"FASC Approves Black Studies," The Pitt News, 1969

"FASC Approves Black Studies," The Pitt News, 1969

This page incudes an article about the approval of the Black Studies (now Africana Studies) department by the Faculty of Arts and Sciences Council.

University of Pittsburgh

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FASC Approves Black Studies by VIRGINIA JOYCE Staff News Writer Four hours of sporadic and sometimes heated discussion about the status of a proposed Black Studies Program at the University marked Thursday afternoon meeting of the fledging Faculty of the Arts and Sciences Council (FASC ). A good part of the debate centered around the question of whether to establish a school of Black Studies or an interdisciplinary department. Dr. Jack Daniels, professor in Speech and Acting Director for Black Studies, and Curtis Porter, Black Action Society (BAS) official, defended the position for an autonomous school. Dr. Daniels emphasized the differences between Black Studies and other programs of study at the University such as Political Science. The departmental structure will not provide “what we need,” he averred. He stressed the need for flexibility in an area that deals with a whole culture rather than a subject area. It came out at the meeting that the Chancellor, Wesley Posvar and those working on a comprehensive program of Black Studies do not see eye to eye on the issue. Dr. Posvar, in an open letter to Dr. Daniels, labelled a lengthy program submitted to him by Daniels and Porter “unacceptable.” “Because the University must serve the interests of the entire community and indeed the interests of the entire state and nation, we cannot accept a concept that might contribute toward greater separatism in our society,” wrote the Chancellor in reference to the proposal entitled Black Paper for Black Studies. While endorsing and supporting the establishment of an interdisciplinary department for Black Studies, Dr. Posvar insisted that such ‘a department must be “consistent with and conform to the established University policies and procedures. Jack Freeman, University Secretary and spokesman for the Chancellor revealed that the Chancellor’s statement was the result of “consultation with a number of administrators and faculty members” whom he did not identify. Daniels claimed that the charge of separatism was ill-founded. “Although black students would be expected to enroll in the School of Black Studies, they would not be required. There will certainly be white students in the school, as well as white faculty members if they qualify,” he said. The factor of control brought out a number of opinions as to what power structure the Black Studies department should be responsible. A proposal by Dave Tiernan, Pitt News Editor that “The Department of Black Studies be responsible to the Black Studies Council rather than the FAS” was opposed by Mark Perlman, Economics. Dr. Perlman suggested that Black Studies by “under thewing [sic] of the FAS.” “We recognize that you people have a self-defined community, but you are ‘weak still and lacking in numbers,” he continued. “For the protection of your own autonomy, you should take advantage of the 800 years of tradition which have held this school in good stead. Let us help you along.” James Malloy, Doctor of Political Science proposed that the Black Studies program be implemented outside the University, in view of the University’s financial weakness. “The only way I can see success is to establish an urgan-based [sic] independent Black Studies School federally financed, involving other universities,” he said. The representative opinion of the FASC was summed up in a resolution by Dr. Robert Newman, Speech, which passed the body by a vote of 11-5-1. His resolution supported the Black Paper for Black Studies and urged for a greater budgetary allocation. It read intact: “The FAS welcomes the prospect of a Black Studies Department and urges the University to provide the funds called for in the Black Paper for Black Studies, $427,000.” The Chancellor’s letter had provided for a budget of $130,000 for the department.