Tf)e Quilforbhn
VOLUME Lll
GREENSBORO, N. C. FEBRUARY 23,1968
Administration Holds Non-commital Attitude
As Student Pickets Demonstrate At Imperial Barber Shop
Guilford College, Greensboro, N. C.
Picketing the local Racially segregated
Imperial Barber Shop began last Saturday
on a limited basis as the administration of
Guilford was hostilly noncommittal.
Craig Chapman, student of Guilford
and leader of the Guilford Human Concerns Committee, which sponsored the
picketing, said that he felt the picketing
was a necessary step to demonstrate to
the community a concern that all Guilford students be allowed free access to
facilities in the community. He added that
the committee planned the demonstration
and was prepared. The sheriff's office
was notified and lawyers were available
for the participants in case of trouble.
Near incidents occured as Klu Klux
Klan members and an organization known
as the "spoons" hekled the picketers in
the early afternoon.
Dr. Grimsely Hobbs, President of the
College, and Dean William Lanier, representing the administration thought that
the picketing was an unwise step. "The
students will have to act as individuals" -
Chapman said he was told by the
administration. And the administration
was declining to give aid to students if
they should get into trouble.
The fact that barber shops are not
covered in the Civil Rights Act, indicated
to some people that it was their own
business whose hair was cut.
"Student Pickets demonstrate at local
Imperial Barber Shop"
picture by S. Bowles
Comments from the students and faculty brought mixed reaction. William
Burris of the Political Science department
said; "A sector of the student body chos-
ing to speak out is commendable." Mrs.
Carter Delafield of the English department
indicated she was all for it. But David
Roberts, President of the Senior class,
thought differently. "I don't think picketing is the best way to accomplish one's
goals in this situation." "It appears they
are trying to impress their ideas on someone else, namely this community which
has a dislike for this approach," he added.
Several other students agreed with him
adding that they thought that people are
out of phase in communication. Each
side seemed to be putting up barriers
rather than trying to eliminate them.
Many students said they didn't care,
but refered to the group doing the picketing as the "hippies." Other rather anon-
omous quotes received by the demonstrators at the corner were "you Yankee
bastard" . . . "you communists" . . .
Many of the merchants near Guilford
felt this was a mistake. While Mr. Simmons
of College Cleaners and Quaker Printers
felt it would cause bitter feelings, Mr.
Hoffman of Rexale Drugs had no comment either way.
While the Imperial barbers were getting more support, the students demonstrating felt they were performing their
duty by justly appealing to the whole community of Greensboro. The situation
marks a fluidness in the community in
which the indication of hope may come
through as negotations get underway in
the neighboring Quaker Village barber
shop.
Civil Rights Greensboro
