DIY History | Transcribe | Campus Culture | University of Iowa Afro-American Cultural Center, 1968-2009 | 1968-11-20 Iowa City Press-Citizen Article regarding Afro-American Student Center

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University of Iowa Afro-American Cultural Center, 1968-2009

1968-11-20 Iowa City Press-Citizen Article regarding Afro-American Student Center

[handwritten]
P-C Nov 20 , 1968 

BY JAMES FARRELL
Associated Press Writer 

The sign outside the door of the University of Iowa's black student union says "... All Welcome," but white students have been slow to accept the invitation.
    Dean of Academic Affairs Philip G. Hubbard said the university wouldn't have approved the student center for Negroes if it thought it would be polarizing influence, but admitted few whites can be seen in the white frame structure. 
    " There were some white students there during an open house," he said but added. " They (the blacks) haven't gone out of their way to emphasize that white students are welcome."
   Manager of the Afro-American Cultural Center is Bruce Ellis a senior from the New York City. He said the center is " a place where black students can get together to adjust themselves to their problems on campus and assimilate their culture."
   Ellis added the center's program is still being developed and that whites " might or might not want to come" when the program is in operation.
   The University offered the building to the Afro-American Student Organization after the group has asked for such a center last year.
   This is its first year of operation. It is located just two blocks from the Memorial Union, a multi million dollar recreational and service building available to all university students. 
    The black students had been offered a portion of the Union for their center, but said they wanted their own building.   
    The old white house is scheduled to be razed next year, and it isn't known where the black students will be headquartered thereafter.
     Establishment of a black student center was endorsed last year by the university's Human Rights Committee and by faculty and student senates. 
   Dean Hubbard said the center is "not just a service to Afro-Americans but to the entire white community.
    " In many places there is a general ignorance about Afro American culture in general. The center is an opportunity to educate the entire community," he said. 
   The center features dances and other social activities and black students have contributed a small collection of drawings by black students.

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[handwritten] P-C Nov 20 , 1968 BY JAMES FARRELL Associated Press Writer The sign outside the door of the University of Iowa's black student union says "... All Welcome," but white students have been slow to accept the invitation. Dean of Academic Affairs Philip G. Hubbard said the university wouldn't have approved the student center for Negroes if it thought it would be polarizing influence, but admitted few whites can be seen in the white frame structure. " There were some white students there during an open house," he said but added. " They (the blacks) haven't gone out of their way to emphasize that white students are welcome." Manager of the Afro-American Cultural Center is Bruce Ellis a senior from the New York City. He said the center is " a place where black students can get together to adjust themselves to their problems on campus and assimilate their culture." Ellis added the center's program is still being developed and that whites " might or might not want to come" when the program is in operation. The University offered the building to the Afro-American Student Organization after the group has asked for such a center last year. This is its first year of operation. It is located just two blocks from the Memorial Union, a multi million dollar recreational and service building available to all university students. The black students had been offered a portion of the Union for their center, but said they wanted their own building. The old white house is scheduled to be razed next year, and it isn't known where the black students will be headquartered thereafter. Establishment of a black student center was endorsed last year by the university's Human Rights Committee and by faculty and student senates. Dean Hubbard said the center is "not just a service to Afro-Americans but to the entire white community. " In many places there is a general ignorance about Afro American culture in general. The center is an opportunity to educate the entire community," he said. The center features dances and other social activities and black students have contributed a small collection of drawings by black students.