Link to the Pathways to Diversity homepage mobile menu

Browse the Collection

list view grid view

Browsing 1 item in our archive

Filters: University Trustees Vote to Consider All Qualified Applicants -- (Caption: Dr. John L. Plyler, Chairman Wilbert Wood, and trustee Calvin Rivers) -- Furman University became the first college in South Carolina voluntarily to adopt a policy by which applications from all qualified sutdents will be accepted, in action taken by its Board of Trustees at the board's semi-annual meeting October 8 on the Furman campus. At the conclusion of the three and one-half hour meeting, J. Wilbert Wood of Anderson, chairman of the Board, made the following announcement: "The Board of Trustees of Furman University approved a resolution that Furman University consider applications for admission from all qualified applicants." Furman University is the first private college in the state to take action to lower the color bar. Both Clemson College and the University of South Carolina, state-supported institutions, have already admitted Negro students, after Federal court order. "The Board feels that this is the right thing to do and the proper time to take action on this matter," Mr. Wood said. He noted that this action has been discussed by the Board at previous meetings. For some time the Board has had before it recommendations approved by both the Furman faculty and the student body that applications from all qualified applicants be accepted by the University. Mr. Wood specified that the matter of Negro applications is now in the hands of the Furman University administration, which will make plans for receiving and processing all applications from qualified students. Dr. John L. Plyler, Furman's president, said a study of the entire matter will be made by the administration. All applications from Negroes will be handled the same as all other applications, he indicated. Other Southern Baptist colleges have taken action similar to Furman's including Mercer, Wake Forest, Meredith, Oklahoma Baptist University, and Stetson. So far, Furman has received no applications from Negroes, Dr. Plyler said. Dr. James P. Carroll of Bamberg is vice chairman of the Board of Trustees and L. Mell Glenn of Greenville is secretary. Other members are: J.B. Aiken Jr., Florence; Dr. M.T. Anderson, Greenville; Rev. Thomas R. Brown, Anderson; Rev. James G. Jennings, Columbia; and Dr. W. Austin Roberts, Aiken. 1963 P.L. McCall, Hartsville; R.A. Mobley, Walterboro; Dr. W.H. Orr, Inman; J. Calvin Rivers, Chesterfield; and Dr. John L. Slaughter, Spartanburg. 1964 Dr. Carroll; Alester G. Furman Jr., Greenville; Thomas S. Hartness, Greenville; Joseph W. Holliday, Gallivant's Ferry; and R. Erlie Littlejohn, Spartanburg. 1965 Mrs. Ned Gregory, Lancaster; J.W. Marshall, Belton; Rev. Lloyd Self, Greenville; and Mr. Wood, Anderson. 1966 Rev. E. Booker Bagby Jr., Honea Path; Dr. Lloyd E. Batson, Pickens; Rev. Archie W. Brickle, Lake City; and Eugene C. Proctor, Conway. 1967. Clear filters