Selected Documents

African-American Enrollment at Virginia Tech, 1976-96

A table of enrollments of African-American students from 1976 to 1996. From 1979, also shows the freshmen enrollment for each year.

Non-white Population of Blacksburg and Surrounding Area, 1970

A table of population figures for Blackburg and the surrounding areas. The census data is from 1970, but contains figures for certain other time periods as well. Compiled by a professor at Virginia Tech.

Black Members of the Board of Visitors at Virginia Tech

Selected Articles

VPI Signs Gaines

Jerry Gaines becomes the first Negro athlete to sign an athletic grant at Virginia Tech, Virginian Pilot, May 27, 1967.

Human Relations Council Discusses Current Issues by Bob Greenawait

A faculty student discussion on domestic issues such as racism and civil rights.The Virginia Tech May 8, 1968

SAC asks Hahn to remove Flag; but will not censor band, 'Dixie'

The Student Activities Committee voted to recommend to president Hahn that he remove the confederate battle flag from the Coliseum and, at the same time refused to censor the VPI Regimental Band from playing 'Dixie'. The Virginia Tech March 5, 1969

Tech through the Eyes of a Black Student

Experiences of a black student on a predominately white campus.The Virginia Tech May 28, 1969

Blacks at Virginia Tech--Proportioning the Ranks, by Tony Atwater

Tech's black community responds to the university's efforts to recruit minorities, Virginia Tech Magazine, vol. 1, no. 2 (December 1978/January 1979): 3-5.

Colleges Get Three Years to Integrate: U.S. Approval Reported on Virginia's Proposal, by Charles Hite

Roanoke Times and World News, January 20, 1983.

Aggressive Recruitment of Blacks Necessary, Lavery Tells NAACP, by Bill Duncan

Collegiate Times, April 15, 1983.

Enrollment of Blacks Improving: Goals in Doubt at Tech, Radford,

Roanoke Times and World News, June 2, 1983.

Tech Exceeds Desegregation Goals, by Liz Crumbley

Virginia Tech Spectrum, October 25, 1984.

Tech Minority Campus Ministry Awards Given

Outstanding students and community leaders honored in the second annual Ethnic Minority Campus Ministry Program, Roanoke Times and World News, May 18, 1985.

Tech Low in Minorities, by David Barker

Montgomery News Messenger, November 17, 1987.

School Officials Try to Explain Why Few Negros Attending College

Collegiate Times, December 1, 1987

Tech Uses Affirmative Action to Attract Black Students: Officials, However, Say Programs Ineffective in Struggle to Ethnically Balance University, by Lauree Stroud

Black Enrollment, second of three articles, Collegiate Times, December 4, 1987.

Minority Voice: Tech Blacks Discus Opinions on University Ethnic Climate, by Lauree Stroud

Black Enrollment, third of three articles,Collegiate Times, December 11, 1987.

Teens Get Early Look at College, by Glenda M. Lassiter

High school freshman get a taste of college life, Roanoke Times and World News, July 14, 1988.

NAACP Holds Anti-Apartheid Rally, by Bill Brown

Students speak out for sanctions against South AfricaCollegiate Times, October 10, 1989.

Black Students at Tech Asking for Reforms, by Jim Chenault

Black student leaders ask for reforms in the university's curriculum, News Messenger, November 29, 1989.

Tech Blacks Urged to Push: Don't Wait for Support, Bond Tells Crowd, by Daniel Howes and Neal Thompson

Roanoke Times and World News, November 29, 1989.

NAACP Petitions for Curriculum Changes, by Amy Bithell

Collegiate Times, December 1, 1989

Students Emphasize Need for Black Studies Program, by Eugene Shibuya

Collegiate Times, January 26, 1990.

Tech Racism Cited, by Karl Dalrymple

Virginia Tech chapter of the NAACP holds rally to protest apartheid and racism both on campus and abroad, Collegiate Times, September 25, 1990.

Intolerance on Campus Chills Black at Tech: Lack of Sensitivity from the White Majority Poses a Constant Pressure to Many Minorities, by Daniel Howes

Roanoke Times & World News, November 18, 1990.

Rally Spurs Prayers, Protest: Event Brings Hundreds to Talk of Unity, by Cary Lee Hanes

Celebration of Unity held to counter KKK march, News Messenger, January 22, 1991.

Dodging Racism in the University Community, by Charles Morton

Experiences of a black student on a predominately white campus. Collegiate Times, April 24, 1992.

Black Greeks Inducted into Council, by Heather McElrath, Collegiate Times, September 17, 1993.