"Ad Hoc Faculty Commitee Proposes Racial Changes," The Pitt News, 1968

"Ad Hoc Faculty Commitee Proposes Racial Changes," The Pitt News, 1968

This article describes the work of an ad hoc committee composed of faculty and staff to identify and combat racism at Pitt.

University of Pittsburgh

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“To date, there’s been a lot of talk and not too much action. But the recognition of the problem of racism at the University will lead to something being done,” commented John Frazier, a member of the administration staff of the Book Center. Frazier, along with eighteen other faculty and administration personnel, supported a petition which declared the University to be a “racist institution” and pledged “correction of the situation.” The so-called “ad hoc” committee held its fifth meeting Monday night and found its ranks expanding to 25 active members. Dr. David Bramhill began the committee meeting by giving a capsule history of the group’s progress. Bramhill revealed that a petition, presented by Dr. Henry Finn, led to an unanimous resolution of the Faculty Senate on June 3. The resolution “committed the University to move to correct the sins of omission and commission on campus,” reported Bramhill. “Since some faculty members thought that an independent push was needed,” Bramhill continued, “separate meetings were held to discuss ways to improve the situation.” The next step, according to Bramhill, was to discern the interests of the Black community. Representatives form the Black Action Society (BAS) met with the committee. A second session integrated the interests of Black community leaders. “Both sessions were full of ‘tell it like it is,” evaluated Bramhill. These discussions led to the organization of five task forces, manned by committee members. The five topics for re-evaluation included: —Academic Programs at Pitt —Pitt and the Labor Market. —Pitt and the Public Schools. —Involvement with the Community in other problem Areas. -—The University’s own problem of Racism. There will be simultaneous “movement” of the task forces. Priorities have not been asigned. Outside the “ad hoc” faculty committee, conscientious efforts are producing a gain in the black student enrollment and the number of black faculty members at the University. As of the fall term, the black faculty has been expanded to 42. September, 1968, will also see 65 black students enrolled here as opposed to 22 in 1967, practically a 300 per cent increase. Orientation for these students has been arranged by the BAS. Dr. Robdrt Gibson, one of the coordinators of the movement, praised the BAS glowingly for its efforts thus far. “The BAS is doing a magnificent job of taking immediate responsibility on short notice. It has found teachers and offered suggestions for admissions and courses. There is no comparable group working in so effective a manner.” Changes in curricula and texts are in the offing. Courses in Afro- American history, set up on a pass- fail basis, are bding coordinated. Black students will take Englsih courses taught by black graduate assistants making use of black- culture material. The Anthropology Department is adding courses in African cultures to its rostrum. Current plans of the Book Center include the addition of a section “devoted to the Blacks by Blacks.” “We have to do away with the hostile environment, “stressed Gibson. “When a student is accepted here, we must give him whatever help he needs or wishes, in a beneficial way.”