TERRE HAUTE —
Two nationally known speakers will close out Indiana State University’s year-long celebration of the 40th anniversary of its African and African American Studies program.
Thavolia Glymph, an associate professor at Duke University and distinguished lecturer for the Organization of American Historians, will speak on “Rosa’s War: Enslaved Women in the Battle for Freedom in the Civil War” at 7 p.m. March 5 in the University Hall Theater. Arnold Rampersad, the Sara Hart Kimball Professor in the Humanities at Stanford University, will speak on “The Life and Legacy of Jackie Robinson” at 7:30 p.m. April 26 in Hulman Memorial Student Union, Dede I. Both talks are also part of the College of Arts and Sciences’ Community Semester.
Gymph’s books include “Out of the House of Bondage: The Transformation of the Plantation Household.” She also researches enslaved and freed women on the battlefields of the Civil War, focusing on the lives of black women and children in Civil War refugee and labor camps as well as emancipation, Reconstruction and southern women.
“Thavolia Glymph is a nationally renowned historian of the U.S. Civil War, slavery and African-American women,” said Chris Olsen, chair of the Indiana State history department.
Rampersad has written distinguished works on Langston Hughes, W.E.B. DuBois, Arthur Ashe and Ralph Ellison. Rampersad received unprecedented access to Robinson’s private papers, which allowed the author to bring the readers close to the legendary ballplayer who became a pivotal figure in race and civil rights. Rampersad’s talk is sponsored by the English and history departments, the African and African American Studies Program, the College of Arts and Sciences and the Terre Haute Rex.
“Arnold Rampersad has written widely on African-American culture and history,” Olsen said.
Throughout the 2012-13 school year, Indiana State has celebrated the founding of the African and African American Studies program, which was born of protests during the late 1960s and early 1970s. Special lectures, panel discussions and a concert have paid homage to the program.
Olsen noted that the program’s start was advocated by black and white students and many faculty, staff and administrators. The program is housed in the history department and includes a major and minor for students as well as classes that are part of the university’s Foundational Studies program.
“It’s is one indication of ISU’s historic commitment to African-American students, which stretches back to the late nineteenth century,” he said.
A sit-in, race riot and other efforts led to the establishment of an African-American Studies program in August 1972. Indiana State's interdisciplinary program is one of the first in the Midwest and one of the earliest in the nation.
Alumni such as William Powell, Sam Dixon and Ron Gremore returned to campus to talk about those tumultuous times with students. Alumna Crystal Reynolds, who wrote her dissertation on that time at ISU, also spoke to the students about ISU’s history.
“It’s been a great year with some terrific events, but I’ve been most gratified, I think, for all the alumni who’ve come back to ISU to celebrate the program, which many of them helped to establish,” Olsen said.
About 7:30 a.m. on May 1, 1969, a secretary arriving for work found her office blocked and the sit in well under way with additional students joining those who became known as the "Magnificent Seven." Students walked out of classes and gathered at the building until a crowd of about 500 stood outside what is now known as Gillum Hall. Students also shut down The Grill, the campus eatery.
"I was surprised," Powell, one of the Magnificent Seven, said, recalling that day. "I didn't think they would support us."
The sit-in followed demands presented a year earlier demanding the recognition of black fraternities and sororities as well as establishing black history courses and the hiring of more black professors. While that request saw a national black fraternity on campus, ISU President Alan Rankin also agreed to support petitions for courses in black history.
But on that May day in 1969, the requested demands included a reduction in tuition, the city police not to have jurisdiction on campus, more freedom for professors in academic affairs, unlimited serving in residence hall cafeterias and the creation of a black studies department.
Almost a year after the sit-in, racial strife reached a boiling point on the campus. On April 23, 1970, a bulletin board in Blumberg Hall featuring photographs of national Black Panther leaders, the Chicago Seven and lynchings had been torn up and racist and other remarks were scrawled on two black residents' doors. Black female students staged a sit-in at Blumberg in protest of the desecration. That day rumors grew and expanded among the black and white students causing tensions to rise as they jostled each other at the residence hall.
That night at the Sycamore Towers threats boiled into action. White and black students threw rocks and other objects at each other before the white students briefly retreated. They returned in force with between 400 and 600 white students, according to Crystal Reynolds, who wrote her dissertation on "Leadership Response to the Black Student Protest Movement at Indiana State University." An Indiana State Police report stated that the students wielded weapons that included gas pipes, ball bats, rocks, bricks and tire tools. White students threw rocks and bricks into the lower windows of the Statesman Towers where 75 to 100 black students had congregated in the stairways. Police in riot gear arrived, firing shotguns in the air and teargassed the students to disperse them.
