The Ferris State Torch NINETY YEARS OF ILLUMINATING THE TRUTH Big Rapids, Michigan Week of Feb. 24 - March 2, 2021 www.fsutorch.com Examining Ferris’ Black history The story of the riots of 1969 and racism that led up to them Editor’s Note: The Ferris State University campus except a couple” and at 9 p.m., the claims about “the inferiority of African Amer- Ferris’ increased effort to enroll archives were searched for photos from the protestors were met by state police who ar- icans,” according to Huey. more Black students. riots on campus in 1969. There are no offi- rested all of them on the charge of trespass- The overall curriculum at the time lacked “I think where we need to see more cial photos, according to University Archivist ing, loaded them onto a Ferris bus and took Black culture, which was another reason for change is continuing to look to the minority Melinda Isler, who speculated none were al- them to the local Armory. tension between the students of color and students to bring them into campus here,” lowed to be taken by the administration at According to Matlock, University of Mich- the administration. Huey said. “And you know, it’s a tough sell the time, for fear of bad press. igan professor and head of the Michigan The physical abuse was “standard prac- sometimes when you come to a predomi- NAACP Albert Wheeler contacted the then tice” according to Huey. In one instance, a nantly white, rural area in the state of Mich- Jerry Gaytan President of Ferris the next morning and con- Black couple was coming back to the dorms, igan. But I think what we can do to make Freelance Reporter vinced him of how bad this would look for the which were separated by men and women at things better, is [hire] more Black faculty and university. The protesters were then released. that time. After dropping his date off, the man more Black administrators.” During the spring of 1969, Ferris State “This was a major sense of empowerment was sprayed with an early version of mace, As a Black faculty member, business University was not exempt from the racial for students, it was recognition that there for no reason “other than that the young man professor Kasey Thompson said in order tensions that raged nationwide. were some problems and it put them on the was Black,” Huey stated. to be sensitive to issues of race, Ferris White students carried signs that read table,” Matlock said. “They would push black students off side- has to be intentional. “White Power” while shouting, “We shall over- Huey is currently conducting research on walks, they would follow young women down “It’s something that not just Ferris State come.” This was the boiling point on campus, the racial unrest at Ferris in 1969 with history the hall and they would raise their skirts with University, but all of us, bringing this acknowl- and riots broke out soon after. It was believed professor Christian Peterson and English pro- a broomstick handle just again, just things edgment that racial injustices still occur,” they started right outside of Miller Hall during fessor Sarah Rescoe — though this has been such as that, which ultimately led to a great Thompson said. “So, from my perspective, I a fire drill, when about 75 policemen from stalled due to COVID-19 deal of violence,” Huey said. “I think the main think it’s first having a universal acceptance four organizations swarmed campus. At the In their research thus far, they have de- takeaway was the students finally stood up, I and acknowledgment of the fact that, you time Ferris had an enrollment of 8,200 stu- tailed many instances of racism on campus think the Black students finally stood up and know, there are racial injustices that occur in dents, including 300 students identifying as leading up to the riots. took the stance, and that they just simply this country. people of color. “My thoughts are I am surprised it didn’t were not going to be willing to take this kind “And from that acceptance, also taking ac- These actions were a cry for help and to happen sooner, I am,” Huey said. “All three of treatment anymore. countability, and what we can do personally show there was change needed, and ac- of us were shocked by the level of racism, I “They were putting pressure on the admin- to address it, what Ferris can do to overtly put cording to history professor Gary Huey the guess maybe we shouldn’t have been. I think istration to do something about the racism forth effort in saying that there is an intoler- riot made national news. what was maybe most disturbing, was the that existed.” ance of racial injustices and setting forth an Racial tensions were rising much before level of racism among some of the adminis- Part of the escalation was due to a reac- intentional effort in ensuring that all of the that, though. tration at Ferris. And those I think, are very tionary administration at the time, accord- staff, all of the faculty, all of the students feel Two weeks prior to the riot, a group of 70 troubling aspects. Then just the harassment, ing to Huey. He believes that some of the safe, they feel welcomed, and they feel as if Black students set up a sit-in at the student that the Black students were forced to put up violence could have been avoided, had the they’re an equal part of the Ferris State Uni- center, which rose tensions on campus. This with on a daily basis, both men and women.” administration been more proactive about versity community.” sit-in was to protest the administration han- Huey said in their research they found addressing the racism on campus. dling of a situation involving a Black student the racism on campus was “obvious” in When Huey was hired at Ferris in 1986, Cora Hall contributed to the reporting of and a resident advisor in a dorm. both verbal and physical harassment. One he said there were still very few Black stu- this story. Former Ferris student John Matlock re- English class had a required reading of an dents. This is something he has seen change counted one of the sit-ins that took place on article that was “blatantly racist” and made over his years, and part of that was due to For a profile on John Matlock, check out our campus. He said that they took over Starr au- Black History Month insert in this edition. ditorium with “all of the Black students from Ferris approves $29.5 million virtual learning center Ferris State University’s Center December 2022. The Center for Vir- for Virtual Learning is another major tual Learning is expected to be ready step closer to reality. At its regular for occupancy in January 2023. meeting on Friday, Feb. 19, the uni- Board members also approved a versity’s Board of Trustees approved new Bachelor of Science in Artificial proceeding with the construction Intelligence in the College of Busi- of the $29.5 million main campus ness. Ferris envisions itself as being building. at the front of artificial intelligence Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, on Dec. degree-granting, where job growth 29, signed into law Public Act 257 has been 74 percent annually, rank- of 2020 to grant full authorization to ing it first among the top 15 emerging proceed with Ferris’ state of Michigan jobs in the U.S., according to a Linke- capital outlay project. The future Cen- dIn report. Primary areas of focus for ter for Virtual Learning will serve as a the new Artificial Intelligence degree centralized location to host the Infor- will be cybersecurity, the Internet of mation Security and Intelligence pro- Things, health care, business and gram, the School of Digital Media, the educational applications. Industry School of Education and eLearning at experts see AI as a necessary com- Ferris. The CVL will stand next to the plement to cybersecurity, thanks to FLITE library, at the current site of automation and general efforts to ad- Vandercook Hall, which will be razed. dress the increasing sophistication Construction is scheduled to begin and high volume of cyber-attacks. in May 2021 and continuing through Photo courtesy of Ferris State University Got news? Let us know. Like us on facebook Follow us on Twitter Add us on instagram Follow us on tiktok Email: [email protected] Ferris state Torch @fsutorch fsutorch FsuTorch Phone: 231.591.5978 Connect with us on social media - Read articles online at www.fsutorch.com 2 News Week of Feb. 24 - March 2 ,2021 Ferris State Torch NEWS Noah Kurkjian | News Editor | [email protected] Expressing our deepest sympathies Photo courtesy of Will Holden Photo courtesy of Phi Sigma Kappa Alisha Jaynes was on the Ferris State cheer team. Malik Kingsby was a member of Phi Sigma Kappa on campus. Cora Hall, Noah Kurkjian selves at this very moment, we want to handle this in a way cherished memories and find the best way to remember Editor in Chief, News Editor that honors these students and their memory. Current and them as students, people and friends. former Torch staff members knew these students, and we The Personal Counseling Center is offering an informal The Ferris community is hurting right now, and the staff grieve their passing. grieving session for students on Thursday Feb. 26 at 11 a.m. of the Torch would like to extend our deepest sympathies to In the interest of remembering these students and pre- via zoom and personal appointments by request.