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University of Iowa Committee on Human Rights policies, 1958-1986

1968-11-15 University Human Rights Committee to President Howard Bowen Page 17

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economics, and sociology. Both an instructional program and research would be undertaken within the Center and jointly sponsored with departments. 
   Such a Center would:
   1. Make the University a pioneer in an area which inevitably will become of increasing importance in America academia. If the Center is well planned and adequately financed, it should serve to enhance the reputation of the University. 
   2. Provide the essential ingredient which would attract not only Negro and white scholars interested in working in or with the Center, but also it would serve  to attract Negro faculty in fields unrelated to the activities of the Center. 
  3. Provide a cohesive curriculum for Negro and white students interested in studying the problems and culture of the Negro in depth. As such, it would overcome the major objection of Negroes with regard to the lack of meaning of much of the normal University curriculum to the Negro. It would make student recruiting easier and make it more likely that the psychological adjustment problems described by Mr. Albertus are minimized by providing a more favorable environment . 
   4. Concomitantly, it would provide exposure of black culture to white students. 
   Obviously, the cost of such a project would be considerable. However, much of the cost would be absorbed in the regular budgets of the concerned departments, such as Sociology, English, etc. Furthermore, it is likely that foundations or the Federal Government would be interested in such a Center. 
   In the interim. before such a Center is fully functioning, individual department should be encouraged to offer courses in this area and, if

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-17- economics, and sociology. Both an instructional program and research would be undertaken within the Center and jointly sponsored with departments. Such a Center would: 1. Make the University a pioneer in an area which inevitably will become of increasing importance in America academia. If the Center is well planned and adequately financed, it should serve to enhance the reputation of the University. 2. Provide the essential ingredient which would attract not only Negro and white scholars interested in working in or with the Center, but also it would serve to attract Negro faculty in fields unrelated to the activities of the Center. 3. Provide a cohesive curriculum for Negro and white students interested in studying the problems and culture of the Negro in depth. As such, it would overcome the major objection of Negroes with regard to the lack of meaning of much of the normal University curriculum to the Negro. It would make student recruiting easier and make it more likely that the psychological adjustment problems described by Mr. Albertus are minimized by providing a more favorable environment . 4. Concomitantly, it would provide exposure of black culture to white students. Obviously, the cost of such a project would be considerable. However, much of the cost would be absorbed in the regular budgets of the concerned departments, such as Sociology, English, etc. Furthermore, it is likely that foundations or the Federal Government would be interested in such a Center. In the interim. before such a Center is fully functioning, individual department should be encouraged to offer courses in this area and, if