"Demands List Presented to Press," TCU Skiff, February 5, 1971
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Title
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"Demands List Presented to Press," TCU Skiff, February 5, 1971
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Description
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The Skiff, Friday, February 5, 1971 (page 8)
Demand List Presented to Press
(Continued from Page 1)
place and that Ray Turner, president of the TCU campus NAACP receive all the facts of the case.
No Revolution
They concluded that they are not revolutionaries and are not trying to change the basic structure of TCU, but are trying to make it a more effective educational institution for black students. They feel if they are to be effective members of the communities they must demand relevant courses.
In Thursday morning's press conference several spokesmen representing the black students in general read the prepared statement and answered questions from the press.
The spokesmen were Frank Callaway of SAAC, Jennifer Giddings, 1970 Homecoming Queen, Larry Dibbles, and Eddie Miles.
Callaway read a portion of the statement relating to Dibbles and then let Dibbles make a statement of his own. Dibbles said that "lack of adequate social life" was not his reason for leaving.
He said that his reasons for leaving were preciptated by the change in the staff and the change in rules.
New Rules
"My reason for leaving is the new rules, not because of the social life. The social life is getting better and I'd like to stay, but Coach Pittman has his rules and I have mine.
[Photo of Hodges Mitchell]
Callaway then read the portion of his statement relating to Jennifer Giddings no being invited to the Cotton Bowl parade.
Miss Giddings said, "I am disappointed to know that the students selected me to represent them but I was denied this opportunity on Jan. 1. I know that some people would say "Well, that would happen anyway" but sometimes you think a little differently when you are black."
Eddie Miles then read the completion of the statement listing the complaints and demands.
In the questioning that followed, Dibbles said there had been no harrassment from the white players.
Eibbles alwo stated that he had not yet decided where to transfer, that the four players may or may not go to Florida State as Coach Pittman had said.
Plans Not Known
As for the basketball players, Dibbles said he did not known their plans.
Dibbles cited his and Rhodes' denial of food at the training tables as a preciptating factor. He also said that one time Rhodes' plate was taken from him at the training table as he prepared to eat.
Dibbles said he could not change his mind and return. "It would create an air of dissension on the team, and that is not good for a winning team." He said Pittman had asked him to stay.
He said the other three players were not present because they did not want to jeopardize their chances at getting into another school. Dibbles said he considered the incident important enough to speak out.
The spokesmen said they considered the new rules related to racicm because only one white athlete had a moustache, while most of the blacks did. Callaway said the moustache issue goes deeper than it seems since blacks consider it a way of expressing manhood and militancy.
Uniform Rules
In relation to the demands for more black professors and staff members, Callaway said TCU has only two-and-a-half black faculty members: one in nursing, one in Upward Bound, and one in an unspecified field.
Callaway said the blacks are not trying to change the rules and that the rules should be uniform for both white and black players, and called for an investigation.
Miss Giddings underscored the fact that she is a transfer student and not familiar with TCU rules and traditions and said she is concerned because she was not contacted at all.
Mike Usnick, student body president, then made a statement. He said that for the last two years invitations to the Cotton Bowl game had been sent for the student body president, the cheerleaders, and the TCU sweetheart. This year's sweetheart was Angela Ambrose.
Eddie Miles summed up the black student's feelings: "We will take whatever means are necessary, and you can take that any way you want."
Speculation
The athletes' action, coming soon after the assumption of the head coaching duties by Jim Pittman, aroused speculation that racial issues of dissatisfaction with dress and appearance codes recently introduced by Pittman may have been involved in the decision.
Pittman, who was previously the head coach at Tulane, returned from the recruiting mission in West Texas Tuesday and met with the players on Wednesday.
[Photo of Larry Dibbles]
He said that in his discussion with the players, "They expressed no dissatisfaction" with him or the changes that he has institutied.
According to Pittman, the athletes told him their dissatisfaction stemmed from the lack of adequate social life for them, and that Florida State is in an area more suited to their needs.
Only One
Pittman also said that the only one of the four who felt the effects of the new appearance code was Dibbles, who was not allowed to eat at the athletes' training table because of his moustache.
The new appearance code calls for all football players to be clean-shaven, to wear shoes, socks, and a belt, and to have reasonably short hair.
The players, Pittman said, expressed no displeasure with the code at the time of their meeting, saying that they felt it was necessary to apply it to blacks as well as whites.
At the end of the meeting Pittman said that the players "shook my hand and wished me luck."
At present, the dress code applies only to the football team, but it has been suggested that it be made applicable to all athletes.
Athletic director Abe Martin said the suggestion has been made.
"One of the coaches, I can't remember which one, did say that he things all of them (the coaches) ought to get together on this thing, but there's nothing official yet," Martin said.
Martin met with Mitchell, Rhodes and Garnett Wednesday and said the athletes had told him the same things they had said to Pittman, that their reason for leaving was the unsatisfactory social life at TCU.
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Source
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https://repository.tcu.edu/handle/116099117/15353
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Date
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1971-02-05
Skiff_1971-02-05_002.jpg