1995 03 February

Eric Abercrumbie, an educator in cultural diversity on U.S. campuses, is on campus for a four-day visit. Abercrumbie, director of Ethnic Programs and Services and the African-American Culture and Research Center at the University of Cincinnati, is an expert on African-American concerns. He originated the Black Man's Think Tank, a yearly gathering that addresses key issues in the African-American experience.

Last spring, Abercrumbie was enthusiastically received in a visit to UVM. As part of his next visit on Feb. 16-19, he will meet with campus groups and university leaders on issues of racism and equality in higher education. His visit is being sponsored by the UVM Commission on Racial Equality & Multicultural Education, Training & Development, and the New Black Leaders.

1995 04 February

UVM Trustee´s order increase diversity. The Board of Trustees directed President Thomas P. Salmon and its new chair, Edward Zuccaro, to develop a strategic plan for increasing diversity at UVM. In a resolution adopted on Saturday, February 4, the board ordered the two officials to set goals and timetables for attracting students, faculty, staff and administrators who will make the campus more diverse --- and for ensuring they will stay. The resolution directs Salmon to make an initial progress report to the board in May and a more comprehensive one in May 1996.

1995 29 March

Racially motivated death threats against 5 African-American female students investigated by UVM. The University failed to notify the FBI of the death threats.

1995 31 March

ALANA students in a March 31 open forum recounting the pains of attending a predominately white UVM and demanded that the campus confront the racism they say is widespread here and in the Burlington community. The noontime event, "A Call to Action: UVM Community Meeting: Improving the State of Race Relations" was sponsored by the Commission on Racial Equality and Multicultural Education. It was held in response to the incidents on campus in February and early March in which people of color received notes containing death threats and racial slurs.

President Salmon´s response to the forum is published in The UVM Record.

1995 20 April

Donald Grinde named Director of UVM's new ALANA (African-, Latino-, Asian- and Native-American) Studies Program.

During Spring Break, a job posting for the Executive Officer which significantly altered the nature and intent of the original position (changing it to a position responsible for "diversity" with no clear accountability to the Commission) was advertised nationally. After Commission protest and on the recommendation of the search committee, the search was halted with the understanding that it would resume Fall 1995.

1995 12 May

The UVM African-American faculty present a resolution to the Board of Trustees calling for the university to remove references to the university being an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer until such time as this is actually the case. The resolution documents the "breadth and depth of the problem" including the fact that after having eight tenured African-American faculty, in one year hence there will be only two left on campus.

1995 15 June

Director of the Office of Multicultural Affairs, Anthony Chavez, is fired for alleged financial mismanagement. A complete story was compiled by The Cynic for it´s September 14, 1995 issue.

1995 26 June

A press conference is held with eight UVM students representing students of color and white students denouncing the university´s decision to fire Anthony Chavez.

1995 30 June

UVM students rally and speak out to protest firing of Anthony Chavez, an outspoken advocate for students of color on campus. ALANA students draft the ALANA Student Bill of Rights which is presented at the speak out. The President refuses to sign off on the Bill of Rights but agrees to work with students to come to agreement over a final version.

1995 August 18

At a UVM Board of Trustees meeting, President Salmon said that the school is determined to bolster diversity on campus with two major goals being to increase the number of out-of-state minority students and to continue to monitor the number of in-state minority student enrolled.

Formation of the Graduate Student Coalition for Racial Justice/UVM Alumni calls for a boycott of contributions to UVM until some "marked change arrives in UVM policy, action and structure." By the beginning of January 1996, more than 50 individuals have joined the Coalition.

1995 Fall Semester

A transition team for the Commission on Racial Justice and Multicultural Education reviewed the history of the Executive Officer position over the summer and forwarded its recommendations to Provost Robert Low. A meeting was called by the Provost to discuss his intentions regarding this position. The Provost stated he planned to move forward with the search using the same position description which resulted in the halted search the year before. Additionally, the position would be funded with sources currently allocated to the Commission, with only carryover funds left for the Commission use. The original intentions of this position were re-iterated and the Provost was informed the Commission would not participate in the search.

1995 06 October

About 100 students protest hate graffiti at UVM. Swastikas and racial, ethnic and homophobic slurs were found written in a variety of places across campus.

