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Old 09-13-2010, 08:38 PM
preciousjeni preciousjeni is offline
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Sorority Founder Organizes Desegregation Celebration

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 13, 2010


UNC-CHAPEL HILL HONORS CIVIL RIGHTS PIONEERS WITH
DESEGREGATION CELEBRATION


Durham, N.C. - Three African-American students from Durham’s Hillside High School applied to UNC-Chapel Hill in 1955 and were denied admission by the Office of Admissions because they were “Negro”. After their application was rejected, the Board of Trustees passed a resolution barring the admission of Negroes to the undergraduate college. Mr. Ralph Frasier, his brother LeRoy Frasier and Mr. John Brandon filed suit against the Board of Trustees in the Federal District Court in North Carolina.

After a hearing, the Federal District Court ruled that the University Resolution by the Board of Trustees was unconstitutional and that the pronouncement from the landmark case of Brown v. Board of Education that separate schools were unequal and unconstitutional “applied with greater force to students of mature age in the concluding years of their formal education as they are about to engage in the serious business of adult life.” In a unanimous opinion issued on September 16, 1955, the Federal District Court in Greensboro, N.C. ruled that the University of North Carolina was prohibited from denying admission to qualified black applicants solely because of their race or color. The Board of Trustees of the University of North Carolina appealed the Federal Court’s decision to the United States Supreme Court and on September 16, 1955 admitted Mr. Ralph Frasier, his brother LeRoy and Mr. Brandon to the undergraduate college.

The three young men were represented by renowned civil rights attorneys Thurgood Marshall and Robert L. Carter, who had both served as legal counsel in Brown v. Board of Education. In a one line opinion, the United States Supreme Court affirmed the lower court’s ruling on March 5, 1956.

This Thursday, September 16, 2010, marks the 55th anniversary of desegregation and integration at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. It is critical, necessary and timely for the University community to honor and commemorate their monumental sacrifice on this landmark 55th anniversary. These three men are of significant historical importance to the University of North Carolina and to higher American educational history. Their admission led to the admission of other African-American students to UNC, the formation of the African-American Studies Department, the Institute of African American Research, and to the integrated campus at UNC-Chapel Hill and throughout schools of higher education around the nation as we see them today.

The first three African-American undergraduate students who are responsible for desegregating UNC will be present and will honored by students, faculty, administration, and the community of North Carolina. Reverend Dr. William Barber, President of the North Carolina NAACP and advocate for racial and social justice will deliver the keynote address at the University Recognition Dinner on Friday evening.

Schedule of Events
Friday, September 17, 2010
1:30 p.m.: Stone Center Auditorium. [i]Open to All.[i]
Discussion and interview of Mr. Ralph Frasier, Mr. LeRoy Frasier, and Mr. John
Brandon. Moderated by Geeta Kapur, Civil Rights Attorney; Adjunct Professor – Department of African American Studies, UNC-Chapel Hill; Adjunct Professor – UNC School of Law; Research Fellow, Institute of African American Research, UNC.

3:30 p.m.: Celebration Reception at the Stone Center Hitchcock Multipurpose Room, [i]Open to All.[i]

6:30 p.m.: University Recognition Dinner. Reverend Dr. William Barber, N.C. NAACP President to deliver the keynote speech. By Invitation Only.

Saturday, September 18, 2010
12 p.m.: Kenan Stadium
Mr. Ralph Frasier, Mr. LeRoy Frasier and Mr. John Brandon will be honored by the University at the first home football game against Georgia Tech.

Sponsors of the Desegregation Celebration
Office of the Chancellor, Department of Student Affairs Department of African and African American Studies, Department of History, Department of Athletics, Department of Diversity and Multicultural Affairs, Institute of African American Research, Student Government, Black Student Movement and the Campus Y.

CONTACT: Geeta Nadia Kapur, Attorney & Counselor at Law and Adjunct Professor, UNC-Chapel Hill at 919-260-1977.
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Last edited by preciousjeni; 09-13-2010 at 10:31 PM.
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