Clemson kicks off school year and 50th anniversary of integration

Published: August 21, 2012

Richard Goodstein, left, dean of Clemson's architecture, arts and humanities college, left; and Provost Dori Helms, right, applaud Harvey Gantt at Tuesday's Convocation image by: Patrick Wright
Clemson University

CLEMSON — Clemson University kicked off its new academic year today with the Victor Hurst Convocation for faculty and staff, which also recognized the start of the school’s commemoration of the 50^th anniversary of its integration.

Former mayor of Charlotte Harvey Gantt, the first African-American student to attend Clemson, delivered the address as the first of a series of events throughout the year. Gantt enrolled in Clemson in January 1963.

“I knew before I registered that there was something special and different about this place and that going to school here would be a positive, life-changing experience,” he said. “I sensed… I was coming into an environment where I might indeed have a chance to succeed as a student… building not only buildings, but perhaps working with others to build better communities.

“The thing that really encouraged me was the opinion of student leaders and the president of Clemson at that time, R.C. Edwards. My greatest education really came from the many relationships developed between me and the other students on this campus. We talked hours on end about the most salient issues of the day — civil rights and the widespread social changes then sweeping the South. 1963, ’64, ’65.

“A lot of us left Clemson with a belief that we could make a difference,” he said. “I graduated in 1965 from Clemson confident I could be successful in my new career in a new city. As I look back to 50 years ago, I can say with great confidence we did leave school and we did make a difference.

“That’s what an educated corps of good students do. They change minds, they educate, they change attitudes, they influence behavior.”

University President James F. Barker said Gantt was one of his heroes.

“Our university is better and stronger today because of you, Harvey, and your wife, Lucinda, Clemson’s first black female student,” said Barker. “We will use this anniversary to help educate this generation of students on the full story behind the headline we like to remember as ‘Integration with Dignity.’ We recognize that the individual who acted with the most dignity that day in 1963 — and to this day — is Harvey Gantt himself.”  

Barker said Clemson’s work to increase diversity continues today.

“The transition that the two of you began at Clemson in 1963 is still incomplete. Our university must continue to work to increase the diversity of our student body and faculty to reflect more closely the diversity of our state. This is a university priority and an ongoing commitment,” he said.

For more information about the 50^th anniversary celebration, click here.

Also during the convocation, five new Alumni Distinguished Professors were recognized: David Allison of architecture, William Dougan of economics, Drew Lanham of wildlife ecology, William Pennington of chemistry and Lesly Temesvari of biological sciences.

The Philip Prince Award for Innovation in Teaching, named for Clemson President Emeritus Philip Prince, was awarded to Ashley Cowden, senior lecturer of English. Presented by students, the award recognizes outstanding teachers who demonstrate creative and novel teaching methods in the classroom.

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