Past Efforts

"SCHOOLHOUSE" WOMEN

Women at UA Today

"Pioneers" - of what?

Kimberly Richardson assessed the "Pioneers" section of the university's 40th Anniversary website and found its profiles of key women lacking. She suggested the following revisions:

Autherine Lucy (Foster) became the first African-American student to enroll at UA in 1956. After she graduated from Miles College in 1952, she enrolled at the University as a graduate student in library science. However, before graduating from Miles College, her brief stay at The University of Alabama’s campus involved three days of horrible demonstrations. Foster was suspended and later expelled by the UA Board of Trustees. Foster did end up attending UA years later though.
Vivian Malone (Jones) was one of the two students whose enrollment Alabama Governor George C. Wallace attempted to block by positioning himself in the doorway of Foster Auditorium. In 1965, she became the first African-American student to graduate from the University, receiving a bachelor of arts in business management. Jones’s success was a huge milestone for African-Americans, giving them hope and a platform to stand on.
Sarah Healy: Even though not African American, was extremely influential during this time and deserves to be recognized. She was the Universities dean of women from 1954-1971, and was instrumental in protecting Lucy. She provided her own car to escort Lucy on campus in an attempt to shield her from physical harm during Foster’s brief time at the University. Several years later, Healy also played an important role in the successful desegregation of the University of Alabama, facilitating the enrollment of Jones and James Hood. She offered unwavering support to Jones during her course of study at the University.

Whose experiences?

Ashanti Richardson (no relation to Kimberly) scrutinized the 50th Anniversary website and realized, near mid-semester, than the page titled "Black Experience at UA" was 1) primarily enrollment data and other statistical measures and 2) out of date, including links to the 40th Anniversary website.

Ashanti researched the "black experience" in higher education today, at a range of universities including Alabama, and made suggestions for how the 50th anniversary site could better showcase the voices and experiences of its black students today.

Many of her suggestions were implemented on the site; by the end of the semester a new page appeared, complete with a "Submit Your Story" function for current UA students, faculty, staff, or alumni to contribute to the site. Note the disclaimer on this page -- whose experiences or which experiences get shared in high-profile moments of public memory?

Vivian Jones walks to Burke Hall during the standoff with Gov Wallace

Vivian Malone (Jones) being escorted to Burke Hall on June 11, 1063