminative practices, and significant cases such as Lau v. Nichols highlighted struggles for equal educational access for non-English speakers.
Moreover, the term "model minority" often refers to Asian Americans, who, despite facing discrimination, have been stereotypically viewed as a successful group in terms of socioeconomic status. This stereotype, however, oversimplifies the diverse experiences and challenges faced by different Asian American communities. Ethnic categorizations in the U.S., including for census purposes, have evolved over time and reflect a complex tapestry of racial and ethnic identities, with categories such as Black or African American, Asian, Hawaiian and Pacific Islanders, among others.