Black Students Ask!!! ECU
This brochure was created by the ECU Admissions Office in order to recruit African American students. This and other articles may be found in the Chancellor's Administrative File, CH1050, Series 3, Subseries 6, Box 12, Folder 8.
Citation for this article is: "Black Students Ask!!! ECU," 1971.
Dear Fellow Black Students,
The Admissions Office at East Carolina University recognizes that many Black high school students find it difficult to ask about all the matters that puzzle them at their college day program. In an effort to supply the answers to questions that students hesitate to ask, the Admissions Office came up with the idea of a pamphlet of this type designed especially to answer those hard to ask questions of Black students.
The Office of Minority Affairs of the Student Government Association, one of whose purposes is to assist in the education and recruitment of minority students, posed the questions and supplied the answers. The committee responsible for the questions and answers is made up of Black students, freshman and upperclassmen. The committee's prime objective is answering these frequently asked questions is to give the potential college student a fair and honest answer to questions that he often fails to ask the University representative when he visits the student's high school.
The committee requests that the student, in reviewing our answers, keep in mind that the college campus is really a microcosm of society as a whole. These factors and influence that we find in our high schools, in our hometown communities, and in our state and nation are exemplified, at one time or another, in every college community. We are sure that you will find that the answers to many of the questions included in this pamphlet will hold true, not only for our society in general, but for East Carolina.
We hope that this question and answer pamphlet will help you understand our college community as well as challenge you, just as society does, to get involved.
Committee Members
Bill Owens, Secretary of Minority Affairs
Luther Moore, Chairman of Special Recruitment Committee
Cynthia Byars
Harriette Canady
Phillis Simpson
1. Is there much racial discrimination on campus?
The university does not advocate or condone discrimination; however, Black students in the past have experienced racial discrimination in and out of classrooms. Official actions were taken to correct all racial discriminations made known. There exist channels by which a student may register complaints if he believes that he has been discriminated against. These channels include an appeal to the chairman of the Department in which all alleged discrimination occurred, the Dean of Student Affairs, the Dean of the School, and the Secretary of Minority Affairs.
2. Is there an open display of racial prejudices between the Black students and the White students?
There have been some open displays of prejudices (racial) by some Whites to some Blacks and also vice versa.
3. How close is the downtown area to campus?
The downtown area of Greenville is located about one block from the women's dormitories. There is a shopping center, Pitt Plaza, located approximately one mile from the dormitories. The shopping center may be reached by the University bussing system. There is no Black ownership in either section.
4. How close is the campus to Black communities?
The Black communities are located within walking distance of the campus.
5. What are the dormitory closing hours?
The curfew for freshman women students is as follows: Monday through Thursday, 11:30 p.m.; Friday through Saturday, 1:00 a.m.; and Sunday 12:30 a.m. Upperclassmen hours are: Monday through Thursday, 12:30 a.m.; Friday and Saturday, 2:00 a.m.; and Sunday, 1:00 a.m. Men students have no curfew.
6. Is there a Black organization program on campus?
Yes, there is a Black organization approved by the Student Government Association. The name of the organization is the Society of United Liberal Students or better known as "S.O.U.L.S." The organization was originally designed to unite the Black students for the betterment of the school and the community. Its ultimate goal is to preserve the dignity and worth of all Black people both educated and uneducated.
7. Is there a work-study program for financial aid?
Work-study programs come under a financial plan worked out by the Financial Aid Office for each individual student. The type of job the student gets depends on the student himself, that is, there are jobs available to Blacks other than working in the cafeteria.
8. What happens if a student runs out of money in the middle of the year?
There is an aid program set-up whereby a student may borrow money for an emergency (such as money to eat with) from the Student Government Association (SGA) and the Women and Men's Residence Councils.
9. Is there much Black participation in the Student Government and other campus organizations?
There has recently been more participation in all aspects of student life on campus. Blacks are well represented in the legislative branch on a percentage basis. Black students also take an active part in the University Union Committee.
10. What about church, is it required?
Church attendance is not required. The churches in the community have extended a welcome to all East Carolina students.
11. Is there an integrated dormitory life?
Dormitory room assignments are given out as the students pay their dormitory room deposit fee which is sixty dollars ($60.00). Upperclassmen may choose their roommates at the end of the Quarter. Incoming freshmen are given a roommate. In the past integrated situation set up by this random system led to white students moving out immediately. Presently this rule that students assigned to a room must live there for 13 days has been enforced by the Housing Officer for both Black and White students. This year Black and White occupancy in the dorms does exist through a mutual agreement for both occupants.
12. How many Black students are presently enrolled?
At present there are approximately 200 Blacks as compared to the 10,000 overall enrollment.
13. Is there classroom discrimination by the professors and instructors?
There have been some Black experiences of discrimination by professors.To try to overcome this handicap, upperclassmen relate to freshmen their adverse experiences, both racial and educational, with the various professor in hopes that the freshman can avoid these individuals.
14. Are there any Black professors or instructors?
No, not at the present time.
15. Are there any part-time jobs available to Black students off-campus?
There are very few jobs available to Blacks in Greenville area. The cafeteria is operated by a private catering concern and often employs students as part-time workers.
16. What is the ratio of Black females to Black male students?
The ratio is approximately one Black female to one Black male student.
17. Do a lot of Black students flunk out of East Carolina University?
The number of black students that flunk out is far below the overall school average.
18. Is there interracial dating on campus?
Yes, interracial dating does exist, but it is not condoned by the majority of the Black students.
19. Is there a dress code?
The dress code states that: "East Carolina University stresses a general standard of neatness, cleanliness, and appropriateness of attire. Students are expected to maintain good taste in dress at all times. Appropriateness of dress would be dictated by the specific occasion."
20. May appliances be used in the dorms, especially hot plates?
Hot plates and other warming appliances have been approved for use in the dormitories. Small refrigerators are available for rent from the SGA also.
21. Is there a Black Studies Program?
At present the University offers courses in Black Literature, Black Political Science, Black Sociology, and a cognate minor in African Studies.
22. May students participate in protest demonstrations?
Students may participate in legally permitted demonstrations without getting in trouble with the University.
23. Is there Black Student participation in the Black communities?
In the past Black students have worked in the Black communities in voter education and registration, and also in tutorial programs for Black elementary and high school students.
24. Is there unity among the Black students already enrolled at E.C.U.?
We believe that attending a predominantly white educational institution tends to bring Black students much closer together as a race than if they were attending a predominantly Black institution or even in everyday life. This closeness may be due to common factors which they, as individuals, face in their day to day dealings. Also, by being in the minority, a common cause is recognized, thereby necessitating a common effort. We believe that this is a situation here at East Carolina University.
25. Are there many black athletes at E.C.U.?
There are black athletes in football, basketball, wrestling, track, soccer, and baseball. Varsity basketball has five black players, three of which are first string players and the other two are in top contention for first line players. In football there are eleven black athletes.
East Carolina University is an equal educational opportunity institution, and in keeping with this policy, the University makes no distinction in the admission of students, or in any other of its official activities, on the basis of race, color, sex, creed or national origin.