"It was unexpected, astonishing," Dixon said. "It overwhelmed all of us. We just reacted to it. No one expected that much resistance. It was beyond talking then."
But in the aftermath, Dixon said opposing forces joined together "so it wouldn't happen again."
Now with the 40th anniversary of the program, Dixon said he feels deeply humbled.
“I had no vision how this day would come. I want to make sure that we preserve this once-in-a-lifetime event so it doesn't fade away," he said.
Schools
Glymph, Rampersad to speak at Indiana State
- Schools
-
-
Bruce’s history lessons: Truman’s decision to recognize Israel
This week (May 14) in 1948, at the direction of President Harry Truman, the United States recognized the existence of the newly formed state of Israel, which had declared independence earlier that day. It was, Truman later stated, among the most important decisions of his presidency.
- Reunion listings: May 16, 2013
-
Chances and Services for Youth to participate in food program
The Chances and Services for Youth recently announced plans to participate in the Summer Food Service Program.
-
South Latin students compete at convention
Terre Haute South Vigo High School Latin students competed with other Indiana schools at the recent state convention at ISU.
-
Southwest Parke School Corp. receives eLearning grant
Southwest Parke Community School Corp. has received an Imagining and Creating eLearning grant for the 2013-2014 school year through the Indiana Department of Education.
- Newsmakers: May 16, 2013
-
Otter Creek competes in regional Academic Super Bowl
The Otter Creek Academic Super Bowl teams competed in the regional Academic Super Bowl competition on April 27 at Sarah Scott Middle School.
-
Riverton Parke FFA teams compete at April 16 contest
Two Riverton Parke FFA Parliamentary Procedure Teams competed at the section competition for the Parliamentary Procedure Demonstration Contest on April 16 at the Indiana FFA Center in Trafalgar.
-
Parks offering summer day camp
The Terre Haute Parks and Recreation Department is now accepting registrations for its summer day camp.
-
State recognizes counties for improving college success
Indiana Commissioner for Higher Education Teresa Lubbers recognized 26 Indiana counties for working to increase the percentage of Hoosiers with education beyond high school. The counties are members of Indiana’s College Success Coalition, a statewide network focused on improving college access and success.
-
College Challenge program earns accreditation
Indiana State University’s College Challenge program for high school students has earned initial accreditation from the National Alliance of Concurrent Enrollment Partnerships.
-
ISP offers youth an up close look at law enforcement
Most television viewers have seen at least part of a CSI or Law and Order episode. These shows seem to have spurred a new interest in law enforcement and forensics. For more than 40 years the Indiana State Police have been giving young people an up close look at law enforcement through its youth camps program.
-
Goals, Pride & Achievements: May 16, 2013
Alyssa A. Barnes of Clinton graduated from Purdue University on Sunday.
She has a bachelor’s degree in hospitality and tourism management, with a minor in psychology. -
Woodrow Wilson students collect funds for animals
The leadership team from Woodrow Wilson Middle School sponsored a week of giving to collect funds and supplies for the Terre Haute Humane shelter.
-
Riverton Parke academic bowl team finishes strong
The Riverton Parke English academic bowl team finished as runner-up at the state finals competition on May 4 at Purdue University, and the social studies team swept through all of its last eight questions without a miss to finish third in the contest.
-
Turkey Run High School names top 2013 students
Kaleigh Basan has been named valedictorian and Jeff Woods and Kendall Davies are co-salutatorians for the Turkey Run High School Class of 2013.
Graduation ceremonies will be in the high school gymnasium at 11 a.m. May 25 with 36 students receiving their diplomas. -
Bruce’s history lessons: Spring Cleaning 2013
Time for my annual “Spring Cleaning” column, in which I address reader issues and answer “Frequently Asked Questions.”
-
Moats gets ISU Rankin Award
Indiana State University has honored Katelynn Moats of Terre Haute with the Rankin Memorial Distinguished Senior Award in recognition of her contributions to the betterment of the university.
-
Turkey Run to honor seniors
Turkey Run High School will hold its senior awards and recognition program at 7 p.m. Monday in the ELC room. A reception will be held from 6 to 7 p.m.
The program for freshmen to juniors will be held at 1:32 p.m. May 16 in the high school gymnasium. -
Honey Creek math club earns gold status
Honey Creek Middle School has received Gold Level Status as a participant of the 2013 MATHCOUNTS Club.
