Sacramento City College - Pioneer Yearbook (Sacramento, CA)

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BLACK STUDENT UNION The new campus group, the most vigorous on the campus, is composed of Negro students, who number about 4% of the student body. Black Power Segregation in A Matter By Pat Shire WITHIN THE LAST several years, a new type of student organization has been spring¬ ing up on college campuses throughout the United States, which are organized by, and whose memberships are usually limited to Negro students. Using such titles as Black Student Union and Afro-American Society, these social and political phenomena have as a general pur¬ pose, the “liberation” of the Negro in Amer¬ ica. BSUat SCC Sacramento City College has this semester joined the other campuses nationwide, and Negro students here formed the Black Stu¬ dent Union. The Union is a recognized cam¬ pus club and adheres to all the usual require¬ ments for College clubs. The members, num¬ bering about 80, strive for an active voice, both on campus and in the community. Union Outlines Goals The Union has proved to be a militant or¬ ganization, and holds a multi-purpose goal, as outlined in its organizational statement: The Black Student Union of Sacramento City College has as its purpose the unifica¬ tion of all black people in America for their liberation by any means necessary. ‘The Black Student Union will further the development of political, economic, and cultural black-consciousness of all black people. After years of exploitation and degra¬ dation we, the black students, are preparing ourselves and our people for a prolonged struggle for freedom from this yoke of op¬ pression. “We, the black students of Sacramento City College, seek the dignified existence which we and our people are denied. We seek to function as human beings able to control our own destinies. “We have learned, through experiences of our own and others, that it is impossible to exist as human beings in a racist society in which black is synonomous with evil. 2

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Introducing - President Durand THE NEW PRESIDENT, sixth at SCC, has been described by Superintendent of the Los Rios Junior College District, Walter T. Coultas, as a “warm per¬ sonality” and he added publicly that “any college would be fortunate to have ‘Oily’ as its president. Mr. Oliver J. Durand, appointed President of Sacramento City College in August by the Board 1 of Trustees, is no newcomer to Sacramento nor to the College. A native of the Capital City and a graduate of preparatory schools here, he earned his A.B. degree at St. Mary’s College. As President, his responsibility for the overall direction of the College, and the problems of the College’s budget of millions are only a part of his extensive educational concerns, yet he still makes time for his favorite sport of fishing on the Sacramento River, most often with several of his four children: David 14, John 12, Marian 9, and Therese 5. His ideas and goals reflect his own personal concern with the individual as well as the commu¬ nity. “Our school must change as the community changes. Students should be exposed to a variety of ideas and not be shielded from them,” he comment¬ ed recently. Further, he feels that City College as a community college should relate to the community in which it serves. He has urged students and professors alike to become active in civic affairs. President Durand hopes to break the traditional barrier between faculty and students. To this end, he initiated a coffee hour for discussion and “gripes” with students. He welcomes comments from students and discussions with them for the mutual benefit I of all members of the College community. KEYNOTER—The new president set the tone for the student leadership conference in the opening address at the general session in November. NEW PRESIDENT-Mr. Oliver J. Durand became the sixth president of Sacramento City College on Sept. 1, of the present academic year. Former Eng¬ lish instructor and Dean of Instruction here, the new leader is a native of the Capital City and a product of Christian Brothers’ schools. Sacramento State College awarded him a Master of Arts degree in English. TRADITION-The Men’s Faculty Shack, to be moved in the current construction ferment, hosted Mr. Durand at the annual reception for all faculty men in October. I

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I “So we as black students, as black people, will re-define and re-evaluate the things which affect our destinies ’ Active For Social Good The Union has also shown a new aware¬ ness of the need to help the less fortunate Negro, to work extensively in poverty neighborhoods such as Oak Park. There is great involvement by the Negro stu¬ dents in these neighborhoods, and their eventual hope is to assist and help to educate the Negro in these areas. Young Leader Explains The first president of the BSU is Bill Mitchell, an articulate young crusader. According to Mitchell, The BSU was de¬ signed to help the Negro and not to be venge¬ ful. We must open the doors and then encour¬ age our race to use them. “The BSU of City College does not sanc¬ tion violence,” said Mitchell. There is no reason for violent rebellion here. We ve asked to be included in all phases of campus life and have been not only accepted, but aided in our pursuits.” It is obvious that the black student has more opportunities this year than ever before at City College, stated Mitchell “and that’s because we’re working for them. Black City is a campus newspaper published by and for black students on the City Col¬ lege campus. Although the club must officially be open to all students, in accordance with the SA constitution, there are, at present, only Negro members. The club members have expressed a wish to sponsor a convocation speaker, and have already been active in holding rallies, debates, and in originating a petition to place a Negro history course in the College curriculum. The hope is generally to involve the Negro students in all aspects of campus life. ★ THE SEGREGATION of students at tables in the cafeteria —racially and socially— presents a social problem and poses a question of the cause and effect relationship of student segre¬ gation. Is the segregation self-imposed or socially forced? To date, student government has not discussed the “problem.” Hits Campus i the Cafeteria — r of Choice?