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Student Revolution: The Whole Story
by
Marilyn Hunt, Ellin Osorio, Bemadine Moses
Spelman experienced a rather peaceful and
successful revolution November 6—13. The
revolution ironically came in the midst of several
unrelated incidents that no doubt stimulated the
student unity which made the revolution
successful. After legislative action by the SSGA,
student confrontation with the administration,
and preparation for student protest, the
administration consented to the students’ wishes
by abolishing curfews, abolishing compulsory
sign-out regulations, and compulsory dress. The
administration is working on other proposals
concerning the curriculum which will take more
time to resolve.
The many events of November 6—13 were
involved and confusing, particularly to the
Atlanta press which distorted the facts and the
issues.
The Spotlight wishes to set the record
straight as best it can, for it seems improbable
that any one person could know all the details
and facts.
Ad-Hoc Proposals
On October 17, a list of proposals was
submitted to Dr. Manley and the other presidents
in the University Center by an Ad-Hoc
Committee for a Black University with an action
deadline set for October 23. That afternoon
Bettieanne Childers called a meeting of the
student body to discuss the proposals. That
meeting was poorly attended. The proposals of
the Ad-Hoc Committee for a Black University at
that time read as follows:
Proposal of the Ad-Hoc Committee
for a Black University
October 16, 1968 (Revised Edition)
As Black students in the Atlanta University
System, we strongly feel that our present
situation in America dictates that certain basic
changes occur in the present make-up of our
institutions. We view our problems as the same
ones which enslaves the minds and bodies of
Africans all over the world. European culture has
crushed all but life from Blacks from the time it
appeared on African soil to this very day. Slavery
ended 100 years ago! But it is completely
apparent to all of us that a more subtle form of
slavery has continued to exist. The so-called
predominantly Negro colleges, with the Atlanta
University System high on the list, continues to
function as one of the main tools used by our
oppressors to perpetrate the cruel colonization
of Africans in America. In essence, our sincere
desire for growth, truth, and a relevant education
has been used against us.
Therefore, it is out of necessity that we
present the following proposals, which articulate
changes that must be made in the racist
American educational system, but even more
specifically in the Atlanta University Center.
1. Relevant Community Involvement:
We feel that our administration must open its
facilities to any student supported community
projects. It must be the main function of our
various academic departments to address
themselves to the needs of the Black community.
2. Cultural Relevance:
We feel that any administration supported
cultural activities which do not directly relate to
African culture must be abolished. This includes
such appearances as the Atlanta Symphony
Orchestra.
3. Student Representation on Various
Committees & Boards of Trustees:
To the end that the said students will have a
more apparent role in determining what
administrative decisions and policies affect them
generally, we demand that the students have
fifty-one per cent (51%) full membership
representation on all committees, including the
Boards of Trustees.
4. Atlanta University Security Force:
The present alienation of the colleges in the
A.U. Center from their surrounding communities
- i.e., in terms of a lack of cultural or social
relevance — has helped to provoke the kind of
community-college hostilities which the colleges
have attempted to assuage by the employment of
armed security forces.
It is our feeling that security forces bear
testimony to the fact that the colleges are
protecting themselves from the milieu; rather
than helping it. It is clear to us that if the
colleges served the community — and the
community served the colleges — the reciprocity
of interests would make security forces
unnecessary.
Behind this reasoning is our demand that the
Atlanta University Security Force be abolished!
As a practical alternative, we insist that, until
such abolishment is complete, all security guards
be disarmed immediately. Moreover, any of the
A:U. Security Force who are Atlanta Police must
be dismissed.-
5. Implementation of Black Curriculum:
Those required courses which are organized
within European framework must be replaced by
courses which truly reflect the “African
experience”.
This past summer, a task force on Black
curriculum headed by Dr. Russel Williams,
professor of sociology at Spelman College,
compiled a report which outlined courses that
could be implemented under a Black curriculum.
This report should be used as a valuable reference
by administrators and department heads.
Therefore, the Council of Presidents of the
Atlanta University Center must present to the
several colleges concerned a complete
outline/statement of the changes which the
Council plans to implement. In connection with
said outline, the Council must make known its
position regarding a Director of Black
Curriculum, as presented in the “Proposal of the
Summer Task Force on Black Curriculum”.
6. Curfews:
Many noted sociologists have pointed out
that the control of social conduct on “Negro”
college campuses, by the Administration, is in
direct imitation of those same “puritanical”
values which have for so long antagonized and
ultimately oppressed Black people. Moreover,
during a time when major “white” universities
are discarding these values to achieve social
freedom, it is obvious to us that enforced
curfews are another tool used by our oppressors
to enslave the minds of Black students while
socially separating them from their brothers and
sisters in the community.
Therefore, we feel that continuation of
“enforced curfew” as a policy of any/or all
institutions in the A.U. Center is an attempt to
force Black students to prostitute themselves to
an anti-Black and racist society. It must be
abolished!
7. Compulsory Dress:
Whenever an institution refuses to allow
Blacks to dress in their native African Dress, to
participate in any social event, then that
It was a cold and snowy Monday, November 11, when the revolution
came to a climax, but Campus atmosphere was heated.