-
Riverton Parke students bring home art awards
Students from 15 schools in west central Indiana competed in the 34th annual d’Arlier Trust Spring Art Show on April 19-25 in Veedersburg. Four Riverton Parke High School students won a total of nine awards in six of the show’s 20 categories.
-
Parke Adult Tutoring Service awards mini-grant
The Parke Adult Tutoring Service has awarded a mini-grant of $270 to Riverton Parke English teacher Mike Lunsford to purchase reading materials for his students.
- Vigo County School Corp. Honor Roll — Middle School, Second Grading Period
-
BRUCE’S HISTORY LESSONS: The Civil War: Means versus ends
The Civil War began this week (April 12) in 1861 with the shelling of the Union fort, Fort Sumter, by Confederate troops in South Carolina. Four years later that war ended with the total defeat of the Confederacy, and in the war’s wake many historians have concluded that a Union victory was inevitable given the huge advantages that the Union North had in terms of manpower, weaponry, manufacturing and industrial capacity.
-
SMWC honored for ‘Pomeroy Pride’
Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College received a silver award from the “Higher Education Marketing Report” 28th Annual Educational Advertising Awards. The full-page ad publicly announced the launch of the SMWC’s campaign to build a sports and recreation center, titled the “Pomeroy Pride Campaign.”
-
ISU students garner awards at ITEEA conference
A group of Indiana State University technology and engineering education students talked to each other over walkie-talkies as they recently went to Columbus, Ohio, in a three-car caravan.
-
Indiana State to be recognized for ‘Celebrating Sustainability’
Indiana State University will be recognized in two venues this month as one of 20 colleges and universities nationwide that exemplify the mission of the American College and University Presidents’ Climate Commitment to re-stabilize the earth’s climate through education, research and community engagement.
-
Pimento reunion dinner set for May 11
The Pimento School reunion dinner will be held May 11 at Hoosier Prairie School. Friendship hour will begin at 5:30 p.m., followed by dinner at 6:30 p.m. A meeting and program will conclude the evening.
-
ISU taking applications for Summer Honors program
Indiana State University is accepting applications from talented high school students interested in taking part in this year’s Summer Honors program.
-
ISU student selected as a Newman Fellow
Katelynn Taylor, a junior at Indiana State University, is one of 181 student leaders nationwide selected by Campus Compact as 2013 Newman Civic Fellows.
- More Schools Headlines
-
Bruce’s history lessons: Truman’s decision to recognize Israel
Raw: Tornadoes Spotted in Kansas
Probe Begins After Conn. Commuter Trains Crash
Raw: Heavy Tornado Damage in Shawnee, Okla
Tornadoes, Storms Strike Midwest
NTSB Begins Investigation Into Conn. Train Crash
Obama Exhorts Good Deeds by Morehouse Graduates
AP CEO: Records Seizure 'Unconstitutional'
Lotto Fever Sweeps the Country
Winning Powerball Ticket Sold in Florida
Coffee Run Leads to Hatchet Hitchhiker Arrest
'Babyland': Camp Lejeune's Toxic Legacy?
One Million Evacuated As Cyclone Hits Bangladesh
Conn. Commuter Trains Collide; 60 Go to Hospital
Raw: Germany Protestors Picket Barbie House
Raw: Driver Ejected From Truck, Over Bridge
Today in History for May 19th
Fmr. IRS Head Insists No Politics in Targeting
CDC: Fecal Bacteria Common in Swimming Pools
Raw: Gun Scare Mars Cannes Film Festival
$1 Million in Jewels Stolen at Cannes Film Fest
Singer Miguel Accidentally Lands on Fan At Billboard Music Awards
Who is $600M Powerball winner in Fla.?
Justin Bieber Gets Booed After Winning at the Billboard Awards
Top 5 Plays of the Day
Singer forgets lyrics, makes up words to National Anthem
Sailor Surprises His Mom At Her CU Denver Graduation Ceremony
Twiggy, the Waterskiing Squirrel
Official: ‘Amazing’ No One Was Killed In CT Train Crash
Coffee Stop Leads To Arrest Of YouTube Sensation Wanted For Murder
Bearded Dragon Reunited With Owner
Marine Reunited with Warzone Companion
Raw: Crash Sends Car Into Fla. Pool
Beyonce Is Pregnant!
SF baseball player overpaid $500,000 RETURNS money -- and team says KEEP IT
Dad returns from Afghanistan, surprises family during Rays' first pitch
See Jennifer Lopez's New $10m Hamptons Mansion
