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Western Carolina University (20) View all

Neo-Blackness 1978

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  • wcu_memories-1415.jp2
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  • "THE POWER OF BLACKS IS FOUND IN WISDOM AND UNITY" The title of this article is not a proverb created by myself, but is the seal of the black organization here at Western Carolina University. To celebrate a decade of Neo-Blackness, a history of the Black organization here at WCU will be unfolded. The Black Students United for Liberation (BSUL) was formed in 1968 out of the realization that a clearly apparent sign of discrimination was being practiced against them. Before fall quarter of 1969, Blacks were admitted in pairs only. Due to segregated housing conditions then, the odd number black student was without a room. Race was included on room applications. The organization, under the leadership of Doris Dogget, issued a list of demands to the administration in 1968. The demands called for admission of more black students, black instructors and administrators, a black studies program, black speakers and lecturers, and the removal of race from room applications. Dr. Alex Pow, then WCU President, along with various deans and faculty members, made steps to begin meeting some of the demands issued. Meetings to no avail were established which led to a walkout in spring quarter of 1969 by the black students. The walkout was met with a startling amount of indifference rather than proposals to pacify the Blacks. However, WCU still agreed to meet with representatives of (BSUL) to discuss and come to some agreement to the demands at the end of the spring quarter of 1969. In the spring of 1969-72, Garret Moore was elected BSUL President. Moore confronted SGA with the fact that they were not the most effective instrument on WCU's campus to work with. As far as the Blacks were concerned the BSUL was the political backbone of the black majority on campus. For an example, fall quarter 1970, seven blacks from seven different dorms ran for senator and all but one lost. In Albright dorm that year, a black was the only one on the ballot and still came in second. BSUL also made numerous appeals to the administration and SGA to outlaw "Dixie" as the school's fight song and made proposals for a black lounge. Richard McGarity, BSUL President in 1972 had to combat with many of the same issues that the former BSUL presidents had to deal with. McGarity felt if there was an overall drive to completely unite the Blacks on WCU's campus, together they could accomplish more and make the black experience here a little more meaningful.
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Object’s are ‘parent’ level descriptions to ‘children’ items, (e.g. a book with pages).