You’re reading a story from Sidelines 100, a project showcasing a century of student storytelling at Middle Tennessee State University. Sidelines 100 plans to highlight 100 stories from the newspaper archives this fall and spring.
This story originally ran in the Oct. 26, 1984, edition of Sidelines. Subscribe to our newsletter to stay on top of all things Sidelines 100.
The story has been updated for current basic AP style, but the wording in the story has not changed. Any ideas, perspectives or opinions do not necessarily reflect those of Sidelines.
Murfreesboro, Tenn. (UPI) — About 150 Black students at MTSU met Wednesday, in the aftermath of a cross-hanging incident, to voice their concerns about attitudes towards blacks on campus.
“We’re not here to show the university we want to fight,” John Turner, president of MTSU’s Black Student Association, said. “We’re not here to be violent. We’re here to discuss any charges you may have of receiving less of an excellent education at MTSU because of the color of your skin.”
A burnt cross was taped to the door of Turner’s Smith Hall dormitory room Monday. University officials have tried to find out who planted the cross on Turner’s door, but they have been unsuccessful.
“The BSA is not militant,” Turner said. We’re not fighting. But we are concerned and will take the appropriate action when we can.”
The cross-hanging followed the release of a memo from MTSU Director of Admission Richard Parrent. The memo suggested that minority students believe instructors treat them unfairly and perceive the campus as being “somewhat bigoted.”
The students at the meeting, which took place on the upper floor of the University Center, represent about 10 percent of the Black student enrollment at MTSU. Records show that of the school’s 11,369 students, 859 are Black. Only nine of MTSU’s full-time faculty members are Black.
“We might represent only one-10th of the university, but our money is just as good anyone else’s,” the BSA president said. “It’s not unfair to ask that for every 10 concerts, one of them be Black, or that for every 10 theatrical events one of them be Black-oriented.”
Turner asked students at the meeting to write down complaints or cases of discrimination they have encountered at the university.
“We need this hard copy in our hands when we get to the right people – university officials and the president,” he said. “Our mission is to say things to people who can act on them.”
Also present at the meeting was the Rev. James Thomas, pastor of Nashville’s Jefferson Street Baptist Church. Thomas asked the Black students to support each other.
“The ball game is not over,” Thomas said. “This is just halftime. There is much left to do. Call us if we need your help.”
Angela Armstrong was one of many students who described problems with faculty members.
“Bigotry is everywhere in the world,” Armstrong said at the meeting. “There is nothing new about that. But that shouldn’t stop you in your studies.”
“You can do anything you put your mind to. You’ve got to get into your books and get the right answers. Then, if the teacher marks your paper wrong, it doesn’t matter if you’re Black, white, green or purple, he’s got to change it because you’re right.”
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