Mp Afro-American Society at Brom University Box #72 Student Activities Office President Ray L. Weffner Brown University. Providence, Rhode Island Dig ite The events of the past few months (The Kerner Report, Martin Luther ‘ King Jr.'s assasination) have provided explicit evidence that America is a racist society. The white university in America inherently reflects this racist condition, The rebellions at Columbia University, Boston University, and Northwestern University are characteristic examples of the reactions of the black students in those institutions to a pseudo-egalitarian racist en- vironnent. Brow University is no exception to this characteristic white, ed- ucational institution. The condition which precipitated the Black stident rebellions at Colunbia and Bbston exist at this university and it is our hope that the removal of these conditions is carried out without the need of an insurrection here. ‘The University has been laboring under the nis- taken impression that we are happy here because we have been quict. We eannot afford to be quiet any longer. Bown is a stifling, frustratd degrading place for black students. ‘his situation is especially in @ university which professes to be a bulwark of Anerican liberalism. Despite the fact that there are over 60 black students on this campus, we are still tokens. Brown condescended to allow us to study here in order to maintain its image as a non-discriminatory liberal university. Brom decided that we were not like the masses of black people. We were refined enough, timid enough, and conservative enough'to be Brownmen. After all this yar were sure that we would blend right in andibe silently grateful, that we were here at all. Butiwe are tired of being tokens and nothing else, We are tired of fighting against an oppressive environnent. We are beginning to wonder why we came hore ~ ve are beginning to have even more seriqus doubts about per- ading our black brothers and sisters to join us. We are concerned cbout how they will react to a school at which Blacks are little more than tolerated. Sonething must be done. / Racism, in all its diverse forms, mist be eradicated fron Brown. q Social conditions for black students mast improve. The white. oriented curriculum must be revised. Admissions and financial aid policy must be reoriented. uployment prograns must be re-evaluated. In short, if Broun University actuslly wishes to be the modern, liberal, educational institu- | tion it clains to be, the whole system of priorities here mst undergo @ sudden and complete metamorphasis.Tt is our feeling that we have a right to a complete, educational ex- perience. We, therefore, denand immediate action to implement the following measures which must head any new structuring of university priorities. At Brown, facilities where social functions may be held are, for the nost part, fraternity controlled. This fraternity oriented social systen has served the needs of the white students on this campus well because, like everything else here, it was designed to meet the needs of white students, ‘ ‘The parties, with four to five hours of deafeningly loud music, are jist not our bag. We seck an alternative to this unbalanced social structure. Tpaddition, in the past year the activities of the Afro-Anerican Society of Brom University have been considerably expanded, ie have nine standing comuittees and are engaged in number of special projects, but ve have no base of operations - no central place from which our prom: Proposals may emanate, Both of these situations mst be rectified. We therefore demand: a. that the Afro-American Society be given a building on campus to be designated as a coordinating center b. that this building have adequate facilities for social functions and office space that will allow us tc increase the efficiency of our aduinistrative functions. Representatives from Rrown have been noticeably absent from conferences, meetings, ani discussion sessions among black student groups in this area, We cannot personally afford to pay expenses to make these affairs ourselves. We therefore demand that an expense account be established for representatives of the Afro-American Society to attend black student conferences in the New ingland area, In the past few years there have been, what might be terned, greater efforts to increase the enrollment of black undergraduates at Brown. ile must admit that progress has been mide, but as usual it was accomplished mwltth all deliberate speed," If the University is truly concerned about | Plaek enrolment then the following measures mst be implenented (beginning With the class of '73.) We therefore demand: a. that at least 11% of Rrowmta entering classes be black bd. that at least 11% of Ponbroke's entering classes be black ¢. that at least 112 of students admitted to graduate study Programs be black 4. that special sholarship funds be made available to nake possible netriculation of those black students ateepted @. thet exofficio recruiting pover be given to black colleze) students (rith leave of absence) to recruit black high school students. E t a i ta ash it(11.) he educational process in America, from kindergarten through graduate school, is perhaps the most explicit manifestation of American racisn. A systen of learnins which doesn't evon seen to think that black people are worthy of study has sustained and reinforced in blacks and whites alike the fallacy of black inferiority and white supericrity. Mlearly, the entire systen of American education must be restructured, Tt is our fealing tht an excellent starting place for such 2 restruc~ turing is at the university level. We therefore demand: a, that an interdisciplinary major in African-inerican studies, consisting of relevant existing courses plus at least ton new courses be instituted by Septenber of 1969 b. that the University take innediate action to 1 preceding demand by instituting five of the ter by Fooruary of 1969 flan the Winds ef nev courses nesded, 4, ‘that a transitional year procram be established at Prown by jane 1969, to help prepare bias!: ani white high school students for college. (iv. ) | The black students st Brom are alse gravely concerned about the absence of blac: posple in the Admin Faculty structure of this university. Tris is further evidence of Brown's diserindnatory policy. ‘The decision makers in this institution are 99% white. We refuse to accept the implication : that only whites are qualified enough to teach and adninistrate at Brown. ile therefore denand: a. that at least 50% of the Tougaloo committee be composed black faculty and students chosen by the Afro-american Society >. that the Atro-inertcantooi ety be givon the power to select one black student repfesentative to the University Comittee Student Affairs e. that 10 black professors be hired by February 1969, as a fins step toward maldng at least 11% of the faculty blac by Sep- tember, 1969 4, that threo black eounselor-admission officers for Brom be hired by Septenber, 1958 e. that ono black counselor-admissions officer for Penbroke be hired by Septenber 1968, (v.) Locking in and about the Brown community one would think that the University wants to give the impression that blacks are act only inferior in adainistrative and teaching positions, bt also in university service occupations, Hither the Universi performed a superb pro of discrimination or is blatantly blind to its i abtiti herent, racist