Gallery: Black Students Enrich Campus Life

Afro-American Society, The Comet, Charleston, South Carolina, 1976, courtesy of Special Collections at College of Charleston.

Despite resistance to desegregation among some members of the Board of Trustees, two more African American women, Carrie Nesbitt and Angela Brown, enrolled in the College of Charleston during September 1967. Soon after, in November 1967, the College announced its new “Open Door Policy” for admissions, which accepted any residents from Charleston County with a high school diploma who had completed a specific slate of high school coursework. This policy, though race-neutral on the surface, was intended to attract local African American students. Eddie Ganaway joined Nesbitt and Brown in the spring semester of 1968, and he became the first African American to graduate from the College in 1971. It was during Ganaway’s junior year, in 1970, that the College of Charleston became a public institution again.

Though desegregation finally took place, racial dynamics on campus continued to reflect deep-seated problems. As one student pointed out in 1973, “The employment of the college is 50/50. The Black 50 percent, however, serve purposes such as cleaning, cooking, and low-maintenance positions.” Desegregation had done little to change the experiences of African Americans on campus, most of whom were workers in low-paying service jobs; and the students, faculty, and institutional culture remained overwhelmingly white.

Despite the intensely challenging terrain, Ganaway and other pioneering African American students organized the Afro-American Society and the first Black sorority and fraternity at the College. They also joined student government, sports teams, the literary magazine, and other campus organizations. The tenor of campus life began to change as the College hired African American professors, including Owilender Grant in 1972 and Eugene Hunt in 1973. The administration also invited speakers like the civil rights activist Julian Bond to deliver lectures on campus. Black students and faculty enriched classrooms and campus life, from establishing new student organizations to reshaping the campus culture and curriculum.

1970s

Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority, The Comet, Charleston, South Carolina, 1975, courtesy of Special Collections at College of Charleston.

Students catch up between classes, The Comet, Charleston, South Carolina, 1974, courtesy of College of Charleston Special Collections.

Students catch up between classes, The Comet, 1974, courtesy of College of Charleston Libraries.

A student posed on a porch balcony on campus, The Comet, 1971, courtesy of College of Charleston Libraries.

College of Charleston basketball players warm up before practice, The Comet, Charleston, South Carolina, 1976, courtesy of College of Charleston Special Collections.

College of Charleston basketball players warm up before practice, The Comet, 1976, courtesy of College of Charleston Libraries.

Interfraternity Council, The Comet, Charleston, South Carolina, 1975, courtesy of College of Charleston Special Collections.

Interfraternity Council, The Comet, 1975, courtesy of College of Charleston Libraries.

Students enjoy down-time between classes, The Comet, Charleston, South Carolina, 1976, courtesy of College of Charleston Special Collections.

Students enjoy down-time between classes, The Comet, 1976, courtesy of College of Charleston Libraries.

Student Government Association meeting, The Comet, 1975, courtesy of College of Charleston Libraries. (Left to right) Treasurer Anna Johnson, Vice President Wayne Carter, and Secretary Laura Jenkins.

"Miss Afro American Society," The Comet, Charleston, South Carolina, 1975, courtesy of College of Charleston Libraries.

"Miss Afro American Society," The Comet, 1975, courtesy of College of Charleston Libraries.

LeRoy Ellis, member of College of Charleston's tennis team, returns the ball, The Comet, Charleston, South Carolina, 1971, courtesy of College of Charleston Special Collections.

LeRoy Ellis, member of College of Charleston's tennis team, returns the ball, The Comet, 1971, courtesy of College of Charleston Libraries.

Kappa Alpha Psi scrollers, The Comet, Charleston, South Carolina, 1975, courtesy of College of Charleston Special Collections.

Kappa Alpha Psi scrollers, The Comet, 1975, courtesy of College of Charleston Libraries.

T.J. Washington and Audrey Dingle discuss the publication of The Phoenix, a campus literary magazine, circa 1970, courtesy of College of Charleston Libraries.

Delta Sigma Theta sorority, The Comet, 1976, courtesy of College of Charleston Libraries. Members include Deborah Deas, Soinya Ferguson, Chris Green, Marilyn Harper, Keturah Jenkins, Vanessa King, Gail Pittman, and Linda Singleton.

Student Ward B. Miller, The Comet, Charleston, South Carolina, 1976, courtesy of College of Charleston Special Collections.

Student Ward B. Miller, The Comet, 1976, courtesy of College of Charleston Libraries.

Students mingling between classes, The Comet, Charleston, South Carolina, 1975, courtesy of College of Charleston Special Collections.

Students mingling between classes, The Comet, 1975, courtesy of College of Charleston Libraries.

Day Students Association officers, The Comet, Charleston, South Carolina, 1971, courtesy of College of Charleston Special Collections. (Left to right) Hank Black, Courtenay Daniels, Micki Miller, Eddie Ganaway.

Day Students Association officers, The Comet, 1971, courtesy of College of Charleston Libraries. (Left to right) Hank Black, Courtenay Daniels, Micki Miller, Eddie Ganaway.

Cougar's Pride club members watching a basketball game, The Comet, Charleston, South Carolina, 1976, courtesy of College of Charleston Special Collections.

Cougar's Pride club members watching a basketball game, The Comet, 1976, courtesy of College of Charleston Libraries.

1980s

Peer Mentors, The Comet, 1980, courtesy of College of Charleston Libraries.

Alpha Kappa Psi fraternity, The Comet, 1981, courtesy of College of Charleston Libraries.

Delta Sigma Theta sorority, The Comet, 1980, courtesy of College of Charleston Libraries.

