Negro Girls Were 'Not Sought*
For College, Dr. Pierson Says
I The two Negro girls who have been admitted to Woman's College "are here by de-1
cree of the Federal Court, not by the consent of the governed or by the will of the people:'
!They were not sought," Dr. W. W. Pierson, acting chancellor, told student leaders attending the pre-school conference at the college this morning.
"Undoubtedly they are entitled to
just and fair treatment as students,
and as far as I am concerned, they
will receive it," he told some 100
student government officers during
the conference opening.
The two Negro students who
;were admitted to the college in
August are Elizabeth Jo Ann
Smart, 17, of Raleigh, and Mrs.
Betsy Ann Davis Tillman, 19, of
Wadesboro. The girls have been
assigned rooms in Shaw Hall, and
will enter as freshmen.
"It would be difficult at this stage
to attempt to answer all the questions that the presence of these stu-
le commented,
mplicating fac-
Race Factor \
Is Explored
By Pierson
^ov^lvw) JL'ai'v News
Students At WC
Are Cautioned
Admission of two Negro girls to
Woman's College will pose problems
that will be governed by four fac
tors, Acting Chancellor W. W. Pierson declared yesterday at the opening of the annual pre-school conference, attended by 100 student
leaders and faculty advisers.
These factors, he said, are the attitude and conduct of the Negro
girls, the attitude and conduct of
the white students, the attitude and
practices of the faculty, and th«
public opinion outside.
Dr. Pierson said the two girlj
"are here by decree of the Federal
Court—not by the consent of tha
governed or by the will of the people." ,
"They were not sought," he told
the group.
Right To Fair Treatment
While the two students have been
admitted by reason of the decrea
of the courts, Chancellor Pierson
said, they will have a right to just
and fair treatment and all the basic
rights of admitted students.
The two students, Elizabeth Jo
Ann Smart, 17, of Raleigh, and Mrs.
Betsy Ann Davis Tillman, 19, of
Wadesboro, are scheduled to begin
orientation as freshmen on Friday.
Dr. Pierson told the student lead-
that the Negro students would
be eligible to be identified with organizations open to participation by
II students, to participate in class
organizations, to election in organ-
'zatipns involving approved academ-
c status and equal eligibility for
courses upon qualification and conformity.
Much will depend upon' the tact,
0 r e b e a r a n c e, modesty, self-
restraint and meritorius conduct of
the Negro students, Dr. Pierson
said, if they are to win recognition
and earn respect.
On the other hand, he said, white
itudents will be expected to avoid
the extremes of either hostility or
exaggerated humanitarianism. Already, he pointed out, student government leaders have given evidence of a normal, sane, and practical attitude toward the new sit-
Acting President William Friday
of UNC also greeted the student
leaders. He told them that stu-
dent self government is training in
self-discipline and for future citizenship.
Sadye Dunn, Bladenboro, WC student government president, is presiding at the conference. It will
[close today.
dents will pose,"
"there are many c
tors in the situation."
Dr. Pierson listed four factors in
the situation which*'he said were
most important:The attitude and
conducU-of the newcomers, of the
iyirre^students, the attitude and.
practices of the faculty members
and public opinion.
"How the Negroes will accommodate themselves to the delicate
situation we cannot predict. They
can create tension and embarrassing situations which can be avoided by tact and forbearance. Meritorious conduct and self-restraint
can gain for them recognition and
j respect which are earned," he
. He reminded the student leaders
that the Negro students would be
eligible to participate in student or-j
ganizations in which the member-;
ship is open to all, and in class or-!
ganizations where registration in a
particular group was the criterion.
He stated that in organizations in-1
volving election or academic status
~ for entrance the rules would remain -
the same for all students, and that
they would have equal eligibility
"for courses upon qualification and
conformity.
"Some people are inclined toward extremes," he observed, j
I "The risks are extreme hostility
on one hand and undue and sentimental hospitality on the other.
These are the extremes and are
not normal," he said.
"We are not called upon to settle
the race issue," Dr. Pierson reminded the students. "As I see it,
our business is to get along with a
situation which is not of our making. We are not standard bearers."
Acting president of the University
of North Carolina William Friday
also addressed the student group.
He told the leaders that in the opinion of the Consolidated University
"the main function of the student
government is the preservation of
law and order through the development of a system of self-discipline,
and the citizenship training of the
free, independent and responsible
student."
Friday told the girls that "student
government is a process of living
rather than a mere preparation for
life."
Mrs. Remus Turner of Greensboro, president of the Student
Government Association of the
college in 1941-42, spoke as a past
member of the student body, outlining the completion of the "honor policy" on the campus which
was effected during her term in
office.
Sadye Dunn of Bladenboro, president of the student association,
made the welcoming address and
presided at the conference, which
continues through tomorrow. Student officers will lead group sessions during the remainder of the
preparatory session under the theme
"1 "Inside S.G.A."
