Member Spotlight

Arnell Hill ’80 in 1975 Arnell Hill ’80 in 2007Arnell Hill ’80

My tenure as historian for UEAAA is coming to an end. I’ve enjoyed the experience and wanted to share how I got to this point.

During my undergraduate days at UE, (1975-1980) the names and experiences of Zerah Priestly, Vera Shane, William Bell, Edmund Fly, James Barbee, and Fred Duncan were unknown to me. In my haste to get my college education and enjoy the college experience, it never occurred to me to look back to those who had come before me at UE.

In early 2007, I received notice that the UEAAA was seeking nominations for several offices, one of which was historian. I found the thought of documenting the history of black students at UE interesting and a challenge. As I finish my term as historian, I know I have only touched the surface of the history of African American student experiences at the University of Evansville.

My research as historian began in the spring of 2007. I read a traditional coverage of the history of the University of Evansville, but only found one page covering African American students. This motivated me to seek information on the experiences of black students. During the summer of 2007 I made the journey from Indianapolis across interstate 70 and south on Highway 41 from Terre Haute. It was the same journey I had made many times as an undergrad at UE. My research involved many hours in the library archives going through the most available sources of information, the Linc yearbooks and Crescent articles. My starting point was 1934 which I had come to learn was when Zerah Priestly became the first known black student to attend Evansville College. I say known black student, because I cannot factually say whether a black student attended UE prior to 1934 that was able to pass for white. My research was limited to the unscientific method of visually identifying black students from photographs, plus I used a roster of black alumni I obtained from the Office of Alumni Affairs. So, my apologies if my method failed to identify some black students over the years. The results of my research are in the Significant African American Student Events section of this website.

The Linc and Crescent were vital sources of photographs and information about the early involvement of African American students in campus activities and organizations. I was surprised that in 1938 there was no recognition in the Crescent or Linc of Zerah Priestly being the first African American to graduate from Evansville College. A pleasant surprise of my research was discovering that a fraternity existed at UE in the 1940s consisting of both black and white males as members. This is surprising because it was not until 1969 before integrated fraternities existed again at UE.

Since 1934, African American students participated in over 147 campus organizations at UE. Many black students made significant accomplishments, several in the 1940s and 1950s prior to the civil rights years. Those accomplishments are impressive understanding that the freedoms and opportunities for black people were limited during those years. My research also gave me a different viewpoint regarding the fact that the current percentage of African American students at UE hovers in the 2% range. I asked myself would I rather be a 2% African American student at UE today or in the year 1941? Also, the low percentage of black students in the 1940, and 1950s did not prevent those African-American students from achieving. Just as in the year 2008 it did not prevent UE student Caresse Bucchan from becoming the first black president of the student government. Past and present black students who have achieved at UE apparently understood the environment they chose to come to and dealt with it positively.

The highlight of my tenure as historian was being able to talk to and meet Vera Shane, the second four year black student to graduate from Evansville College in 1939. There are others I would have been honored to meet, but unfortunately those opportunities are lost. It is my hope that the next historian will be able to find past alumni willing to share stories about their experiences at UE. Let’s continue to build on our history at UE and continue to achieve. Now for my story.

I came to U.E. in 1975 from Gary, Indiana embracing the situation where I was a minority on the UE campus. Having come from a Gary high school where I had been in the majority, I saw UE as a challenge socially and academically. I quickly became active in various campus groups, Student Congress, Union Board, and the Black Student Union where I served as President for one semester. My view was that if the environment at UE didn’t meet all of my needs, get involved and try to make some changes. My time at UE were years of development, learning from mistakes, and meeting people who left lifelong impressions on me. I recall trying to do too much at times and overextending myself often which negatively impacted my studies. I quickly learned that my study practices which had been fine in high school needed improvement to be successful in college.

