Please visit the links below to see our version of Black History @ UMD

Black experience at UMD pre-1968
http://bsuatumd.artinterp.org/omeka/pre1968timeline

Claiming Their Space: Black Student Activism at the University of Maryland

This exhibit explores Black student activism at the University of Maryland, College Park (UMD) in the late 1960s, with a focus on the fall of 1968. October was a seminal month in the history of Black student activism at UMD. The Black Student Union (BSU)  formed out of a two-year-old student organization called Congress of Racial Equality (CORE), unaffiliated with the national organization of the same name. The BSU realigned their goals from mere integration to equality and Black student solidarity, reflecting national trends in the Black Power movement. This exhibit centers on several incidents in October 1968: the rejection of appointments of radical Black students to the Committee of Meaningful Integration, the October 12 ice pelting incident at a home football game against the University of North Carolina, and the rejection of four unnamed Black women students from a home economics nutrition study. Collectively, these incidents culminated in a rally on October 22 at the Home Economics building. Mixed responses by students and administrators to Black student-centered controversies demonstrated persistent discrimination on the UMD campus and lack of administrative advocacy for Black students.

This exhibit predominantly uses clippings from issues of the UMD student newspaper, Diamondback, found in the University of Maryland’s Student Newspapers database. The Student Newspapers database is a collaboration between the University Archives and the UMD Libraries’ Digital Systems and Stewardship division to digitize and make accessible student newspapers produced on the College Park campus. The database is available for research and educational purposes. For permission to reprint, reproduce, or make other uses of this material, contact askhornbake@umd.edu. Currently, the Student Newspapers database contains issues of:

• The Diamondback and its preceding papers between January 1, 1910 - August 21, 2008
• Black Explosion between May 1970 - January 2016
• The Eclipse between September 16, 1985 - May 2013
• Mitzpeh between September 14, 1983 - November 5, 2015

COVID-19 

The student curators originally intended to incorporate primary source materials from the University Archives and interviews. Without the ability to access archival collections due to pandemic-related closures, the exhibit mostly features digitized content. The digitized content, mostly Diamondback clippings written from a white student perspective, is located on a timeline. The curators intend to contextualize local events in Civil Rights and Black Power movements and illuminate the curatorial process amidst a world health crisis.

DIGITAL EXHIBIT 

• Timelines: The historical content of this site is concentrated on two timeline pages. The 1968 Timeline focuses on the BSU protests at UMD in October of that year, as well as connected regional, national and international events. The Pre-1968 Timeline gives context for key events that led up to the protests. 
• Research Process Notes: Our reflections on the actual process of building an exhibit of this kind, including the limits and opportunities we thought through. We also include a resource guide for future researchers- a selected list of materials we wish we could have explored
• COVID-19: Read about how the Coronavirus intersected with our project which began in March 2020. 
• Contributions: A chance to add stories, photos, links or commentary around the BSU Protests of 1968. Dr. Gregory will act as custodian of the site, and the current BSU has been invited to use or steward these materials if /as it may serve their work at any point in time. 

ABOUT THEM

This exhibition was curated for a graduate-level museum research seminar by Mateo Arango, Lauren Cain, Wanda Hernández, Kristy Li Puma, Benjamin Shaw, Sarah Wampler, and Alan Wierdak.  As a group, they developed a theme, an object list, captions, and from there, designed and installed the digital show. Special thanks to Dr. Quint Gregory for his constant support throughout the course.

^https://protectumdemands.dbknews.com/^
PROTECT UMD (2016)
https://youtu.be/RNL_jhsdvLI

 

Protect UMD, a coalition of [MORE THAN] 25 student organizations at the University of Maryland, sent a letter to administrators on November 17th, 2016 outlining their 64 demands for NEW PROGRAMS, RESOURCES AND INITIATIVES to serve marginalized student populations.

The Diamondback spoke with members of these communities, who discuss the ways each demand could impact life on campus.

Brian Ullmann, a university spokesman who was present at the meeting, sent The Diamondback the following statement Sunday: "At President Loh's request, a group of senior administrators conducted an initial review of the letter submitted by ProtectUMD. Many of the items are already in place and others require additional evaluation. We look forward to working with students, faculty and staff on efforts to advance our strategic plan on diversity and inclusion.”

Below is the list of 64 demands. Scroll through and click on each one to find the accompanying stories.

 

FOR ALL MARGINALIZED STUDENT COMMUNITIES
Required diversity training for SGA recognized and Greek organizations.
The University employ more professors of color in all university departments
Increased mental health support and resources for students of color.
University scholarships for students of marginalized communities.
A statement from President Loh reassuring marginalized UMD students that the University is committed to making UMD a safe space for all marginalized groups in response to the election and urging these students to speak out when they feel that the university is not meeting this goal.
Accountability for hate speech or action:
Immediate response to hate speech or actions from the University including a consequence (e.g. mark on transcript, potential suspension);
Immediate turnaround for the removal of hate speech printed or written on campus property, sidewalks and boards;
A task force separate from UMPD officers to look into investigations.
Revamping of the Diversity and Cultural Competency General Education requirement.