1995 08 November

UVM has established the H. Lawrence McCrorey Collection and Gallery of Multicultural Art at the Bailey/Howe Library. McCrorey´s 27-year career at UVM was marked by outstanding teaching and moral leadership. He regularly commented and lectured on racism and the value of multicultural education, both at the university and in schools and forums throughout Vermont.

1995 09 November

The UVM Campus community including staff, students, and faculty receive a campus mailing from the Commission on Racial Justice and Multicultural Education outlining the history of the position of Executive Officer and informing the community that the Commission will not participate in the search process.

1995 10 November

Provost Robert Low disbands UVM Commission on Racial Justice and replaces it with a self-appointed advisory board.

University public relations announces this change as part of an overall "diversity plan" of Provost Robert Low. Low said, "The commission´s current structure, which I approved last year, has not led to the collaborative and inclusive perspective necessary to fully involve the campus community. While the commission has made some positive contributions, it is my belief that at this time we need a new approach to help us move forward collectively with these important efforts. I have heard from numerous members of our community who confirm this view."

1995 13 November

An Associated Press article quotes Leon Lawrence saying that the decision to disband the Commission was necessary for the university to move forward on cultural diversity.

1995 01 December

African-American and Mohegan student, Shontae Praileau, begins a hunger strike of no solid foods to protest what she calls the administration´s insensitivity to minorities.

1995 09 December

More than 40 UVM students fast for one day in solidarity with Shontae Praileau. A group of about 50 students (mainly white) marched from the campus library to the president´s office dropping off canned goods they labeled "food for thought." This is the first time that the local media cover the eight day hunger strike of Shontae Praileau.

1995 13 December

The UVM President´s Commission on the Status of Women sends a memorandum to the President expressing their disapproval of the disbanding of the Commission on Racial Justice and Multicultural Education stating that the action was "seriously exacerbating an already difficult situation" on campus.

1996 15 January

UVM President receives a letter from the National Council for Black Studies (NCBS) -- a black studies institution that represents the vast majority of black scholars -- imposing sanctions against UVM because of the "disastrous" handling of the situation with Shontae Praileau and past history of racism at UVM.

1996 17 January

As a result of Maneshkona Shontae Praileau´s hunger strike, a national movement begins. A Pledge of Resistance Against Institutionalized Racism in Amerikkkan Higher Education calls for students nationwide to join together to "call prolonged attention to this National Disgrace which Maneshkona has named in Vermont and which students of color across the country continue to wage struggle against at great personal expense." Support for Shontae comes from around the world once word gets out over the internet.

Returning from holiday break, several white students and community people stage a protest in front of the President´s residence while he is holding a gathering for faculty. The students are protesting the administrations lack of response to Shontae Praileau´s hunger strike which is now in it´s 50th day.

1996 29 January

The Faculty Women´s Caucus sends a letter to the Provost expressing their "grave concern" over the current state of affairs at the University.

1996 04 January

President Salmon sends a memorandum to the Board of Trustees regarding Shontae Praileau´s hunger strike stating that she has a "separatist philosophy." A copy of this memorandum is NOT delivered to Ms. Praileau.

1996 01 February

At a gathering of 250 students, Praileau ends her hunger strike, saying she is satisfied with the awareness she has raised about the need for an "anti-racist agenda" at UVM. Via the internet, Shontae´s message received widespread support and response came from as far away as India and Malaysia and from across the united states and canada.

1996 04 February

The Boston Globe prints a story of Shontae Praileau´s hunger strike and UVM racism.

The UVM Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual Alliance sends a memorandum to the Provost calling attention to the Provost´s "actions which have repeatedly ignored and undermined the ALANA community. From disbanding the Commission on Racial Justice and Multicultural Education to your silence regarding the hunger strike of Shontae Praileau to the lack of implementation regarding the ALANA Student Bill of Rights to numerous other acts of overt and covert racism on your part and the part of other UVM administrators."

1996 February

Throughout the month of February (Black History Month), two people will be on "cyclic hunger strikes" during any given 24-hour period. Kei Kurihara, begins a cyclic hunger strike with three days of fasting observed, and the fourth day allowing for the consumption of solid food, followed by three more days of fasting.

