Davidson College invites public to events commemorating 50 years of integration at the college which will be held during Homecoming Weekend, October 5 and 6. The occasion will include reflections on the beginnings of racial integration, diversity on campus today, and a look toward the future.
Davidson’s Board of Trustees opened the doors first to African students. Dr. Benoit Nzengu, a surgeon living near Paris, enrolled in the fall of 1962, and Georges Nzongola-Ntalaja, who teaches at UNC-Chapel Hill, enrolled in the fall of 1963. Both men will attend the commemoration, and Dr. Nzengu will offer one of Friday evening’s keynote “Alumni Reflections.”
Members of the general public are invited to attend presentations on Friday afternoon, October 5, and Saturday, October 6. On Friday at 4 p.m. in Chambers Building Room 1062 Joseph Howell ’64 will discuss his book, Civil Rights Journey, The Story of a White Southerner Coming of Age during the Civil Rights Revolution. Howell grew up in a privileged Nashville family during the last years of Jim Crow, got involved in the civil rights movement as a Davidson student, and ultimatelyworked on the front lines of the movement. He will be joined by his wife, Embry, with whom he shared the experience of working with the Student Nonvolent Coordinating Committee in 1966. She is the daughter of the late Davidson President Grier Martin.
Three public talks on Saturday morning in Chambers Building will address the current state of Davidson’s continuing efforts toward diversity.
“Multicultural Affairs at Davidson” at 9 a.m. will be led by Tae-Sun Kim, director of multicultural affairs, and Sarbeth Felming, associate dean and director of multicultural admission. They will discuss demographic changes at Davidson over the years and initiatives by the college to meet the needs of an increasingly diverse community.
“Faculty of Color and Curricular Diversity, Campus Climate and Tenure” at 10 a.m. in Chambers Building will be led by Helen Cho, associate professor of anthropology, andHilton Kelly, assistant professor of education. They will speak about the role of faculty of color in supporting college diversity initiatives, as well as new projects and classes being offered in the Ethnic Studies Concentration.
“The ACE Investment” at 11 a.m. in Chambers Building will explain this Davidson program to blendnetworking and career advice to help bring together alumni of color with distinct professional passions.
For more information about the weekend’s activities, call 704-894-2642.
