Dr. Wilson, assistant professor in Biology from 1964-1966, is currently believed to be the earliest Black faculty member of Denison.
Urged on by black students and under the guidance of professors Charles “Chuck” Henry (then a senior) and Asst. Dean Bill Nichols, Denison establishes the first Black Studies course,“Black Culture in America.” Henry later returns to Denison in 1976 to become The Center for Black Studies Director.
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In 1970, only .7% of the Denison student body is of color, putting Denison University almost last in Midwestern liberal arts college minority enrollments.
In response to the University's lack of support to Black Denison students in regards to education, enrollment, and combating systemic racism, an executive planning sub-committee issues a set of demands. Some of the demands are 100 Black students, 10 Black faculty, $70,000 for black scholarships, and recruitment across socioeconomic lines.
The historical documents reveal the often tense period of negotiation between the BSU and President Joel Smith. The documents also illuminate the support of the Denison Community Association and other Denison students, as well as support of some of the faculty. The BSU employs a variety of tactics, such as issuing statements, participating in teach-ins, disrupting classes, and interrupting faculty meetings.
For more in-depth documentation, see the pamphlet "The Black Student at Denison." (Pictured: Protest on A Quad,1970 folder/citation)
The Black Student Union (BSU) is founded.
(Pictured: BSU members, 1970 folder/citation)
In response to the poor response of the Denison administration to the Black student demands, students begin having meetings on how to respond. It is eventually concluded that classes should be boycotted. An Alternate College is temporarily instituted by faculty and students in support of the demands.
Alternate College Faculty: Burkett, Camoin, Eisenbeis, Goldblatt, Holian, Holter, Jung, Katzman, Keiser, Klein, Kochman, Konives, Kraft, Kraus, Lever, Nibbelinck, Preston, Rice, Ryan, Santoni, Schagrin, Stout, Wetzler, Williams, Woodyard
Photo folder/citation
Carlton James Trotman (pictured left), visiting Psychology professor from Lincoln University, is put in charge of developing a Black Studies Department. The original core faculty members for the project are as follows:
Photo folder/citation
Arthur Zebbs (pictured left with two students), Columbus-based minister, becomes the first full-time Director of Black Studies. The Center for Black Studies is created.
Photo folder/citation
Students and faculty continue to press for the unmet needs of Black students, as well as for Black faculty representation on campus.
In the November 13th, 1975, issue of the Denisonian, Dr. T.J. Rice is quoted as saying that "making demands [for increased support and representation for black students] is ridiculous. I was amazed at the naivety of the students. It was just an exercise in rhetoric. I would have been more impressed if the speeches had been more constructively made. I was somewhat bored." Dr. Rice is reported to having then said "that he knew of no evidence for the theory that black faculty are needed to serve as role models for black students."
Certain faculty and administrators write a public criticism to Rice's words. Rice, in turn, responds with clarifications.
Charles P. Henry, '69, is appointed third Director of the Black Studies Department.
Photo folder/citation
A Minority Studies/Women's Studies requirement is instituted for all students (this was later removed but then re-enstated after the 2007 demonstrations).
Dr. John L. Jackson, who began teaching in 1971, is made Director of The Center for Black Studies, replacing Dr. Henry. It is during this time that Denison reaches the Black Demand of having over 100 black students at Denison. The Director position is made tenure-track.
Photo folder/citation
Coretta Scott King, daughter of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., speaks at Denison's Commencement on May 28, 1983. In her commencement speech titled "The Legacy of Nonviolence: Challenge for a New Generation," King says "You are the generation God has chosen to save this planet from destruction. Beyond the hallowed halls of this great university . . . the situation is increasingly desperate but not hopeless. . . Our hope is that you who are graduating today will seize the opportunity to make us a new world where peace, prosperity, and justice are secured for all people."
(Pictured with University President Robert Good Photo folder/citation)
Professor Desmond Hamlet (1933-2007) becomes a Professor of English at Denison University. Eventually becoming the holder of Denison's Lorena Woodrow Burke Chair of English, Dr. Hamlet taught English, African-American, African and Post-Colonial Literature for over 22 years at Denison University. He was known for his passionate guidance of the Black Student Union, his fight for racial justice, as well as for his "undaunted optimism even in the face of overwhelming adversity."
A Memorial Tribute to Dr. Hamlet by Dr. John Jackson.
Photo folder/citation
Denison students protest apartheid and endorse divestment in South Africa.
Excerpt from Karen Wheeler's oral history:
"Dr. Good actually, I don’t know that I can put words in his mouth, and he’s dead - God rest his soul. But one of the things that I thought was interesting is that he supported the freedom of South Africa. And so, when that became an issue and a protest and we built shanties on the yard on the common ground out in front of the student union and the library in that space, in that quadrangle, as a way of saying to the Board of Trustees, we know that some of our funds are invested in funds that support South Africa’s apartheid movement. We want you to divest. He responded to that."
(Source: 1H-90 Divestment "Shanty" Apartheid Protests , April 11, 1986)
". . . he certainly spearheaded this whole notion of inclusiveness and the South African student exchange program, where he got other schools and the Great Lake College Association to agree to accept students from South Africa. And so, they did a summer program at Denison and then they were scattered to schools in the consortium, including ours, and so our lives were richer for people like Victor Mamabolo (sp?) and Peter Mubunda (sp?), who came as a part of that program, and so again we got exposed to a whole new level of what student protest looked like."
(Source: 1H-90 Divestment "Shanty" Apartheid Protests , April 11, 1986)
1988The BSU organize a “Suspension of Business-As-Usual” protest in response to chronic racism and homophobia on campus and the university’s inadequate response. Two students are suspended for racial harassment.
(Source: 1H-90 Boycott of the Spring of 1988, Racial Incident, April 1988)
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