"NIU is a Racist

Institution": Black
Student Protests in 1968
BY: KHYL A, KEYA, JAYLA, DON , AN D G AYLEN
 President Rhoten Smith
-Sixth President of NIU

-In comparison to past NIU presidents, Smith was Liberal

-Most of his attention was centered on racial, political, and social

tensions (Mostly because of events that were occurring at the time)

-"Sensitivity to black students" as an institution was widely challenged

during his presidency

-Eventual creation of Black studies program, courses centered around

racism, and CHANCE (Complete Help and Assistance Necessary for a
College Education)
Sit In: Occupying the President's Office
•Thursday, December 11th, 1969 3p.m.-5p.m.

•Protesting unfair treatment of Black students on campus

•Some 150-200 Students

•List of 7 Demands

•Letter to the Editor of Dekalb County Chronicle

- Initial reports of peaceful protest
- Letter details that students "Refiled desks and files; knocked pictures from walls; overturned adding
machines; etc."
- President Smith responded arguing that these reports weren't the entire truth
The Seven Demands
1. A course dealing with the nature of white racism be required of all students seeking to graduate from Northern.

2. Wavering of the usual admission standards for Black students from the inner-city areas, who possess the capabilities to
function within academic environment but who do not qualify for admission to the university because of unsatisfactory test
scores and high school standing.

3. The Black students currently enrolled and Black students who may desire to enroll in the university in the future be given the
consideration merited by their unique position in a racist society relative to flunking out of school.

4. Courses in African American history and Black culture be made part of the university curriculum as required courses.

5. The university make available to the Black students of the university a list of all African and African-American students in
attendance at the university.

6. A center for African and African-American students established on campus.

7. A bureau of Black student's affairs be created which would be composed of facility and Black students.
 McKinley "Deacon" Davis
Chance Program
• To meet demands of admitting Black students who showed potential,
Rhoten Smith hired 3 Black staff. One of them being McKinley Davis who
became the Director of Special Programs and the founder of the CHANCE
program.

• CHANCE (Complete Help and Assistance Necessary for a College

Education) began September 1968 as part of the university's commitment
to racial justice. It admitted its first students in February 1969.

• During the interviews for admission through CHANCE, Davis screened out
anyone who would embarrass themselves, their family, the other Black
students or the Program itself by coming to NIU for any purpose other
than graduating. The other purposes included partying or protesting. Davis
wouldn’t let anyone risk losing CHANCE given to other students
because of behaviors seen by the white majority as undesirable.
Cont.
•Aimed at helping underprepared youths from the inner cities of Illinois, the program's
staff provides supportive services for academic and personal adjustment during their
college career with special emphasis during the freshman year.

•Funded by a federal program aiming for same thing, Economics Opportunities Grant and
personal loans by First National Bank of Dekalb repayable upon graduation or
departure from the university.
Black Studies Program
•Formally established July 15,1971

•Stemmed from the demand for the establishment of courses dealing with black history and black culture

•Academic and Cultural

• Research, institute, community outreach

•Black Studies Minor

•Along with it the Center for Black Studies / Black Student Center
•Closely tied to the development of the Chance program, creation of a black faculty organization,
Black faculty giving and supporting other liberation struggles

•One of the primary objectives of the Black Studies Program is to provide the basis for an interdisciplinary
major
• Still does not exist
Center for Minority Studies
•Demands 4,5,6

•Established July,1973

•4 components
• The black studies minor
• Research
• Cultural programing
• Student organizations

•Holistic approach to examining the black experience

•Conducted research and studies on minority studies/black studies programs across the state

•Also researched Latino and American Indian studies.

Center for Black Studies