Along with those I graduated with, are memories of those who did not graduate from UE, but who left for financial or other reasons. There was Michael V. Smith, a disc jockey at WUEV during my freshman and sophomore years, who brought “our” music to campus. Mark Pierce whose feet I can still hear pounding on the floor two doors down from my dorm room as he kept beat to the music he was playing. “The Great Oz”, Melvin Osby, who was down to earth and was always good for a laugh. Felicia Bonner, who tried valiantly to help me understand her major and whom I regret losing track of. The legendary Joe Morgan, whose classic signature phrase I can’t quote in this article! Memories of those who graduated are of course my senior year roommate Chuck Johnson and our classic Gong Show performances as the singing group “The Commodes” and our marathon ping pong matches late Friday and Saturday nights in Hale Hall.

During my campus years, I recall that the black students on campus often got together and brought our culture to campus. If campus events did not meet our needs, we created our own events or lobbied for UE to remember us when making plans. I saw relationships begun, friendships started, and young adults finding themselves through trial and error. I also met people who knew nothing about my culture and who did not have a desire to learn.

On the morning of December 14, 1977 I was in Indianapolis for my second college co-op stint with my current employer. I had not watched television the night before. As I was getting dressed for work, the story of the death of the UE basketball team came on the television in my apartment. I could not believe what I was hearing and seeing. The only thing I remember is walking the block to my job, buying an Indianapolis Star newspaper, going to my desk and staring at the photographs of the team members on the front page of the newspaper. My supervisor came out to express his condolences about the loss of life. Later that evening I watched via television on the national news as Chris Weaver, student body president, spoke about the tragedy. When I visit campus, I still stop by the campus monument to those who perished. Among the twenty nine people who perished were five African-American student athletes. To understand the impact the loss of those five had on the black student population in 1977 can be understood when you realize that those five students would have represented eleven percent of the African American student population at UE in the fall of 2000.

I maintain involvement with UE for only one reason, because I want to. Every day wasn’t a great one at UE. But, I made the most of my college career and graduated. I have come back to campus often in the past 28 years. It is a different physical campus now with many improvements. But, it is still the campus where I recall playing football on the lawn in front of what was then called the Administration Building. The place where I conversed and joked with fellow students while eating meals in Harper’s which has now been replaced by the Ridgeway Center; and attending basketball games at Roberts Stadium which seemed large back then, but now seems to have shrunken in size. I have sponsored UE students in “externships” at my job, participated in homecoming activities, contributed money, and even sent my youngest son to UE for 1 year. UE is my college home. I tried to have fun, learn, mature, and enjoy my college experience. I think I succeeded.

Since I graduated I’ve had a successful award winning career in Human Resources with the federal government. I aspire to achieve still and get the best out of myself. I sometimes wonder what I should have done differently at UE, but I probably wouldn’t change any of the experiences I had. Those experiences helped define who I am today, a work in progress.

Thanks to President Jennings, Patricia Lippert, Kathryn Bartelt, and Sylvia Devault for your assistance in my historian research efforts.

Charles “Chuck” Johnson ’80Charles “Chuck” Johnson ’80

An Owensboro, Kentucky native, Chuck arrived at U.E. in the fall of 1975 starting off majoring in engineering. The social transition to college life was easy for Chuck as he looked forward to being independent and away from home. Although he had been advised to go into electrical engineering by a high school counselor, Chuck found the academic requirements of college engineering extremely demanding. The first quarter was difficult academically as he had a heavy course load. At the back of his mind was the thought that he really didn’t like Math, so why was he going into the field of engineering? So, by the end of his freshman year Chuck decided it was time to change majors.

His sophomore year featured Business Administration as the major of choice. Having a minor in piano his freshman year, an interest in music began to grow. Chuck was an admirer of the horn sections of such artists as Earth Wind and Fire, Kool and the Gang and saxophonists Grover Washington Jr, David Sanborn, and Stanley Turrentine. Plus Chuck’s brothers were also professional musicians. After much thought, in his third year at U.E. he decided to attempt a major in Music. A dialogue with his long time mentor Dr. Lacy resulted in the Music Department accepting Chuck into the Music program as a beginning student. The saxophone was Chuck’s instrument of choice, even though he had no prior experience playing the instrument. He recalls how his first lesson was on how to put the saxophone together. It was somewhat intimidating for Chuck as a beginner to go into practice rooms with students who had been playing and performing for several years.

