Tf)c Quilfor&cm
Friday, October 10, 1969
Athletes Backed By Blacks
A small group ot black students Tuesday
staged an orderly demonstration in front of
New Garden Hall. The approximately 20 students demanded that basketball Coach Jerry
Steele's directive that all basketball players
wear shortfhair styles be rescinded.
The group felt that since Black identity
and Black pride were involved, the matter
was of. special concern to Black students.
Tuesday morning a delegation of 6 Black
students discussed the issue of hair styles
with Coach Steele. They received an unsatisfactory response.
As a result, the students met Tuesday
afternoon on the steps of New Garden Administration Building to discuss the situation. Dr. Grimsley Hobbs deliberated with
Coach Steele for approximately 1 hour, while
the students awaited his reply.
Dr. Hobbs then gave a statement (see below) to Napoleon Jasper, spokesman for the
group, who read it to the students waiting outside the building.-After hearing the statement,
the group of students immediately dispersed.
Coach Jerry Steele, in commenting to THE
GUILFORDIAN, said that he conferred with
the basketball players individually. Although
he feels his obligation to the team prevents his
releasing details, he believes that communication has not broken down.
Pres. Hobbs' Hair Policy
In response to the request for information
concerning Black hair styles at Guilford College:
Guilford College's policy of longstanding
is that all who represent the college are responsible to be well groomed and to represent the college in such a way as to reflect
credit upon it.
It was in keeping with this policy that Coach
Steele asked the basketball team to trim their
hair. It is, however, understood that certain
hairstyles are associated with a feeling of
Black pride and Black identity. So long as
these styles are kept neatly, Guilford's
Black students are pemitted to wear Afro
hair styles and a reasonable amount of facial
hair, and to participate on Guilford's athletic
teams if they otherwise qualify in terms of
the skills involved.
