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 小蝌蚪APP 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.
小蝌蚪APP I would hope that alumni and students look at this dedication and the act and be proud,小蝌蚪APP said Shawn Wilson, president of the UL Lafayette Alumni Association. 小蝌蚪APP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 小蝌蚪APP 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.小蝌蚪APP
One of the four said the hardships she faced at the time were worth it in the end. 小蝌蚪APP淚 wasn小蝌蚪APP檛 only thinking about myself at the time, but of other students who couldn小蝌蚪APP檛 afford to go to other colleges,小蝌蚪APP said Shirley Taylor Gresham. 小蝌蚪APP淎nd, our struggles were not in vain.小蝌蚪APP
The recognition of this group小蝌蚪APP檚 actions coincides with the 50th anniversary of the university小蝌蚪APP檚 desegregation. In recent months, a symposium at UL Lafayette commemorated this milestone.
小蝌蚪APP 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,小蝌蚪APP said Dr. Michael Martin, an assistant professor of history and coordinator of the symposium. 小蝌蚪APP淪LI小蝌蚪APP檚 relatively smooth desegregation stands in sharp contrast to many later university integrations.小蝌蚪APP
Clara Dell Constantine Broussard said after 50 years 小蝌蚪APP渁ll the hardships are forgotten.小蝌蚪APP
小蝌蚪APP What we did then is no longer going unnoticed,小蝌蚪APP she said. 小蝌蚪APP淚t feels wonderful to have opened the way for so many other students. Being honored for this is like opening a Christmas present.小蝌蚪APP
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.
小蝌蚪APP It is with great honor that we welcome these students back to campus and give them this recognition,小蝌蚪APP said UL Lafayette President Ray Authement. 小蝌蚪APP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.小蝌蚪APP