Afro-American Cultural Center Started
This article describes the establishment of the Ledonia Wright African-American Cultural Center.This and other articles may be found in the University Archives.
Citation for this article is: "Afro-American Cultural Center Started," Fountainhead, April 17, 1975, page 21.
Plans for an Afro-American Cultural Center have been approved by the ECU administration, according to James H. Tucker, Dean of Student Affairs.
Organization of the Center resulted from a request by SOULS for a meeting center, said Dr. David B. Stephens, Attorney Advisor for ECU and Director of the Equal Opportunities Program.
According to the by-laws of SOULS constitution "any person who is a student in ECU can become a member of this organization."
The objectives of SOULS is to provide1) a resource center for publications and educational awareness; 2) a university-community based center for academic aid; 3) an outlet for segmented campus awareness, and 4) a center for the preservation of group culture and historic development.
The responsibility of directing the cultural center was delegated to Ruldolph S. Alexander, Associate Dean of Student Affairs.
An advisory board was established to advise on such matters as physical development of the center and on policies of operation, said Alexander.
"I will respond as well as possible depending on the budget which I have. The Student Center will take the "lions share" of the budget, and it is already hurting for funds due to inflation," he added.
The organization will be housed in the "Y" hut, formerly the ECU Print Shop. A similar organization in Chapel Hill is housed in the Chapel Hill Student Union, but we do not have any available room in Mendenhall, said Alexander.
This building will now serve as an auxiliary to Mendenhall, he said.
There will be some physical changes made before the center can be occupied, said Alexander. "The building might be opened before the end of spring, depending on the amount of work needed and the amount of money available.
"This is not to become a de facto segregated activity," said Alexander. "The center will organize activities and all students will be encouraged to join."
"If successful it would provide a means of cultural exchange," said Alexander. "It would make the total campus more aware of problems, hopes, and contributions of black students."
Stephens had this comment to add.
"I see no reason why we cannot now move foward in a cooperative effort to make the Afro American Cultural-Social Center a real asset to the ECU campus and a substantial center for greater understanding among all our students as well as an attraction to minority students who are considering attending college at ECU."
