Rising Student Voices
Although the span of the EOP was brief, the black students who arrived during the late 1960s began to make their voices heard in a manner not demonstrated by those a decade earlier—an indication of the changing times.
The Muhlenberg Weekly became an outlet for racial concerns of the era. The March 6, 1969 issue announced the formation of a black student organization at Muhlenberg. According to the spokesperson for the group, Diane Williams '72, and its chairman, Carl Evans '72, the goal was to provide a unique, welcoming environment for future enrolling black students, and to "promote communication between the black students throughout the Valley."
At the time of its inception, Muhlenberg had fifteen black students enrolled, and all became members. This organization officially became the Association of Black Collegians (ABC), and in the fall of 1969, Diane Williams (pictured, left) began contributing a column to the Weekly entitled "It's as Simple as ABC," addressing campus, national and international events from the perspective of a black student.
Williams’s column did not shy away from addressing the racial tensions of the day. On November 11, 1969, the ABC staged a boycott of classes in support of National Black Solidarity Day, joining activists in Allentown. The article noted that students felt "as Blacks, we feel that we must not remain silent, waiting idly for the dream of equality to come true."
Muhlenberg College's Association of Black Collegians, a precursor to today's Black Students Association
On April 6, 1970, junior Archie Frazier contributed an editorial entitled "Rapping in Black," in which he conveyed to the largely white student body the pressure and passion he felt for the cause of black equality.
In February 1971, representatives for Muhlenberg’s black students presented the Student Council with proposals that included the formation of a black residence hall. Endorsed by the Council and editorials in the Weekly, the plan met with initial caution from the administration, who cited legal concerns regarding discrimination.
However, President John Morey soundly supported the formation of a Black Cultural Center and library, a long-time goal of the ABC. The Center was housed in the basement of Martin Luther Hall, where it remained until renovations in 1974 removed it.
After renewed calls from students, Muhlenberg established a dedicated location for the Multicultural Center in 2006.
