1961 US Commission on Civil Rights Report Book 2 - University of ...

the language of the Supreme Court in the Little Rock case: ". . . The
constitutional rights of [plaintiffs] are not to be sacrificed or yielded
to ... violence and disorder." " The students returned to classes at
the university on January 16 without further difficulty.
Miss Hunter lived in a campus dormitory; Mr. Holmes roomed in a
private home. At first both voluntarily refrained from using dining,
library, and other campus facilities. However, on March 9, <strong>1961</strong>, Miss
Hunter obtained a court ruling that the dining room, swimming pool,
and all other university facilities had to be made available to all students
on an equal basis. 16 No further disorder or student demonstration has
been reported. On May 4, <strong>1961</strong>, the university announced that the
application of an Atlanta Negro teacher for admission to the graduate
school had been approved. She is the first Negro student to be accepted
for graduate study. 17
OTHER PUBLIC COLLEGES
On May n, <strong>1961</strong>, the Georgia Institute of Technology accepted the
applications of three Negro students for admission in the fall of <strong>1961</strong>.
They are the first of their race to be admitted to the school in its 76-year
history. 18 The voluntary lifting of the racial barriers at Georgia Tech
came 4 months after the two Negroes were admitted to the University
of Georgia. 19
Georgia Tech student leaders and prominent alumni supported the
action as in keeping with the United States Supreme Court's decision in
the School Segregation Cases. 20 The student body president stated that
the students at the school were "mature and responsible" enough to
understand and abide by sound decisions. 21 Governor Vandiver in commenting
on the action of Georgia Tech officials said at a news conference
that the problem had been thoroughly explored by school officials
and the State Board of Regents and found to be in Tech's best interest. 22
In Charlotte, N.C., the trustees of Charlotte and Carver Junior Colleges—one
formerly for whites, the other for Negroes—announced in
February <strong>1961</strong> that after completion of their permanent buildings, they
would both be opened to qualified students regardless of race or color. 23
Two Negro taxpayers brought suit in a State court to halt construction
of segregated buildings for Carver College on the ground that it "will
in fact prolong the existence of segregated education." z * A State
superior court held for the defendants on the ground that the complaint
did not state a cause of action 28 in light of the announcement that both
colleges would be open to all qualified students.
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