“a racist institution, full of bigotry and hatred that makes it impossible for black students to come to this campus ” – Elizabeth Patterson, CC ’74
Denver Post Colorado Springs Bureau
Criticism of Policies: Mass Resignations Threatened
In an article titled “Blacks Criticize Policies at Colo. College” that appeared in the Denver Post Colorado Spring Bureau in 1974 (refer to bibliography), a year after the considerable decline in the number of black students at Colorado College, some black students voiced out their grievances about the experience they were having at Colorado College. In the article, claims of bigotry are made by Elizabeth Patterson ’74 (opening quote) amongst others. Also highlighted in the article is the role that black students were expected to play when it came to recruiting other black students, a request that was not made of their white counterparts.
Some of the grievances raised in the article included:
- admission policy
- treatment of black students
Analysis
This article highlights the problems that black students at CC were experiencing and the gravity of the situation is highlighted by their adamance to leave if the college did not change its treatment of black students. The article was clearly meant to raise awareness of the plight of the black students at Colorado College as well as a public indication of the proactive stance that black students took against mistreatment.
Throughout the article, conversations with reporters are mentioned which means that the experience of black students at the college were public. Elizabeth Patterson’s grievances (opening quote) about Colorado College as an institution sheds some light into why the college experienced a drop in black student numbers between 1972-73. Patterson’s sentiments are echoed by another student, Alicia Harris, who listed grievances. Some of these include: “the pressure and insensitivity”, “A Confederate flag hangs in a window of one of the campus fraternities” (bibliography)
Carrying the Burden
Another student Kraig, Burleston, when asked responding to the expectation that that black students take an active role in recruiting other black students he said, “We want to do what we can…but we have alot[sic] of studying to do”. This is yet another instance that drives home the point of collective identity and raises some interesting questions which, although not unique to this post, are important to ask (scroll to end of post).
Significance?
The student’s threat to leave the college instead of sticking it out is commendable in that they indicated that they valued feeling welcome and some claim of place over the prestige of being at an instituion that did not prove to value them. A lot of change had been made by the college then and this shows how important it was for those students to speak up because they influenced the change on the campus by putting pressure on the administration to take an active role in creating a space for them
What do you think?
Why is it that the burden of belonging and activism on PWIs lies on the shoulders of those in an unfavorable position to tackle? How can you play a role in easing this burden?
And should the responsibility/efforts to create a sense of place at an institution that was not designed with black students in mind, solely rest in the hands of black students? Is this really the most reasonable way to proceed toward a more just and inclusive CC community? Let me know what you think.
*Predominantly White Institutions
