Learning Activity

Questions

1.      Historians work with a variety of primary sources (diaries, photographs, archival materials, ect.) to help them understand and analyze historical events. This exhibit draws heavily upon newspaper and magazine articles. What are some of the benefits and challenges of working with newspapers? What might be some additional concerns of working with student publications such as Technician and State Sentinel?

2.      Many students voiced their concerns that student publications, particularly Technician, were too critical of African American students’ calls for a cultural center. Do you think students had a legitimate concern? Why or why not?

3.      What perspectives might be missing from Technician news articles? How did student authored editorials help to fill this gap?

4.      Read and analyze the editorials above. Which arguments do you think were most compelling? What arguments were least compelling and why?

5.      Why do you think the anonymous author of “What if…” chose not to disclose his/her name?

6.      The thumbnails above display word clouds of their respective articles. Word clouds visually display words most used throughout the articles in large font while the least used words appear smaller. What do the word clouds show you about the types of language used in the editorials?

7.      According to the secondary literature cited in this exhibit, how do African American Cultural Centers influence or benefit college campuses? What did NC State students and administrators declare were the pros and cons of creating an African American Cultural Center on campus?