DIY History | Transcribe | Campus Culture | University of Iowa Afro-American Cultural Center, 1968-2009 | 1968-11-15 Daily Iowan Article: "Blacks Enjoy Own Center"

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

1968-11-15 Daily Iowan Article: "Blacks Enjoy Own Center"

[photo]

Black Students Gather at Cultural Center 11/15/68

Students gather in Afro American Cultural Center located in the old News and Information Building on Market Street. The recently opened Center is designed to serve the social and cultural needs of the University's growing black community. 
 - Photo by Dave Luck

Blacks Enjoy Own Center
By DUANE SWINTON

Two student unions are operating on campus this year within two blocks of each other. 
  One is a familiar structure the Iowa Memorial Union : the other, an old white house sits on a hill on a couple of blocks east of the Union and is called the Afro-American Cultural Center. 
    Bruce Ellis, A4 New York manager and program director of the Center, said of the Center " It's a place where black people can get together, not only for social events but also to discuss problems they find on campus. They can study talk and have parties here. It's like their own Union." 
   Both Ellis, former president of the Black Students Organization at Iowa State University, and Philip G. Hubbard, dean of academic affairs and member of an advisory board for the Center, stressed that the Center was not established just for black students. 
  " The Center is not just service to the Afro-Americanas," Hubbard said, " but to the entire 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."
   A sign outside the main entrance reinforces Hubbard's statement with this invitation: " University of Iowa Afro-American Cultural Center, All Welcome." 
   This is the first year of operation for the Center located at 3 E. Market St. in a house that was formerly the University News Service building. 

The Center was established after a report by the University Human Rights Committee last May recommended that a center for black students be set up. This recommendation was subsequently endorsed by both the Student Senate and Faculty Senate. 
   A seven-member advisory board of two faculty representatives and five students, elected by members of the Afro-American Students Association is in charge of setting up a general program for the Center. 
   Members of the board are: Hubbard: Philip E. Jones, counselor for recruitment of poor students: Omar Hazley, A2 Kansas City; Marca Hogan, A4 Des Moines; Thomas Miller, A2 Lawrence, Kan: Michael Philips, A3, Evanston, III; Kim Reeves, A3, Des Moines: and Mae Thompson, A1 Kansa City. 
   Hubbard said that part of the function of the Center was to help black students adjust to life on campus.
   " The Center is a sort of reorientation for black students." Hubbard said. "Members of its board recognize a special need that black students face and use the Center to help these students, who come from a different cultural background to adjust to University life." 
   Hubbard said the Center served as a " platform from which black students can express themselves through literature,art, music, plays, poetry and lectures."
   He said that the advisory board has been discussing possible programs along these lines but that nothing definite has been set up yet. 
   The Center has 11 rooms including a sleeping room for Ellis: a small kitchen and an office for the Afro-American Students Association. 
  Most of the past month has been taken up with making repairs to the interior of the Center, such as the installation of electrical outlets and light fixtures. Students themselves were in charge of painting the walls and making curtains. 
   Care of the Center is financed through the University,

Several dances have been held in the Center, including a black homecoming dance Oct. 12. Presently there is a small collection of drawings done by a former black student at the University on exhibit at the Center.
   Whether there will still be a Center after the spring semester is a big question, however. But one thing is for sure the Center will not be housed in the same building. 
   Hubbard explained. " The half block where the Center is located is scheduled to be razed for a parking lot this summer. The black students knew this when they asked for a center. " At first we thought of setting aside a place in the Union. But the students said they wanted a building of their own in the middle of the campus. The house was the only place available. 
    " Whether we reestablish a center next year depends on the response we get this year," Hubbard said.

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[photo] Black Students Gather at Cultural Center 11/15/68 Students gather in Afro American Cultural Center located in the old News and Information Building on Market Street. The recently opened Center is designed to serve the social and cultural needs of the University's growing black community. - Photo by Dave Luck Blacks Enjoy Own Center By DUANE SWINTON Two student unions are operating on campus this year within two blocks of each other. One is a familiar structure the Iowa Memorial Union : the other, an old white house sits on a hill on a couple of blocks east of the Union and is called the Afro-American Cultural Center. Bruce Ellis, A4 New York manager and program director of the Center, said of the Center " It's a place where black people can get together, not only for social events but also to discuss problems they find on campus. They can study talk and have parties here. It's like their own Union." Both Ellis, former president of the Black Students Organization at Iowa State University, and Philip G. Hubbard, dean of academic affairs and member of an advisory board for the Center, stressed that the Center was not established just for black students. " The Center is not just service to the Afro-Americanas," Hubbard said, " but to the entire 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." A sign outside the main entrance reinforces Hubbard's statement with this invitation: " University of Iowa Afro-American Cultural Center, All Welcome." This is the first year of operation for the Center located at 3 E. Market St. in a house that was formerly the University News Service building. The Center was established after a report by the University Human Rights Committee last May recommended that a center for black students be set up. This recommendation was subsequently endorsed by both the Student Senate and Faculty Senate. A seven-member advisory board of two faculty representatives and five students, elected by members of the Afro-American Students Association is in charge of setting up a general program for the Center. Members of the board are: Hubbard: Philip E. Jones, counselor for recruitment of poor students: Omar Hazley, A2 Kansas City; Marca Hogan, A4 Des Moines; Thomas Miller, A2 Lawrence, Kan: Michael Philips, A3, Evanston, III; Kim Reeves, A3, Des Moines: and Mae Thompson, A1 Kansa City. Hubbard said that part of the function of the Center was to help black students adjust to life on campus. " The Center is a sort of reorientation for black students." Hubbard said. "Members of its board recognize a special need that black students face and use the Center to help these students, who come from a different cultural background to adjust to University life." Hubbard said the Center served as a " platform from which black students can express themselves through literature,art, music, plays, poetry and lectures." He said that the advisory board has been discussing possible programs along these lines but that nothing definite has been set up yet. The Center has 11 rooms including a sleeping room for Ellis: a small kitchen and an office for the Afro-American Students Association. Most of the past month has been taken up with making repairs to the interior of the Center, such as the installation of electrical outlets and light fixtures. Students themselves were in charge of painting the walls and making curtains. Care of the Center is financed through the University, Several dances have been held in the Center, including a black homecoming dance Oct. 12. Presently there is a small collection of drawings done by a former black student at the University on exhibit at the Center. Whether there will still be a Center after the spring semester is a big question, however. But one thing is for sure the Center will not be housed in the same building. Hubbard explained. " The half block where the Center is located is scheduled to be razed for a parking lot this summer. The black students knew this when they asked for a center. " At first we thought of setting aside a place in the Union. But the students said they wanted a building of their own in the middle of the campus. The house was the only place available. " Whether we reestablish a center next year depends on the response we get this year," Hubbard said.