With practice and more practice, Chuck’s skills on the saxophone began to develop. He participated in the U.E. Marching Band, Concert Band, and jazz ensemble. During that year of his musical development came December 13, 1977 when the Aces basketball team perished in a crash just after take off from the Evansville airport. Chuck recalls that everyone was in shock and disbelief after the tragedy.

The remainder of Chuck’s college career resulted in growing improvement on the saxophone and involvement in a variety of campus activities. He was Treasurer for the Black Student Union, founded and hosted a weekly jazz program on WUEV-FM, served as vice president, recording secretary and fraternity education officer for Phi Mu Alpha music fraternity, and competed in basketball and tennis in the intramural athletics program. He recalls successfully presenting and performing his senior music recital after only three years of saxophone study, being a feature performer in campus Gong Shows as a member of the “Commodes”, and late night early morning killer ping-pong games with this reporter at Hale Hall.

Graduating in 1980 with a degree in Music Management, a four year stay at Interlochen Center for the Arts as a dorm counselor allowed Chuck to continue with development of his music career. Moving to California in 1984, Chuck continued his dedication to his music career and attended the Dick Grove School of Music. Collaboration with fellow West coast musician and trumpet player James Smith resulted in Chuck co-founding the CJS Quintet. Their debut CD “An Affair of the Art” was produced and directed by Chuck in 2003. A follow up CD, “Let’s PLAY!” was released in 2007. The CJS Quintet has won the Mainstream Jazz Artist of the Year Award in the Long Beach Jazz Search Competition in 2002, and the Chuck Niles Jazz Music Award in 2005. Chuck has performed with numerous artists including the Temptations, Roy McCurdy, Bloodstone, the Four Tops, and Albert “Tootie” Heath.

Chuck has performed at U.E. several times since his graduation. Once in the early 1990s when he also performed with an older brother, and he was featured in 2005 at a jazz performance at Homecoming. Describing himself as living in the moment, Chuck recently has experienced several relaxing vacations in Hawaii, Brazil, and Costa Rica over the past five years. His advice for incoming freshmen is don’t declare a major unless you are absolutely sure about your career goals. Take courses that interest you the first year and then decide your major. “Do what you believe in and believe in what yu do”. Chuck does recall a significant message from his year as an engineering major, “There is always a solution to a problem.” For more on Chuck visit his web site at www.chuckjohnsonmusic.com

Nafeeza “Birdie” Harrison ’03 circa 1978 Nafeeza “Birdie” Harrison ’03 in 2008Nafeeza “Birdie” Harrison ’03

Nicknamed “Birdie” after her father’s love birds, Nafeeza’s 2003 graduation from U.E., took a non traditional route. Born in San Juan, Trinidad, Birdie settled in St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands with her father when she was seven. In 1978 a fellow high school classmate convinced her to apply to U.E. after Birdie had applied to several other colleges. A generous first year financial aid package, and knowing she would be attending U.E. with a classmate, resulted in Birdie arriving in Evansville in the fall of 1978 to begin her collegiate career.

As the 1978 academic year began Birdie dealt with being extremely homesick. She also found herself having to adjust to the wintry climate, and some frigid personal attitudes towards her. Residing in Moore Hall during that first year, she was befriended by a roommate from New Harmony, Indiana. Birdie recalls that her roommate helped ease the transition to U.E. and the new environment. One highlight of Birdie’s first year was experiencing her first snowfall ever. Unfortunately she did not have winter shoes to wear and ceremoniously tip toed to class in the snow.

