DIY History | Transcribe | Campus Culture | University of Iowa Afro-American Cultural Center, 1968-2009 | 1993-03-16 Iowa City Press-Citizen Article: "Afro House marks 25 years of offering home away from home" Page 1

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

1993-03-16 Iowa City Press-Citizen Article: "Afro House marks 25 years of offering home away from home" Page 1

[handwritten]
3/16/93 1(of 2)

Afro House marks 25 years of offering home away from home

[hand drawing plus 2 people]

By Darian Metz
The Press-Citizen 

They call it the Afro House. To some it's like a home. " The students saw something that was missing from their environment," Phillip Jones, dean of students said, " They needed something that would give them the freedom to just be who they were. A place where they wouldn't have to wear masks ... a place for freedom of expression." 
   The place became the Afro-American Cultural Center, at 303 Melrose. The center is celebrating its 25th anniversary of providing students, particularly African-Americans, an outlet for expression . Jones said the center was created in 1968 to met students' needs. 
   " They needed somewhere where they can meet socially, study, and talk amongst themselves," he said. " But this is not just a place where students hang out, it's a place where where different organizations can meet and take care of their businesses as well." 
  The past year the center has held a reception for Yolanda King, the daughter of slain civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther king, and a lock-in, an all-night discussion about racism. 
   Erika Grant, assistant director of the center, said African-American students are not the only ones who use the center. 
   " I think a lot of people see the center as just a social thing " she

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[handwritten] 3/16/93 1(of 2) Afro House marks 25 years of offering home away from home [hand drawing plus 2 people] By Darian Metz The Press-Citizen They call it the Afro House. To some it's like a home. " The students saw something that was missing from their environment," Phillip Jones, dean of students said, " They needed something that would give them the freedom to just be who they were. A place where they wouldn't have to wear masks ... a place for freedom of expression." The place became the Afro-American Cultural Center, at 303 Melrose. The center is celebrating its 25th anniversary of providing students, particularly African-Americans, an outlet for expression . Jones said the center was created in 1968 to met students' needs. " They needed somewhere where they can meet socially, study, and talk amongst themselves," he said. " But this is not just a place where students hang out, it's a place where where different organizations can meet and take care of their businesses as well." The past year the center has held a reception for Yolanda King, the daughter of slain civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther king, and a lock-in, an all-night discussion about racism. Erika Grant, assistant director of the center, said African-American students are not the only ones who use the center. " I think a lot of people see the center as just a social thing " she