Diversity at St. Edward's
St. Edward's yearbook photo of the members of Soul Society in 1976
AFRICAN AMERICANS ON CAMPUS
The civil rights movement started in the Fifties, lasted until the Seventies, and resulted in the desegregation of schools in the United States. After desegregation, White students still had more of an influence than black students in universites. According to historian Christopher Loss the schools were designed to meet the needs of White students. Black students were wanting more influence by having more control over their educational experience, such as creating Black or Afro-American Studies programs. They wanted their own culture rather than assimilating into the white society on campus. [15] Although St. Edward's was never segretated, it still fit into part of this pattern. In 1976, Black students created a Black oriented group called Soul Society, whose purpose was "to promote a Black cultural awareness at St. Edward’s through a dance with a soul band, [and] an exhibit of Negro history....”[16]
The formation of the Soul Society indicates the limited influence of African American students on campus. Blacks in higher education were viewed differently and viewed themselves as apart from the student body, especially at this time during the '70s there was still tension with minorities and Whites in higher education. Black students created this organization to change the student culture at the university, make it more diverse, and have more of a voice for the African-American community at the school.
Column written in Spanish discussing the importance of international students representation
INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS ON CAMPUS
In addition to the Civil Rights movement, there was a call for diversity in higher education, which was answered in the 1960’s with a growing foreign population at St. Edward’s University. In 1962, President Raymond Fleck appointed Brother Fabius Dunn to be the foreign student advisor. Brother Dunn was in charge of helping these international students feel welcomed and comfortable on campus, and among his appointment he stated, “The Political and Social changes which have taken place in Africa, Asia and Latin America in the past decade have brought new kinds of students to the campuses of the Western world, and with them the realization that a new kind of foreign student program is needed.”[17] The positive attitude towards having a diverse campus was evident on campus and this attitude is what helped drawn foreign students to St. Edward’s. The higher population spoke for itself when again in 1962 there was a column released in the school newspaper in Spanish. The column’s main point discuss that most students choose to obtain an education in America, because they offer better opportunities than those back home.[18]
During the mid 1970’s the importance of making international students feel comfortable seemed to subside, as there was a new proposal being drawn up from the St. Edward’s board. Included in this proposal was the removal of the International Students Office. In response to this one student drew on his own experiences as an international student to stress the importance that this office holds. This student goes on to say, “As an American Citizen with dual citizenship born in Lima, Peru, I can remember the hard time I had integrating myself as a child into the American social system.”[19] After explaining his personal struggles with feeling at home he called on other students to help sign a petition to keep the international office open.
A new St. Edward's plan discusses the possiblity of losing an international students office.