West Virginia State University - Arch Yearbook (Institute, WV)

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Sam Lee, first white student to register at West Virginia State College, x Samuel F. Lee, Jr. West Virginia State College, for the past 31 years, has been a shining example to the greater Kanawha Valley as a laboratory of human relations. The Supreme Court of the United States made it possible for me to attend West Virginia State College. The day following the Supreme Court decision I made arrangements with Harrison Ferrell, the Dean, to enroll in the fall term for the school year of 1954-55. I attended State College and graduated in June 1957. During my college years at West Virginia State I experienced the integration process in the reverse. In the fall term of 1954, there were only a few white students. However, three years later at the time of my graduation, the integration process was well established. Since graduation I have worked in the Kanawha County School System for 25 years as a teacher and principal with scores of West Virginia State College trained teachers. I have observed that these teachers are very skillful in understanding the needs of our varied ethnical and racial groups. 3 I feel that West Virginia State College has for 31 years been a living example of a laboratory of human relations.

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Charlotte Fuller Administrative Assistant

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Whelwieretlect, on the integration of WVSC in the Fall of 1954 and my role as Student Government Association President 7s aLicwetd opm tiane that enters my mind is the Administration's concerns about avoiding anyeincidents that micht reflect unfavorably on the Institution or might ered emsauaDacklash» from the white community. The atmosphere suggested that we, the Black students, were somehow on Eiialeeand that aeuse was some grand experiment that could be revoked rather than the following of a mandate from the Supreme Court. In retrospect, [I can understand how this mentality on the part of the Black community came to be. As Blacks, we had always been admonished Dy) oury parents, teachers. and eidevcomtOmalways be on our best behavior in order not to perpetuate a Black stereotype of being unruly and boisterous. DOve Tt eLOlvowsmtna t we considered ourselves to always be on trial. One interestings paradox that also comes to mind is the National Student Body President Conference I attended that year as Student Body President. The major topic of discussion was integration, however, the focus was on Blacks integra ting previously all-white institutions. To expand the paradox another interesting phenomenon occurred during the year. RomeetlCmmst nivlixe Of white students increased, some Blacks expressed their dismay that whites were taking over WVSC. Despite the concerns and paradoxes, from my per- epeceive, the first year of integra- tion at WVSC turned out to be rather unremarkable. The unique’ transform ation of WVSC from segregated to inte- grated--in reverse--was accomplished without incident. oy Ree er Pee ro iiienhe D. CaRTER JR. LIEUTENANT COLONEL, RETIRED His civilian education includes study for masters and doctorate degrees in Counseling and Educational Psychology. Presently, he serves as an independent living coordinator for the El Paso Opportunity Center for the Handicapped, as a lecturer for the Department of Leadership and Counseling at the University of Texas, b] Paso, and is in private practice in family counseling.