Homecoming event celebrates UNT desegregation anniversary

UNT's yearlong commemoration of the 50th anniversary of its desegregation, 50 Years of Progress and Opportunity, 1954-2004, continues with a tailgating party during Homecoming Oct. 23.

The UNT Trailblazers — an alumni organization including the university's earliest African American students — and the university's Multicultural Center will sponsor tents in the Mean Green Village at Fouts Field from 3 to 5:30 p.m. for a tailgating party before the 6 p.m. game against New Mexico State.

The party will include historical information about the achievements made and the barriers broken since 1954, free food and a place for alumni and students to gather.

In addition, the UNT-TWU Minority Alumni Alliance will hold a reception in the Gateway Center Ballroom from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. after the game. For more information about the reception, contact Elwood Shannon at (940) 891-8664.

In the summer of 1954, doctoral student A. Tennyson Miller became the first African American to attend North Texas, and a lawsuit filed by Joseph L. Atkins paved the way for African American undergraduates and master's students to enroll in 1956.

Throughout this year, the university is commemorating its desegregation and the progress made in the 50 years since by sponsoring recognition ceremonies, alumni gatherings, lectures and other special events. In addition, the university invites alumni of all races and generations to visit the web site dedicated to the yearlong observance at www.unt.edu/50yearsofprogress and share their memories of desegregation and life at UNT.

BY KELLEY REESE kreese@unt.edu

Other featured

• Homecoming 2004 web site

Other featured articles in this issue

• Students approve fee to fund new Student Health and Wellness Center
• Still time to participate in State Employee Charitable Campaign
• UNT professor of physics to deliver Regents Faculty Lecture Nov. 3
• ABC's 20/20 co-anchor to give free lecture
• General Election Day is less than two weeks away
• Campus events planned for Halloween
• Growth trend continues at UNT Dallas Campus
• Technology competition coming to Denton
• Latest UNT crime statistics available
• November is Native American Month

homepage