Among the landscape of East Baton Rouge Parish lies two majoruniversities within 10 miles of each other. These 10 miles seem toseparate the universities into two separate worlds. Two separateworlds that were designated by law 50 years ago to integrate. Fiftyyears and millions of dollars later, the two universities, twoworlds continue to remain miles apart, worlds separate, and someeven say — segregated.
This segregation has not gone unnoticed by students, faculty,Louisiana residents and higher administration: the Louisianasystems board.
James Caillier, former president of the University of Louisianasystems and active voice in the desegregation efforts, said in 1994the Board of Regents renewed the Higher Education DesegregationSettlement Agreement. Caillier said this was a “consent degree”among the universities of the Louisiana systems to settle allissues and correct past segregation polices and practices.
The Settlement Agreement focused on five solutions for theuniversities: financial support, integrated student mix, academics,updated facilities, and an integrated faculty and staff. Theagreement would fund the Historically Black Colleges andUniversities to update their inferior and outdated facilities. Thetraditionally white universities, especially LSU, would integrate arecruitment program geared toward African American students.
Caillier said the 1994 agreement was the third time the contractwas renewed, and within the 10 years many of their solutions haveor will be completed.
“Considerable progress has been made in improving the physicalfacilities,” Caillier said. “New programs have been instituted tomake the universities more attractive and money has beengiven.”
The settlement instituted academic programs through Southern,such as the Law Center and nursing programs. Also, the creation ofBaton Rouge Community College was completed, using the communitycollege to filter a more integrated student body into theuniversities.
Some goals, Caillier said are unrealistic.
“The student mix is the only thing that has not been achieved,”Caillier said. “Southern will always be black and LSU will alwaysbe white. Students follow tradition and a greater effort needs tobe done.”
Caillier said the lack of integration in the student mix is dueto the segregation of the administration. The LSU board ispredominately white while the Southern board is predominatelyblack, causing the policy makers to sympathize with their owncultures. He said if the Board of Regents also became moreintegrated, the policies put in place would impact students of allraces.
Maxine Crump, an University alumni who made monumental progressin the University’s history as the first African American female tobe allowed in the dormitories in 1964, said she sees progress beingmade.
Crump said when she chose LSU over Southern she knew she couldnot participate in activities on campus because she would have tolive up to the white standard. This standard is still evident todaybecause it has been institutionalized into the universities.
“African Americans have been forced into a culture,” Crump said.”When you are surrounded by people who have not had to choose theirculture because it has been institutionalized, then you will gowhere you recognize.”
Crump said, due to the dominance of whiteness in society,African Americans will go to a university where their culture andheritage will be fostered and recognized. It is similar for otherraces as well.
But Crump said the first step the universities need to take isto recognize this is a solvable problem. It is not a change ofheart that society needs, she said she has encountered very fewpeople who want racism, but a change of institution.
“Racism was built into institution by people who are now dead,”Crump said. “We have inherited problems that we must get ridof.”
Crump said the solution to this problem of a whiteinstitutionalized society begins with recognizing and acceptingother cultures into institutions, not having them assimilate intosociety.
“The exciting thing is that we have so many cultures inAmerica,” Crump said. “We must embrace them instead of assimilatethem to have a truly equal society.”
The question that both Crump and Caillier still ask is: are wewhere we need to be?
Some ask whether tradition will continue to override policy, andthe two universities will continue to remain not only miles apartbut worlds separate.
However, in every heart that continues to bleed against thesegregation of the East Baton Rouge universities, lies the spiritand the hope that one day the two universities will becomesintegrated and 10 miles will not seem so far.