1995 March

The National Coalition of Students Resisting Racism is announced as a "multi-racial coalition of college and university students struggling to dismantle racism on a national level." A National Board of Directors consisting of student trustees will be formed to serve as a clearinghouse for information, local and national organizing and as a central location for inquiries and activism.

UVM Faculty Women´s Caucus presents a vote for censure of the President and Provost to be voted on at an upcoming Faculty Senate Meeting. This is followed-up with additional background information for the UVM community. President Salmon responded with a memorandum to the UVM Faculty which provided his response to the resolution because he will be out of town on an important development trip when the censure vote is taken.

1996 13 March

The Burlington Free Press reports that President Salmon survives the censure vote (100-87) and reports that it is the "first censure vote in at least 25 years." The article quoted Associate Professor Laura Fishman as saying: "If we end up voting not to censure, then we as a community are saying loud and clear that we like being the whitest state in the country." After the vote, she was reported as saying: "It´s exactly what I said."

1996 15 March

A letter is mailed to President Salmon from the Dr. William A. Little, Ph.D., President, National Council for Black Studies which states: " The National Council for Black Studies met on March 9th and 19th, 1996 and reviewed information regarding recent events on your campus involving Ms. Maneshkona-Shontae Praileau, and communications between you and Dr. Raymond Winbush, a member of our Board.

After extensive discussions on developments on your campus the Committee decided that NCBS should seek to lend its good offices toward a peaceful, just and conciliatory resolution of the situation, and help the university create an atmosphere of inclusive multiculturalism.

Annie Allen has been appointed as the University of Vermont's executive officer for cultural pluralism and racial equality. She brings extensive professional, management and administrative experience in this area from her work in higher education and other non-profit organizations. As the executive officer for cultural pluralism and racial equality at UVM, Allen will have a leadership role in formulating policy, setting priorities and implementing an action plan for the institution. The executive officer is expected to help form collaborative partnerships, translate policy and ideas into concrete actions and bring people of all cultures and backgrounds together as a community. Allen will be involved in the implementation of curricular programs and initiatives, the development and refinement of plans to increase faculty, staff and student diversity, and in the application of methods to improve the racial climate. She is scheduled to begin her new job on June 1.

1996 30 April

NCBS has (as of this date) not received a reply from President Salmon or anyone at UVM regarding NCBS offer of assistance.

University of Vermont Provost Robert B. Low today announced he will resign from his position as provost effective June 30, 1996. He plans to return full-time to his teaching and research activities in the College of Medicine. Low has served as interim provost and provost since 1992. Salmon stated that he will soon appoint an advisory committee to assist him in identifying an interim provost, in anticipation of an appointment by July 1, 1996.

1996 05 May

Comprehensive report delivered to the UVM Board of Trustees in response to the resolution of February 04, 1995 directing the President and Board Chair to produce a strategic plan for increasing diversity at UVM.

1996 29 May

Leon Lawrence named Interim Director of the Office of Multicultural Affairs, June 1 through June 20, 1998. Recently Lawrence served as special assistant to the President for diversity.

Gerald P. Francis named interim provost beginning July 1, 1996. Dr. Francis was also interim provost during the 1991 Waterman takeover prior to Dr. Dalmas Taylor.

Personal communication to Judy A. Ashley from Dr. Raymond Winbush, National Council for Black Studies, reveals that President Salmon never responded to their letter of March 14, 1996.

1996 17 August

The Burlington Free Press (August 17, 1996) top story highlights diversity progress at UVM including the approval of a "new academic program studying racial minorities in America." The program will begin in the fall as an 18-credit minor study and is headed by Donald Grinde.

The new Provost, Gerald Francis, informed the trustees that the way to attract more students of color is to "raise admissions standards." To quote the Free Press, "He says higher academic quality will make the school more attractive to all students, especially students of color looking for a competitive edge in the job market."

Regarding the issue of enrollment of ALANA students this fall, only three (3) more students of color will be among this year´s incoming class than there were last year. There will be a total of 88 first year students of color out of an incoming class of 1,850. The Free Press reports that "Board of Trustee Chairman Richard Dennis has asked for an official inquiry as to why the earlier estimate of 10 to 20 students was so inaccurate."

[UVM Overview] [1777-1933] [1984-1989] [1990-1994] [1995-1996] [1997-1999][1999-2001][2002] Racism Home Page