Philander Smith College - Philanderian Yearbook (Little Rock, AR)

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PRESIDENT DR. WALTER R. HAZZARD E RRERa f ,ww -f nw ., xi ,111 , f-f,k, I f -.,-b Wfff M .E fm' E R E

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AFRO-AMERICAN CENTER PHILANDER SMITH CDLLEGE The Afro-American Center has been designed to help carry out the objectives of the college. Purposes: First to build ego-identity and ethnic confidence in Black students, Second to motivate Black Students to greater involvement in the educational and civic pro- cessesg Third to introduce and expose them to the history of their heritage and the achievements of, their forefathers. At present our educational system allows only a partial education of members of some ethnic groups. The product of such systems is lacking in the basic knowledge necessary to cope with the society for which it is supposed to train. By ignoring the achievements of black people our system is saying that one must lose his identity, his individuality, and his hopes for a bet- ter life. , V Today, Black people desire to acquire social identity, pride, and self-esteem which is simi- lar to desires of all other ethnic groups. Therefore in our Center we are collecting textbooks, magazines, recordings, manuscripts, rec- ords, art, sculpture and pictures that depict a true and complete picture of Black people every- where. The materials are built around what the group' has done to make the country great. Young people need to know that as the pilgrims and Puritans protested religious persecu- tion in Europe and came to America to establish religious freedom, that Black men such as Richard Allen protested religious persecution in America and established Negro Churches so they too could have religious freedom. That while Benjamin Franklin was discovering and inventing electricity, Benjamin Banneker was inventing the first striking clock in America. That as Susan B. Anthony was leading a protest for woman suffrage, Harriat Tubman and Sojourner Truth were leading slaves to Freedom through the Underground Railroad and Pro- test speeches. That john Brown and Willizrm Lloyd Garrison were helping black men like Nat Turner, DenMark Veasy and David Walker fight for emancipation. That james Weldon johnson, W.E.B. Du Bois, Carter G. XVoodson and Mary McLeod Bethune and many others in the Twentieth Century by their writings, organizations and educational institutions were pro- testing inequalities and fighting for equal opportunities. They will learn about Dr. Daniel Hale Wiiliams a Negro who performed the first successful human heart operation in the world in 1893, 75 years before the first successful human heart transplant in Africa by Dr. Christian Bernard. The Negro has arrived at the point where he realizes that he, too, has a heritage, that he, too, has played an important role in our American history. The role of the Afro-American Center then is to provide the information and the inspira- tion that he needs at this point.

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fl .rv PHILANDER SMITH COLLEGE um: nocx, Anxmsas OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT WALTER R. HAZZARD, President THE PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE Philander Smith College has come a long way since it was founded in 1877 by the Methodist Episcopal Church to help freemen to face the most vexing challenges of radical social change, to develop black leadership, to educate the culturally deprived, to enhance the dignity of freemen, to faciliate the execution of justice, and to establish a more humane society. The college has grown from a humble beginning to its present prominence as an institution of higher education. Philander Smith College is accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools. It is also approved by the University Senate of The United Methodist Church. Fifty years ago Philander was restricted by orthodoxy, conformity, and religious constraint. Today, higher education in the college community is characterized by academic freedom, crit- ical analysis, creative research, and innovative programs to meet the need of each student who enters with a thirst for knowledge, a quest for truth, and a desire for a richer and fuller life. Like john Dewey, the philosopher, we believe a college must offer more than book learning. It must give the student contact with nature and with community life. It must attempt to de- velop the student's whole personality. The faculty and administrators of the college are ready and willing: tl' To help each student develop his highest potential as a human being and as a member of a democratic society. ' To educate the culturally deprived by offering individually prescribed instruction in con- junction with the regular curriculum. ' To encourage the more advanced or brilliant student to pursue higher degrees of excellence through independent study and deeper involvement in the curricular offerings and inno- vative programs. W' To make curricular changes with the aim of tailoring programs to student interests, abili- ties, needs and opportunities. ' To prepare students for equal career opportunity and increase the number of graduates who can match manpower requirements and perform with proficiency in their various vo- cations. FK To make quality education the greatest component affecting personal development and the Gross National Product. For 93 years Philander Smith College has produced scholars and leaders who have become good citizens, outstanding teachers, ministers, theologians, lawyers, physicians, psychologists, musicians, businessmen, etc. Philander will continue to offer quality education to all people without regard to race or religion, color or class. Philander will help her students to get a good education while in college and a good job after graduation. aaai42A477Mf Walter R. Hazzard President WRH:ws -A College ol Service and Distinction- llember: North Central Asoclation of Colleges and Secondary Schools: American Council on lducst-lon. Ill! UNO? 7 Qi