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Office for Diversity and EquityP.O. Box 400881Charlottesville, VA 22904-4881
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Dear Friends,
This site will provide information about Mr. Bland as he entered U.Va, and became the trailblazer to thousands of other African American students who have followed his lead. It will also provide details about a series of activities that will take place during 2009 to acknowledge and celebrate the accomplishments of Mr. Bland, and those who came after him. Today, African American students contribute to every element of the university. Over time, they have become thoroughly involved in the academic, social, athletic, fraternal, and governmental aspects of the University, and their presence adds immeasurably to the dynamism and vitality of the institution. A Golden Year presents an appropriate opportunity not just to celebrate the past, but also to visualize the future. President John T. Casteen III played an important role in integrating the student body at U.Va. in his previous position as dean of Admissions. His personal commitment to the necessity of having a strong African American presence at U.Va. bodes well for the continuation of policies and practices that will move the University forward. We can look forward to 2009 as the starting year of the next half-century of engagement, progress, and success for African Americans at Mr. Jefferson's University. Wahoo-wa. Sincerely, William B. Harvey |
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Last Modified: 07-May-2009 07:33:08 EDT |
Text-only Version |
Celebrations of events that have occurred 50 years earlier are frequently referred to as "golden anniversaries". On that basis, we recognize the year 2009 as the "Golden Year", fifty years after Robert Bland became the first African American to take an undergraduate degree from the University of Virginia. While U.Va. now can proudly lay claim to having the highest graduation rate of African American students of any public university in the nation, the early days and years of racial integration invoked resistance from some parts of the community. The Golden Year theme, "Achievement Through Perseverance" reflects the commitment and dedication of African American students over the past five decades, along with their many and varied contributions to the University and to society.