Student Autonomy: 1970-1979
Leading the Way
Francenia Strayhorn was elected to the May Court in 1970.
The Black Student Association, originally the Appalachian Black Cultural Organization (ABCO), was founded at Appalachian. The association’s “major function is to present concerns, needs, and interests of black students to the administration of Appalachian State University. The organization serves to promote cultural awareness and place special emphasis on the traditions, customs, and history of Black Americans.” All enrolled black students are automatically members. The group hosted Martin Luther King Jr. commemorations, Black History Month celebrations, Black Awareness Weekend, Ms. Black Cultural Pageants, and Gospel Choir concerts.
Free Speech and Social Responsibility
The United States entered the Vietnam War in 1965. Free speech concerns led to student unrest on campus, and students protested the unjust war and the draft. Peace protestors sponsored by Students for Action held a war moratorium on the Sanford Mall in May.
In 1972, Title IX of the civil rights law prohibited sex-based discrimination in educational institutions that receive funds from the federal government. In 1975, the United States Department of Health, Education, and Welfare gave Appalachian three years to comply before losing federal funds. Dr. Isabel Jones was appointed coordinator of implementing Title IX regulations.
In 1973 the population of Boone, N.C., and the campus had roughly the same population of 9,000 individuals.
The Student Senate appointed freshman Judy Gentry to the Homecoming Court to ensure diverse representation. The student judiciary denied the appointment because Gentry was not voted in. As a compromise, Gentry was added as a “special added feature of the 1972 Homecoming activities.” Gentry was the first African-American woman on any court at Appalachian State.
In 1973-1974, the Organization on the Status of Women was formed by faculty members from various departments, including English, Anthropology, History, Art, and Sociology. The Organization aimed to explore issues related to female faculty members. Subsequently, the Women's Resource Center was established by a collaboration between the Organization on the Status of Women and the Counseling and Psychological Services Center. A Temporary Interim Child-Care [TICC] facility was opened inside the Women's Resource Center.
Robert Leake was the first African-American student government president. He was elected in 1974.
Doris Foxworth was elected “Miss Black Culture” in 1975 during Black Expo Week in October, and then she participated in the Miss ASU contest in November
Graduate student Sally Chou teaching peers Mandarin Chinese
Through the Ford Cooperative Project, Warren Wilson College and Appalachian State University agreed to exchange visiting students. As part of this agreement, Appalachian State students could take classes at Warren Wilson and stay in the Intercultural House with international students from Wilson. Sally Chou was one of three international students at Warren Wilson who received a graduate scholarship to teach their native languages and English as a second language to their peers at Appalachian State.
Environmental Advocacy
The United States Department of Energy selected Howard's Knob as the site to construct the world's largest wind generator, with a capacity of 2000 kW. The objective was to determine the effectiveness of wind in generating electricity. However, the residents of Howards Knob raised concerns about television interference, vibrations, and a strange "booming" noise. The complaints, combined with the continuous mechanical issues, led to the windmill's removal.
Claiming Space
The Women's Studies program began as an ad hoc committee comprised of Pat Beaver, Sherry Edwards, Allie Funk, Lucy Brashear, Helena Lewis, and Maggie McFadden. They collaborated and shared resources related to Women's Studies and published a resource booklet in 1976. The committee proposed an interdisciplinary minor to the Academic Policies and Procedures Committee, and in 1979, Watauga College opened the Women's Studies minor, with Dr. Helena Lewis serving as its advisor.
In April 1979, the Gay Awareness Organization received its charter from the Student Government Association. Not long after, the charter was reweighed due to the low turnout of voting students and those who disagreed with the decision. The matter was deliberated for three months before Chancellor Herbert W. Wey executively approved the organization's official status.
