The establishment of a Black Cultural Center at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill still faces obstacles months after its initial approval by UNC-CH Chancellor Paul Hardin.
In a meeting of UNC's board of trustees March 26, the first time the board discussed the center, Trustee John Pope proposed a resolution rejecting the creation of a free-standing center.
No vote was taken on the resolution or on the center itself, because several members said they needed more time and information before taking a position.
"I don't want to prejudge the chancellor," said Trustee David Whichard. He said he wants to wait until he sees Hardin's recommendation about a site and details for the center before making a decision.
The controversy over the center first caught the national eye in October, when a group of students campaigned for the establishment of a free-standing black cultural center. Their action on campus included protests and an appearance by film director Spike Lee.
While the center was approved by Hardin in October, it still needs final approval from the board of trustees.
Pope's resolution states that the university should not sanction facilities promoting a single race, creed or culture.
"I do believe that the proposed separate free-standing Black Cultural Center presents a risk of resegregation of both people and ideas on the university campus," Pope said, according to the News & Observer. "It is a major step toward abandoning our single American heritage and culture which unites diverse cultures and heritages under the principle of equality of rights of the individual."
The resolution was seconded by student body president John Moody.
Charles McNair, minister of information for the UNC-CH Black Student Movement, said he was "not surprised" by Pope's proposal to reject the center. McNair alleged that Pope said in 1988 that if black students want black culture, they should go to a black school.
About a dozen students sat in on the meeting, holding pro-BCC signs.
Hardin has asked the university's buildings and grounds committee to determine the best site for the center to be built.
Whichard said he does think something other than the present converted snack bar is necessary for a black cultural center.
"I don't think we need a hang-out, but we need a center with an academic component," he said.
The next possible time for further discussion of the BCC will be the board's next meeting, May 28.
It will be to the center's advantage if the vote does not occur until after June, McNair said. The terms of both Pope and Moody end in June.
Tim Copeland, who will take Moody's place as student body president and voting member of the board of trustees, is an advocate of the center, McNair said.
The BCC working group has suggested two sites for the center, either between Wilson library and Dey Hall or across the street in the woods next to Coker Hall. Students have expressed some concern about the latter site.
"I support the center, but I don't think it should be it should be built in the Coker woods, which needs to be kept for ecological purposes. There are several places on campus which would be better sites," said Wendy Greenhouse, a UNC-CH freshman.
Coker Hall houses the Biological Studies department and studies of plant and animal species are carried out in the adjoining woods, Greenhouse said.
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