black student movement at NIU (#2)

black student movement at NIU (#2)

machine that had been “monkeywrenched,” or sabotaged.   This “critical mass” of students, representing approximately one percent of the overall student body, and one hundred percent of the black student body, had accomplished its goal of forcing the university to listen to them.   Noble Harris, president of the AACO, and graduate student Jerry Durley presented President Smith with a list of seven demands.   The list began with a sentence of just five words, five words that the students felt they already knew, but couldn’t convince anyone else of.   The five words were simply: “NIU is a racist institution.”   These words began a letter of seven grievances, two of which are important to the present state of NIU, because they, like the others, have been fulfilled.   The two key demands were: the establishment of a Black Studies Program, and the lowering of admissions standards for inner-city blacks who showed academic potential.   President Smith said that the grievances were “just, and a just solution to every one will be found.”   Both demands were seen as inflammatory by many whites in the university.   As one student said later,
“I pay my money to come here, and I have worked hard to get this money.  
Is that what you call equal rights?   No one gives me free admittance to this university.   If I run out of money, will the school let me stay here?”
However, President Smith moved to meet the demands.   He appointed Dr. John C. Mitchem as Chairman of a Task Force to study “all facets of university life, with special consideration to be given to providing equal opportunity to everyone.”   As the university was unprepared to handle any student disruptions, President Smith moved to establish procedures where, in the future, students could present grievances to “appropriate” persons through “appropriate” channels, in an “appropriate” manner, instead of committing acts of civil disobedience.    
To meet the demand of admitting black students who showed potential,...