Why are people treating Student of Color concerns as a recent phenomenon? I have stated that this is, at least, a 30-year struggle at Macalester and I have dealt with this daily ever since my first day here.
 

“An ‘expanded educational program’ at Macalester was first discussed in October of 1968. After extensive committee work, the program, titled Expanded Educational Opportunity (EEO), was approved at the December faculty meeting. EEO was instituted for two reasons: first, to improve the educational resources at Mac by enlarging the diversity of the student body, faculty and staff; and second, to provide an education for students who would otherwise be unable to attend a high-tuition college.”

—EEO drives to accomplish its six-point goal, The Mac, 1969 (yearbook)
 

Minority students denounce EEO cuts, seek resources to teach themselves

by Bijan Mossavar-Rahmani

—The Mac Weekly April 30, 1971
 

When the faculty filed into Olin Auditorium last night, they had come to discuss the formation of an ad hoc committee to recommend faculty reductions, if any, for 1972-1973—and not to listen to students spread “gossip and rumors.”

After a series of motions, amendments, substitutions and a lot of talk about the future of Macalester, an acceptable proposal for the formation of the committee was drafted and passed. The Committee on Priorities and Planning will consist of six faculty members and four students. Vice-President Garvin and Deans Goodrich and Braden will serve as ex officio, non-voting members.

But as the meeting came to a close, a Black student, Robert McClain interrupted to explain the presence of the large number of minority students. “We’ve heard a lot of rumors lately that the EEO program will be completely eliminated, and the reductions in EEO funds show that these rumors are true.”

The immediate response of the faculty was that no such proposals to eliminate EEO had ever been entertained; and that such rumors could circulate and should be ignored. McClain listed all the projected cuts in funds and students, and said that the cuts were just too much, and left no doubt in his mind that EEO would be phased out.

The faculty continued to ignore the rumors, gave re-assurance to the minority students that the future of EEO would be discussed openly, and that individual faculty would contribute to the EEO fund from their personal incomes if necessary. As that question had temporarily been answered, a resolution was read that suggested that the Macalester faculty were opposed to the $500,000 cuts in the instructional budget, as this massive reduction would cause great damages to the college; and the Board of Trustees was asked to reject this destructive recommendation.

Then Dayton Hultgren, Director of the Individual Learning Center, made a startling announcement: “The rumors about EEO are more than just fantasy.” This greatly angered the minority students at the meeting, and the mood became very tense. Someone even raised a clutched fist and shouted, “After this, no one should be held responsible for the actions of minority students on this campus.”

As time had run out, the official meeting was adjourned, but both students and faculty stayed on for an hour of honest and even critical discussions.

First, Doug Bolstorff, Associate Professor of P.E.K. explained that a faculty member, had, in fact, drawn up a petition recommending that the EEO program be eliminated, but that minority students be admitted through the regular admissions and financial aid procedures. He continued to clarify that the petition had been circulated, was not important, and that Hultgren was making a big deal of it. “It’s nothing, it’s nothing.”

Remaining faculty members continued to assure the minority students that they were committed to the EEO program and that it had their full support. Possible fundraising proposals were made. One student suggested that a student-faculty coalition be formed to stand against the Board of Trustees. Another suggested that the “millionaire trustees” dig into their own pockets to help save the college. A third proposal, made by a faculty member, was that the college community unite to raise money through contacting alumni, congressmen, senators and events like the Ice Follies.

Dean of Faculty Murray Braden then spoke of a “wall of separatism” that divided the whites and minority students at Macalester. He warned that if these walls weren’t broken down, the future of Macalester would be jeopardized.

The exchange continued for an hour and ended with a statement read by the minority students about the future of EEO. Macalester’s minority students feel that this education is unrealistic, as it relates only to the experience of bourgeois whites. They proposed that EEO be given academic status, so that, for example, Blacks will be able to go out into their own communities and serve for academic credit. “Give us our own resources and academic standing, and we’ll teach ourselves.” The meeting ended on this note. Minority students had made some legitimate demands, and the faculty listened. No quick and immediate answers will be available, but critical issues and problems confronting the future of EEO were aired.

On Monday, the faculty will hold another special meeting. The financial difficulties of this college, and the questions raised by minority students have by no means been solved.