University of Virginia Library

Black Students Experience
Social, Cultural Void

Commentary

By IVAN R. GREENE JR.

Photo By Saxon Holt

Changing Face Of The Student Body

New Problems Arise In A Multiracial University

The University is known as
an educational community
where one may strive toward a
high degree of academic
achievement in the field of his
choice. Seldom, however, is the
University referred to as the
cultural center that it actually
should be with respect to the
peoples of different races that
it draws within it's boundaries.

Black students at the University
feel that it is not making the effort
that it should in establishing the
social and cultural atmospheres.

Blacks have made their desires
and needs known to the proper
officials associated with the
operation of the University and
respectively have received the
discouraging reply of "We will give
the issue some thought."

Many Blacks here feel that many
of the officials of the University are
incapable of handling the needs and
problems of Black students because
of ignorance or lack the skills
necessary in dealing with Blacks
and other minority groups.

In the classroom, Blacks have
found various professors to be
discriminatory in presenting
opportunities for obtaining aid to
Black students with problems as
compared to other students with
problems.

It is with consideration of the
present problems and in evaluation
of what is being done to alleviate
them that makes me conclude that
the problems of Black students will
continue to exist and increase in
number until some consideration is
given to the feelings of Black
students.

Much action must be taken to
satisfy and provide for the desires
and needs of Blacks in this
University's community.

(Mr. Greene is a second year
Engineering student, and a
counselor and a member of the
Black Student Alliance.)