Academically, Birdie began as a business major. But, as is common with first year students, the demands of the college curriculum and changing interests resulted in her changing to a major of sociology and a minor of psychology. One of the more curious and sometimes offensive questions Birdie faced were those of fellow students who would ask her “What are you?” in reference to her ethnic heritage. Some students apparently unaware that civilization had reached the Virgin Islands asked her if she had lived in a hut. Getting students to properly pronounce her name, which is all of three syllables (Na-fee-za), became a frustrating exercise. So, she patiently would tell fellow students to just call her Birdie. Finding acceptance from the various ethnic groups at U.E. was often a frustrating experience as the “Welcome” sign was not always displayed towards her.

A decreased financial aid package for her second year required Birdie sit out a quarter to earn money to help pay for tuition and other expenses. As she made plans to return for the second quarter she faced the challenge of not having a room on campus. One room was available, but the prospective roommate made it clear to Birdie that living with a person of color was not what she desired to do. Birdie diplomatically responded with the appropriate comments and stayed with a friend until a room and a roommate who accepted her became available in Brentano Hall.

Birdie’s social adjustment the next two years fared better than her academic career. The International Students Club, Black Student Union, and pledging as a Little Sister Silhouette were some of the on campus activities she became involved with. As financial aid decreased, she worked two jobs and obtained grants to continue her education. Unfortunately her studies were not going well and she lost some of the focus and discipline to continue her studies at U.E. From 1981 to 2002 Birdie experienced several changes in her life.  She was married for several years, had a child, worked at St. Mary's hospital, and worked as a membership specialist for the Girl Scouts in Evansville.

In 2002 after subtle prodding and advice from a friend, Birdie returned to U.E. to complete her degree. Attending night classes and working two jobs she obtained a Bachelors of External Studies in July 2003. An active member of UEAAA for the past 5 years, her love for youth is her inspiration for staying involved. During the past few years she helped create the first Hispanic girl scout group in Evansville. Birdie firmly believes in providing for good role models and wants to assist students in achieving their goals. Birdie recently became the Community Impact Manager for the United Way of Southwestern Indiana.

In looking back she does wish there had been a mentor on campus during her early tenure at U.E. Her renewed commitment to education continues as she aspires to gain her Masters degree in the near future. Birdie’s story is an example that it is never to late to achieve dreams and goals. UEAAA appreciates and values her involvement and dedication.

Vera Lee (Shane) Thompson ’39Vera (Shane) Thompson ’39

In early August 2007 I had the honor of speaking via telephone to Mrs. Vera Thompson (Shane) who was the second four year African-American female to graduate from Evansville College. Vera graduated in 1939 along with Gertie Gracey, another early African-American graduate of Evansville College. Vera earned a Bachelor of Science degree with a major in Social Science and a minor in Education.

An Evansville native, Vera’s parents could not afford to send her away to college, so she was admitted to Evansville College as part of the college’s early integration efforts. In some ways Evansville was ahead of other regions of the country in initiating integration efforts. Vera’s college years involved living at home (there were no dormitories then), working, and attending classes. She was on scholarship at Evansville College for several years. When the terms of her scholarship ended. her family helped support her through college, along with the money she earned from working.

Mrs. Thompson recalled that Sara Wooten also attended Evansville College in 1935-36 but dropped out after her freshman year to go to Chicago with her husband who owned several businesses there. Vera and Sara were “counseled” before attending Evansville College regarding what to expect and what to do/what not to do. Zerah Priestly, the first known African-American to attend Evansville College, advised them both what to expect from certain teachers at Evansville College. Vera recalled that during that period African-Americans in Evansville could sit anywhere on the public transportation bus, but whites would not sit next to them.

Vera was never invited to join college social clubs. Nor did she attend campus sporting events. In that respect, she did not have the full social experience that most college students experience now in college. But Mrs. Thompson explained that she was more concerned about her studies and felt she did not have time for the social events anyway. When white students saw her outside of campus, they would not talk to her. But she was used to the environment, and she explained that before their teenage years, it was common for African American youth in Evansville to have white friends. The social separation of blacks and whites began in the teenage years.

