BSU achieves monumental gains at KU
By TOM SLAUGHTER
Kansan Staff Writer
"It was a good year," said John Spearman, Lawrence sophomore and president of the Black Students Union (BSU).
For better or worse, the BSU is growing at KU. The gains achieved just this year are, for a lack of a better word, monumental.
Spearman said KU blacks have achieved a "new sense of consciousness." To even the most
was baptised with the first waters of a seemingly never empty font of black demands.
The reaction of many of the white community was, "Who the hell do they think they are?" For the first time someone DEMANDED something of the white University administration and stucents. The cheerleader was added under ominous clouds of action and reaction by whites and blacks. After the cheerleader was safely in her outfit every-
tempers and talk that the administration would bend over backwards for the blacks.
The remainder of football season was quiet, and basketball season started quietly.
Early this spring the blacks handed the administration a list of "demands" which called for, in effect, more black representation throughout the University community.
The administration called the demands "illegal" and unrespon-
Photo by Tom Slaughter
Confrontations at Lawrence High School
A black Student at Lawrence High School was held briefly by police during a confrontation at the high school April 21. She was released after a group of black students from KU and Lawrence High demanded she be set free. Police used chemical mace to disperse the crowd.
calloused eye, this statement rings true.
The BSU has won seven administrative positions and 150 scholarships. They are expanding their operations to the entire black community, both at KU and in Lawrence. A breakfast program and a big-brother plan have forced the black community together. A high-school visitation program enables blacks to come to KU and find out about the BSU and even begins to integrate them into the functions of the BSU, in preparation for next year.
Even the most vocal critic of the BSU will admit that they are in fact a dynamic group.
As an effective, viable organization, the BSU had its geniuses last year.
But, which way are they going? Perhaps a quick recap of where they have been will illuminate the question.
Visibly, the major accomplishment for the BSU last year was the token addition of a black pom-pon girl. In Spearman's words, this was tokenism. What is important here is not that the blacks at KU were represented by a black cheerlader, but that th white university community
Guards enter campus with tear gas, sticks
It was the second night of violence in and around the campus in connection with student protest against the Kent State shootings and the arrest of students who participated in the takeover of the student union center last week.
COLUMBIA, S. C. (UPI) Police and National Guardsmen using tear gas and night sticks Tuesday night battled University of South Carolina students hurling bricks and bottles from street corners and dormitory roofs.
The violence was not as widespread as it was Monday night when students in a crowd of 1,000 or more hurled bricks at police and then broke up into small groups and made hit and run attacks around the campus perimeter.
8 KANSAN May 13
1970
thing was calm . . . Until Home-
coming.
When the selection of queen candidates began for Homecoming the blacks began asking University officials for a black Homecoming queen—a separate black queen.
This galled many of the white University community, once again.
Homecoming day was a bright, typical football day. The alumni were in full force and most of the women wore their traditional mums. The blacks had a black queen. In fact she had her own black Cadillac to circle the field.
There were no serious repercussions from the Homecoming episode, besides a few ruffled
Enter the Left-Handed Students Union (LHSU). The LHSU presented the administration with a list of "demands" one of which was that the University install a number of left-handed desks.
sible, and summarily rejected all of them. The BSU called the administration names.
NEWARK, N. J. (UPI)—Black engineer Kenneth A. Gibson won Tuesday's mayoralty election but not by a wide enough margin to avert a runoff with incumbent Hugh Addonizio who faces trial on extortion charges.
John Spearman
The blacks did not take the parody as well as one smiling University official.
Black victorious
The BSU switched its arena of action to the black problems at Lawrence High School, where racial trouble has become almost the rule.
Addonizio ran second with white law and order candidate Anthony Imperialle close on his heels. His showing means Addonizio still has a chance for a third term in the June runoff.
The black students at the LHS asked the KU blacks for their support. Some KU blacks, Spearman included, went to the high school to help their brothers and sisters. Spearman was arrested for trespassing on the grounds of the high school he graduated from.
A group of black parents and concerned adults went to the high school to talk to William Medley, principal of the school. They asked that the blacks arrested and the students dismissed from school, be granted a pardon and that Medley drop charges against the arrested students. Medley refused.
KU went to the high school again. The blacks broke 14 windows and tried to enter the administration building.
High school officials apparently not aware of the nonconfrontation tactics used by the University in similar situations, called the police.
A group of blacks, many from
The Union burned...
The blacks were met by nearly 20 riot-equipped police. A few blows were exchanged and tear-gas was used before the blacks were dispersed.
Behind this sometimes violent scenario the BSU was working with the University to hire blacks.
The University has made positions in seven areas, two of which are the Dean of Men's Office and the Dean of Women's Office, available to blacks.
The BSU made what may be a bad tactical mistake. They seemed to alienate many of the students attending the all-University convocation last Friday, by coming down out of the stands and surrounding Chancellor E. Laurence Chalmers Jr. and then grabbing for the microphone.
Spearman alleges the Chancellor promised the blacks a chance to talk and then changed his mind. Bill Ebert said the blacks were given a chance to talk.
What is important is the attitude the BSU has about the situation. They say they are not mad, and in fact they expected what happened. Spearman said he does not see this as a further polarizing the black and white communities.
What people must realize is that the blacks neither want or care about a close relationship with whites. The BSU feels that at this point white support would only slow down their programs.
swallow, many of whom still harbor subliminal master/slave feelings for blacks, that the blacks will not come begging for support.
It is a bitter pill for whites to
The BSU is ready for next year. They are eager, Spearman said.
In fact, the BSU is having trouble finding enough people to fill the scholarships they have available.
They are optimistic that they can get their controversial paper, "Harambee," printed somewhere next year.
Membership will certainly grow, by even more than it did this year. What will the BSU do next year? That is their secret.
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RICK HARMAN FOR GOVERNOR TEAM
Volunteer to campaign in your town this summer Join the Harman Team at our table in the Union MONDAY-TUESDAY-WEDNESDAY Or Call Pam 842-5713 or Steve 842-3142
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