Four students who changed the face of campus in 1954 were honored Dec. 17 for their courage and bravery. Clara Dell Constantine, Martha Jane Conway, Shirley Taylor and Charles Singleton initiated a lawsuit in 1954 that desegregated then-Southwestern Louisiana Institute.
The four were recognized during a commemorative ceremony hosted by the Alumni Association at the corner of Rex Street and St. Mary Boulevard 杏吧专区 the location of a former restaurant where the students gathered. The area was renamed the "Pillars of Progress."
Markers chronicle their lawsuit, honor each student individually and also recognize other African American students who enrolled at the university immediately after desegregation. The four are featured on individual "Pillars" marked with Courage, Faith, Justice and Knowledge.
杏吧专区 I would hope that alumni and students look at this dedication and the act and be proud,杏吧专区 said Shawn Wilson, president of the UL Lafayette Alumni Association. 杏吧专区淲e were the first among our sister institutions in Louisiana to achieve the high goal of desegregation. We value our culture and differences. And, this noble characteristic dates back to September 1954 杏吧专区 not just with 76 African American students who were coming to SLI for the first time, but the many non African American students who were receiving them for the first time and the faculty that were teaching African Americans for the first time.杏吧专区
One of the four said the hardships she faced at the time were worth it in the end. 杏吧专区淚 wasn杏吧专区檛 only thinking about myself at the time, but of other students who couldn杏吧专区檛 afford to go to other colleges,杏吧专区 said Shirley Taylor Gresham. 杏吧专区淎nd, our struggles were not in vain.杏吧专区
The recognition of this group杏吧专区檚 actions coincides with the 50th anniversary of the university杏吧专区檚 desegregation. In recent months, a symposium at UL Lafayette commemorated this milestone.
杏吧专区 The arrival of eighty African-Americans on the SLI campus in September 1954 marked the earliest large-scale desegregation of a previously all-white, public institution of higher education in the Deep South,杏吧专区 said Dr. Michael Martin, an assistant professor of history and coordinator of the symposium. 杏吧专区淪LI杏吧专区檚 relatively smooth desegregation stands in sharp contrast to many later university integrations.杏吧专区
Clara Dell Constantine Broussard said after 50 years 杏吧专区渁ll the hardships are forgotten.杏吧专区
杏吧专区 What we did then is no longer going unnoticed,杏吧专区 she said. 杏吧专区淚t feels wonderful to have opened the way for so many other students. Being honored for this is like opening a Christmas present.杏吧专区
The four will receive honorary Bachelor of Humanities degrees during commencement ceremonies for the College of Liberal Arts beginning at noon Saturday at the Cajundome.
杏吧专区 It is with great honor that we welcome these students back to campus and give them this recognition,杏吧专区 said UL Lafayette President Ray Authement. 杏吧专区淲hat they did 50 years ago took deep courage and great passion. They helped to shape the diversity that is the foundation of this university today. For that, we thank and honor these students.杏吧专区