2008 Woodie Awards
Public education celebrates end to segregation
Integration: Student body displays cultural diversity, educational opportunity
By: Eva Allen
Issue date: 5/13/04 Section: News
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Fifty years later, many Americans still remember the bombshell that would eventually change the face of public education.
This month marks the 50th anniversary of the 1954 landmark decision of Brown v. Board of Education, whereby the U.S. Supreme Court ruled to eliminate segregation in the public school system.
Looking back in time, Harold Borden, professor of speech communication, said there were not many blacks or other minority students at EC when he began teaching.
"I remember having one Chicano student on my speech debate team, but all of this was at a time when the college was serving the surrounding community, which was predominantly Caucasian," Borden said.
However, Borden said that he believes civil rights in this country improved the availability of jobs, housing and schools for minorities.
"We are seeing the impact of Brown versus the Board of Education because the campus is much more integrated than it used to be," he said.
Likewise, Mattie Eskridge, assistant to the vice president of student community advancement, said that in the 24 years she has been at EC, there has been a tremendous change in the ethnicity.
"When I came to the college in 1980, there were more Caucasian students, but over the years the diversity on the campus has changed tremendously," Eskridge said.
Contrary to the racial make-up at EC, Borden said he does not think that the ruling or the later civil rights legislation did any more to open the door to education than EC's open door policy.
"We still have an open door policy that says you don't have to be a (high school) graduate, you don't have to pass stringent entrance exams and there is no committee who sits and decides who is or isn't admitted," Borden said. "That's one of the reasons I was attracted to come to this college in the first place," he said.
Furthermore, Eskridge said the ruling actually stood to make education accessible and appropriate to meet the needs of all students regardless of race or background.
This month marks the 50th anniversary of the 1954 landmark decision of Brown v. Board of Education, whereby the U.S. Supreme Court ruled to eliminate segregation in the public school system.
Looking back in time, Harold Borden, professor of speech communication, said there were not many blacks or other minority students at EC when he began teaching.
"I remember having one Chicano student on my speech debate team, but all of this was at a time when the college was serving the surrounding community, which was predominantly Caucasian," Borden said.
However, Borden said that he believes civil rights in this country improved the availability of jobs, housing and schools for minorities.
"We are seeing the impact of Brown versus the Board of Education because the campus is much more integrated than it used to be," he said.
Likewise, Mattie Eskridge, assistant to the vice president of student community advancement, said that in the 24 years she has been at EC, there has been a tremendous change in the ethnicity.
"When I came to the college in 1980, there were more Caucasian students, but over the years the diversity on the campus has changed tremendously," Eskridge said.
Contrary to the racial make-up at EC, Borden said he does not think that the ruling or the later civil rights legislation did any more to open the door to education than EC's open door policy.
"We still have an open door policy that says you don't have to be a (high school) graduate, you don't have to pass stringent entrance exams and there is no committee who sits and decides who is or isn't admitted," Borden said. "That's one of the reasons I was attracted to come to this college in the first place," he said.
Furthermore, Eskridge said the ruling actually stood to make education accessible and appropriate to meet the needs of all students regardless of race or background.