During Vera’s college years, the administration building was the main building on campus. She recalled that the college choir sang in assemblies and that they took attendance at the assemblies. Mrs. Thompson explained how on one occasion she went to the Dean of Evansville College to complain about a song that had negative lyrics in reference to African-Americans. The Dean agreed and that song was not performed in future campus assemblies. Mrs. Thompson was very serious about her studies. Absent a social life on campus, she came to school then, afterwards, went home or went to work.

Vera stated she was rather shy during her college years. She didn’t speak much in class, unless no one else knew the answer. She recalls going to a place called the “Hut” for snacks/lunch. She also recalls ignoring racism and recounted that African Americans during that period in the United States basically understood what “proper behavior” was and what behavior was expected of them.

After graduating from Evansville College, Vera went to Chicago to stay with Sara Wooten and her spouse. Virginia Higgins ’40 was a good friend of Mrs. Thompson and Vera recalls also residing with Virginia for awhile in Chicago. Vera received a grant from the Urban League and attended graduate school at University of Chicago. Her assignment was to work on opening new job opportunities for African American women.She recalls having to speak to personnel managers in the Chicago area regarding this issue.

She married William Thompson in 1942 and dropped her graduate work to get a job. Mr. Thompson was one of the Tuskegee Airmen and achieved the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. He passed away in the year 2006.In Chicago, Vera took courses to learn teaching at a Teachers College. During that period most teachers in Chicago were white. She ventured into special education as a field in the Chicago public school system. Vera served as a counselor and head of a department. Ms. Thompson felt she could have been a principal but didn’t want to do that kind of administrative work. She enjoyed the contact with her students. After working in the Chicago, Illinois school system for 30 years, she retired in 1986.

In closing, Vera stated that she does not have many memories of her days at Evansville College. She did recall that it was a religious environment on campus so there were few incidents that were negative.The relationship Evansville College had with the black community in Evansville may have benefited the social conditions that supported the integration of the college. Of the first African American graduate, Zerah Priestly, Vera recalled that Zerah’s nickname was “Dimples.”As one of the first black students to integrate Evansville College, Vera’s legacy will continue on.

UEAAA thanks Vera Shane Thompson for her contributions in laying the path for the current and past generations of African American students to successfully graduate from the University.

Cherry V. Gillis ’70

Coming from a family of ten, Cherry Gillis was the first of her four sisters and five brothers to attend college. Born in Henderson, Kentucky Cherry’s family relocated to Evansville when she was a young child. A graduate of Evansville’s Central High School, she was active musically in various high school activities, church choirs, and a gospel singing group with her sisters. This activity would later influence the path her college career would take. During her high school years Cherry was a member of the Student Council, inducted into the National Honor Society, and was selected to deliver the invocation at graduation ceremonies.

The University of Evansville experience began for Cherry in the fall of 1965 when she initiated her quest for a degree in sociology. As with most students, for Cherry college was a period of self-discovery and growth. Due to a continued high interest in gospel singing and finding college class work not as interesting as she imagined, Cherry left UE after her freshman year. Venturing to Washington D.C., she embarked on a year of a livelihood as a gospel singer. A promise to her mother brought Cherry back to UE in the fall of 1967 to resume her college studies. The scholarship monies she received as a freshman were no longer available. Cherry therefore self financed herself through the remaining college years with a variety of jobs including that as a cook, governess, housekeeper and household manager. To make up for the one year being away from UE, Cherry took classes during summer and inter-sessions. She completed her course work during the intersession of 1969 and was awarded her BA degree in June 1970.

During her college years Cherry was the Kappa Alpha Psi Scroller Sweetheart in 1966 and the Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity Sweetheart in 1969. During the 1967-68 school year Cherry was a participant in an event that lead to the creation of the Black Student Union at UE. She recalled that black students then did not feel Homecoming activities reflected the interests of African American students. Cherry along with several others went to the University President’s residence to express those viewpoints. Along with another student, Michael Woodward, Cherry was selected to inform the President, who was at another campus event, that the black students were waiting to meet with him at the President’s residence. Unfortunately it was a rainy day and although the students wiped their feet upon entering the residence, the newly installed carpet in the residence did not look new after the students departed! But, despite that unfortunate result, this meeting marked a key event in the development of the Black Student Union as an organization on campus that expressed the views and interests of African American students.

