Complaints

"Harrison criticizes black leadership," November 5, 1973

     Upon learning about the Chancellor’s Liaison meeting, Harrison expressed her disapproval stating, “I think the idea for them to ask us to leave the meeting when we were the center of attack was in very poor taste…I think their actions are going to decrease the number of white supporters for the back students on this campus.” Technician also announced how it believed the meeting did “nothing to improve the black-white relationship on this campus” in an opinion article dated November 5. The article continued stating, “… SAAC’s request of the Print Shop is all well and good, but they have no more right to it than the other organizations mentioned.” This statement suggests that many student organizations were competing for use of the Print Shop, although John Poole, dean of student development, would later deny this was an issue. The Technician articles also make it appear that although African American students approached administrators with justification and a plan for a cultural center, they did not reach out to NC State students to gain additional support for the center. Many students lacked an understanding of the purpose of the cultural center and how the SAAC would utilize the space in the Print Shop. This lack of communication and cooperation caused tempers to flare across campus. The SAAC’s meeting with administrators, while controversial, was the first step to securing a new cultural center and demonstrating to university administrators that African American students were organized and willing to hold university officials accountable for creating a welcoming and comfortable environment. However, Harrison suggested, tensions rose between white and African American students.

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