1970-1971
In the 1969-1970 edition of La Encina, there is a poem entitled “The Odds Were Against Us” which details the discrimination faced by those in interracial relationships. Interracial marriage was officially legalized in the United States in 1967, meaning that this poem was reacting to recent changes within American society. However, there are still those who had more conservative leanings at Oxy and one can find a statement about how the college should not be used as a political weapon in relation to the moratorium at Berkeley, which was in protest against the Vietnam War. Deeper within the pages of La Encina, one will also find writings from the Order of the Mystic Apes, a fraternity on campus, who designated all of its party funds towards the Minority Student Scholarship Fund and used the yearbook as a forum to declare their dedication to social issues. There is also a statement from the Asian American students on campus, conveying their disagreement with the war in “Indochina.” Even though there are some opposing views in the 1970s edition of La Encina the majority of the content is progressive to the extent where the Dean of Students stated that the “Occidental community illustrates a strong interest in social, political, and environmental issues".
It seems like 1970-1971 may have been a year for controversy at Oxy because the introduction of the yearbook comments on the campus climate in an ambiguous manner stating in its concluding sentence, "So here, for better and worse, is Occidental College...". The yearbook delves into the student body's interest in creating a minority scholarship, noting that there was a drive for the endowed scholarship that brought “three unique basketball games to campus” that would help fundraise for the scholarship - one of which included Bill Cosby.Showcasing an appreciation for diversity on campus, there is a section dedicated to Black Arts Week that also features an image of the Reverend Jesse Jackson who was a keynote speaker. There is no mention of the Black Arts Exhibition, but it may have taken place in conjunction with a Black Arts Week. The yearbook also makes reference to an active international club on campus that organized cultural events for students. Throughout 1970-71 Occidental illustrated a growing interest in diversity and presenting viewpoints from multiple perspectives.
Looking through The Oxy Weekly’s from 1970 and 1971, it is easy to ascertain the climate and conditions that the Student body wanted to evoke surrounding the Black Arts Community and Minority Ethnic groups. In an article published in September of 1970 by John Tidd, he discusses how students at Occidental had ‘a greater awareness of respect to themselves and the society around them, especially when including Blacks, Chicanos and Indians.’ He states that this epic social step forward was helped by Dr. Richard Gilman, the President of Occidental, who made sure to increase minority enrollment exponentially each year, and to raise their financial aid. This article, written around the beginning of the year set a precedent for what was to come over the next academic season.
More attention was concentrated on the Black Arts Community, specifically in relation to PASLA (Performing Arts Society of Los Angeles), which was comprised ‘primarily of Blacks’. Oxy Students volunteered to take part in workshops that analyzed and discussed performances surrounding a 'Black Experience', by which they meant ‘situations that most white people had never had to deal with’. This suggests that like Occidental College today, the campus community during the 70's wanted to break down barriers between cultures and races, by directly immersing themselves into worlds that were not particularly aware of or part of. Members of the college wanted to understand issues that were affecting not only certain individuals and ethnic groups but people who could easily be they own peers. This social outlook was emphasized by other events that took place on campus during 1970, for example a recording of Tom Skinner ( a former Harlem Gang leader), speaking on US racism and his book ‘Black and Free’, which was played on Campus for any students to hear.
Most Notably, the peak of Occidentals engagement with the Black Arts, came in the form of their ‘Black Arts week”, held in April of 1971. It included a jewelry sale, Mixer, Art Exhibit, Talent Show and Movies surrounding African American culture, as well as multiple speakers, discussing issues surrounding race, and KOXY radio shows debating subjects like discrimination and prejudice. This epic time in the Oxy calendar, demonstrates how dedicated Oxy was to creating change, by encouraging discussion, inclusivity and understanding. Involvement with Black History was also obvious throughout the weekly Newspapers, including a ‘Black History Quiz’, that could be taken in order to obtain a job with KABC. This was open to all students and actively encouraged them to research Black history in order to be rewarded with participation on a successful radio television talk-show.
Within the newspaper itself, great change came in the form of a column written by Black students - ‘Blacktalk’. Its function was to provide a multicultural experience by relating to other students ‘ideas, experiences, aspirations, viewpoints and general attitudes’ of Black Students at Occidental - it was designed to Inform. As this column was started at the end of the academic year, it shows to us how great strides were made within a few months, from the previously mentioned article written by John Tidd (discussing the topic of social engagement) to the end of they year, where black students were now actively engaged with what was being written, said and expressed in the campus newspaper .
