BSO Protests, 1968-69
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This collection includes materials related to protests by the Black Student Organization in 1968 and 1969 during which it demanded increased enrollment of Black students as well as the hiring of more Black faculty and staff.
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Item BSO Protest, 1969(Kalamazoo College, 1969-05)Four members of the Black Student Organization (BSO) stand in protest in front of the Fine Arts Building, probably on Saturday, May 17, 1969 protest after the BSO rejected the college administration's response to their demands. Standing, left to right, are: Rosamuel Dawkins, Brenda Alexander, Herb Lindsay, and Jackie Cary.Item BSO Protest, 1969(Kalamazoo College, 1969-05)Members of the Black Student Organization (BSO) stand in protest in front of the Fine Arts Building. This may have been the Saturday, May 17, 1969 protest in which the BSO rejected the college administration's response to their demands. According to a May 23, 1969 article in The Index, "Early in the afternoon an ultimatum was sent by the BSO to Dr. Hicks stating, 'Your reply to our demands was totally inadequate. We reject it. Your response is evidence that the racism that permeates American society is present in the administration and faculty of this college.'" The demands of the BSO included more courses with a focus on Black culture, literature, and history as well as increased enrollment of Black students, funding tor the BSO, changes to campus housing assignments, and the use of a college' owned property on the northside of Kalamazoo.Item BSO Students with Administration's Response(Kalamazoo College, 1969-05)Four members of the Black Student Organization (BSO) walk down the steps of Mandelle Hall after receiving from the college administration a written response to their demands. From left to right: Tom Seaver, Emmet Deans, Jerry Weaver, and Herb Lindsay.Item White Students Support BSO Demands(Kalamazoo College, 1969-05-24)White students sit on the lawn in front of a campus building on May 24, 1969, holding signs that read "We Support BSO Demands. Black Autonomy - Black Studies." The student rally was in support of the Black Student Organization's demands to the college administration for greater involvement in academic, social, and admissions policies and programs.Item BSO Members Protest at Banquet(Kalamazoo College, 1969-05-17)Two members of the Black Student Organization (BSO) stand at the podium during a banquet on campus. Emmet Deans is speaking and Tom Seaver stands behind him. College president Weimer K. Hicks sits to the right of the podium. Members of the BSO sent a set of demands to the campus administration during the spring of 1969, including demands related to admissions and a Black Studies program.