Phi Beta Sigma fraternity on the Randolph Hall portico, The Comet, 1986, courtesy of College of Charleston Libraries.

Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority, The Comet, 1986, courtesy of College of Charleston Libraries.

Alpha Kappa Psi fraternity, The Comet, 1982, courtesy of College of Charleston Libraries.

Student Union for Minority Affairs (SUMA), The Comet, 1980, courtesy of College of Charleston Libraries.

Two students reading The Comet, The Comet, 1982, courtesy of College of Charleston Libraries.

Men's basketball, The Comet, 1982, courtesy of College of Charleston Libraries.

Women's volleyball, The Comet, 1982, courtesy of College of Charleston Libraries.

Students on campus, The Comet, 1981, courtesy of College of Charleston Libraries.

1990s

Students on campus, The Comet, 1993, courtesy of College of Charleston Libraries.

Students in their work study positions, The Comet, 1996, courtesy of College of Charleston Libraries.

Students pictured on campus, The Comet, 1996, courtesy of College of Charleston Libraries.

Two students on campus, The Comet, 1993, courtesy of College of Charleston Libraries.

Gospel choir, The Comet, 1993, courtesy of College of Charleston Libraries.

Black Student Union, The Comet, 1996, courtesy of College of Charleston Libraries.

Zeta Phi Beta sorority, The Comet, 1996, courtesy of College of Charleston Libraries.

Phi Beta Sigma fraternity, The Comet, 1996, courtesy of College of Charleston Libraries.

Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority, The Comet, 1996, courtesy of College of Charleston Libraries.

Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority members, The Comet, 1996, courtesy of College of Charleston Libraries.

Men's basketball, The Comet, 1996, courtesy of College of Charleston Libraries.

2000s

Group of freshman year roommates, 2005, courtesy of Special Collections at College of Charleston.

Women's basketball team with Post & Courier reporter Bryce Donovan, 2009, courtesy of Special Collections at College of Charleston.

Dance marathon fundraiser, 2008, courtesy of Special Collections at College of Charleston.

Graduation ceremony, 2009, courtesy of Special Collections at College of Charleston.

Nythea Pilar Campbell, the national queen of Phi Beta Sigma fraternity, 2004, courtesy of Special Collections at College of Charleston.

Graduation procession, The Comet, 2006, courtesy of College of Charleston Libraries.

Men's basketball, The Comet, 2008, courtesy of College of Charleston Libraries.

Men's basketball, The Comet, 2006, courtesy of College of Charleston Libraries.

Women's basketball, The Comet, 2006, courtesy of College of Charleston Libraries.

Women's soccer, The Comet, 2005, courtesy of College of Charleston Libraries.

Terence Holland, the first male Cougarette cheerleader, 2008, courtesy of Special Collections at College of Charleston.

Student at graduation, The Comet, 2005, courtesy of College of Charleston Libraries.

Students participating in Physics Lab, The Comet, 2004, courtesy of College of Charleston Libraries.

Gospel choir, The Comet, 2005, courtesy of College of Charleston Libraries.

Sorority members, The Comet, 2006, courtesy of College of Charleston Libraries.

Students pose for The Comet, 2005, courtesy of College of Charleston Libraries.

Students travel to Detroit, Michigan, to march with the NAACP to protest racial discrimination, 2007, courtesy of Special Collections at College of Charleston.

Students enjoying "Hip Hop Fest," The Comet, 2006, courtesy of College of Charleston Libraries.

Students dressing up in costume, The Comet, 2006, courtesy of College of Charleston Libraries.

United Nations Club, The Comet, 2006, courtesy of College of Charleston Libraries.

Student theater, The Comet, 2006, courtesy of College of Charleston Libraries.

Students enjoy lunch outside, The Comet, 2006, courtesy of College of Charleston Libraries.

2010s

The members of Call me MISTER, 2019, courtesy of College of Charleston. Call me MISTER helps to academically and financially support students of color who major in education.

The members of Call me MISTER, 2019, courtesy of The College Today. Call me MISTER helps to academically and financially support students of color who major in education.

Freshman orientation, 2010, courtesy of the College of Charleston.

Cougar pep band, 2012, courtesy of College of Charleston.

Spectra program, 2012, courtesy of College of Charleston.

Student employees at a campus event, 2018, courtesy of the College of Charleston.

Members of Collegiate Curls, an organization founded to help minority women and men appreciate their natural hair texture, 2017, courtesy of College of Charleston.

Members of Collegiate Curls, an organization founded to help minority women and men appreciate their natural hair texture, 2017, courtesy of The College Today.

Spring commencement, 2013, courtesy of the College of Charleston.

Spring graduation, 2014, courtesy of the College of Charleston.

Spring commencement, 2012, courtesy of the College of Charleston.

Commencement ceremony, 2012, courtesy of College of Charleston.

Commencement ceremony, 2010, courtesy of the College of Charleston.

2020s

Students pose with Andrew Hsu at the Cooper River Bridge Run, 2023, courtesy of College of Charleston.

Image of student athlete at the College's Fall Block Party, Charleston, South Carolina, 2022, courtesy of the College of Charleston.

Kieron van Wyk, College of Charleston's first Black golfer to win the Men's Individual Title, 2022, courtesy of College of Charleston's College Today.

Kieron van Wyk, College of Charleston's first Black golfer to win the Men's Individual Title, 2022, courtesy of The College Today.

Tony Jackson, a student at the College of Charleston, at work on his podcast about Black history and life, Charleston, South Carolina, 2022 courtesy of The College Today.