During those turbulent years of the 1960’s Cherry recalls how after the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, the mood on campus was subdued. There was a unity circle held in a nearby city park involving UE students. In the city of Evansville there were some instances of rioting. Cherry recalls while in the city having to move her car from one side of the street to the other based on orders of the National Guard which had been mobilized in Evansville. The sight of a rifle being pointed at her face by a National Guardsman is a poignant memory.

Cherry recalls that the social life for black students involved playing cards, putting on parties, sports activities and for some an interest in hitting golf balls in-between classes emerged. Cherry was an active participant in the establishment and activities of the Nifty Nine. The Nifty-Nine was an alternative to black female Greek organizations. It consisted of UE African American females who filled a void on campus by providing a support system, social activity outlet, and personal development avenue.

As one of her last acts as a college student in 1969, Cherry recalls arranging to take a final exam at 6 a.m. so she could travel and arrive in Philadelphia to sing in a gospel concert later that day.

After UE, Cherry settled in Washington D.C. where she began her career in social services. She continued with her gospel singing but retired after it became more of a job rather than a “ministry”. Her social service career involved years working for community economic development. Her efforts involved working for the Salvation Army to establish family/youth service programs based in public schools and for the District of Columbia Delegates to the U.S. House of Representatives. Although retired, she continues to provide services as a volunteer to groups that serve children, seniors, and community development.

Cherry’s advice for current students is to work hard at developing critical thinking and analytical skills, do something for someone else, and be passionate about something.

Neely Strayhorn: Evansville College employee from 1926–1953

In my early research into the history of African American students at Evansville College, I came across photographs in the Linc featuring a Mr. Neely Strayhorn. Mr. Strayhorn was an African American male employed by Evansville College in 1926 where he worked as a janitor in the only building on campus then, the administration building.

As I browsed through the Evansville college year books of the 1930s and 1940s it was apparent that Mr. Strayhorn was a witness to Evansville College integrating the student body. During my research I often wondered what Mr. Strayhorn’s thoughts were when he saw Zerah (Priestly) Carter, Vera (Shane) Thompson, Fred Duncan, William Bell, and other African American students achieve advancements and accomplishments at Evansville College.

The social conditions of Mr. Strayhorn’s era are reflected in a December 7, 1942 Crescent article, “Silhouette Man Well Liked on Evansville College Campus,” that described Neely in somewhat stereotypical terms. The article did not show a photograph of Neely. Instead a silhouette of a person’s face was displayed above the article. What was apparent in my review of the campus publications was that for several years Mr. Strayhorn received more notoriety than any of the early African American students who attended Evansville College.

When the maintenance staff expanded, Neely moved from the administration building to the music building, where he worked until his retirement. The May 8, 1953 Crescent features a photograph of Ralph Olmstead and James Morlock giving Mr. Strayhorn a watch on the celebration of Neely’s retirement after 27 years of employment at Evansville College. The article mentions that Mr. Strayhorn was a mother of wit and keen analytical mind. By the time of his retirement he had become part of the Evansville College folklore. The article describes how Neely could tell within two weeks if a new professor was “worth the salt.” Mr. Strayhorn is said to have retired to his Tennessee farm where there were prospects that oil might be on his land.

The time frame of Mr. Strayhorn’s employment, 1926–1953, was an era when African American people did not have the opportunities and freedoms that exist today. UEAAA takes this opportunity to recognize Mr. Strayhorn’s “witness to history” role and his positive contributions to Evansville College.

Arnell J. Hill

Do you have accomplishments, achievements, family additions, or awards you would like to share with other alumni in the Class Notes section of the UE Magazine? If so, please fill out a Keeping In Touch form, and you can share your good news with the entire UE community, across the country and the world!