 Students that meet this requirement should take a class that allows them not only to understand other cultures, but also by the end of the course have an understanding of privilege, oppression, and marginalized groups.
Representation of students of color on UMD Student Judiciary and Senate.
Study into the punishment statistics by race/gender/etc. of students at some point in the coming year - the legal system is rife with discrimination against minorities, especially those in poverty. It is crucial that our student judiciary is more equitable and gives all students a fair judgement.
Establishing a voluntary accreditation for activist groups.
Administration should support and defend activist groups by nullifying slander and smear campaign from bigger group. Example: Many members of SJP were slandered as anti-Semitic for being pro-Palestine;
Make free legal advice available for students participating in activism who face slander or other dishonest claims while exercising their rights to protest and free speech;
Provide protection during campus events that might make students feel unsafe because of their political implications [ie Israel Fest for Muslim and Arab students, Columbus day and Independence Day for American Indian students etc.].
The University of Maryland match the campus minimum wage to Prince George’s minimum wage.
An established safe, secure and permanent location for the Office of Civil Rights & Sexual Misconduct at The University of Maryland.
The creation and implementation of Dean of Students with supporting staff.

Role
Serve as liaison for student needs and concerns on behalf of administration
Get to know student groups on campus and is actively available for students; makes efforts to attend student engagements
Serve as an ally to marginalized students
Help implement policy change on behalf of student concerns
Requirements:
Master’s or Doctoral degree in Education Administration
Experience in diversity and inclusion on institutional level
Preferably a representative from a vulnerable group
Approach:
Students serve on Dean of Students search committee along with other staff, professors and administrators

FOR THE AMERICAN INDIAN STUDENT COMMUNITY

The University officially remove the Christopher Columbus Day holiday from all university materials and mediums. Replace it with Indigenous Peoples’ Day to take away the stain of colonialism from our University.
Acknowledge during every event, that "this is indigenous land." Make efforts to officially recognize the tribe or nation whose land upon which the University of Maryland is built.
Establish an Indigenous Studies minor.
Funding for AISU and departments such as Multicultural Involvement and Community Advocacy office, who supports indigenous students and their efforts.
The official recognition of the Sarah Winnemucca award in the University awards.
An indigenous scholarship for college students as well as high school students.
An indigenous cultural center where students can explore their indigenous identity and others.
 

FOR THE BLACK STUDENT COMMUNITY

University System of Maryland divestment from Maryland Correctional Enterprises.
UMD student divestment from businesses and companies invested in MCE and the prison industrial complex.
Tenure for African American professors.
Increased funding for the Nyumburu Cultural Center and making the Nyumburu Cultural Center a stop during UMD campus tours.

FOR THE LATINX STUDENT COMMUNITY

A claim to physical space on campus. A school that prides itself on diversity has failed to give students of color adequate, quality space such as a Latinx Cultural Center.
University recruitment practices involving students of color that making them and their friends feel welcome and included on campus.
A faculty body that is more diverse and representative of branches of academia that deal with the history and discourse of minority populations and integrating this into majors such as a USLT major and a road for tenure for the professors who teach in these departments.
More funding allocated for multicultural student organizations in order to execute educational and cultural programming to help bridge the diversity divide on campus.
 

FOR THE LGBTQIA+ STUDENT COMMUNITY

Mandated faculty training in the fundamentals of campus inclusion of queer folks.
Students be allowed the choice of different gender roommates in the residence halls through random matching.
Multi-stall gender-inclusive bathrooms in every building with multi-stall bathrooms.
Converting the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) Studies program into a department in order to provide curricular autonomy.
Including pronouns in addition to names on student rosters seen by faculty and advisors.
Implementing a campus wide policy to replace male-female checkboxes with write-in boxes on all forms, surveys, and applications.
Gender neutral bathrooms in all buildings on campus.
Faculty (especially those working in the health center and counseling center), students, and college park police take part in queer diversity training, such as the Rainbow Terrapin Network.
The administration advocate for and defend the Arts and Humanities, as they are one of the departments most sensitive to LGBTQ issues and also one of the most at risk under new new state and federal leadership.
 

FOR THE MUSLIM STUDENT COMMUNITY

Protect the names and religious/ethnic affiliations of students should they be demanded from the government for harmful use.
An increase in the number of safe, designated prayer areas on campus.
One room in each major building (e.g. SPH, Chemistry, McKeldin etc.) designated for prayer.
Shuttle services to the Diyanet Center of America for Muslim students to have access to a place of worship and participate in the many activities that the center hosts.
Increased discussions about the diversity of the Muslim community on campus and worldwide.
More classes offered pertaining to Islam and the Muslim world taught by Muslim professors, who will counteract the negativity surrounding the name of Islam that is perpetuated by our culture and media.
Measures to prevent situations similar to the “American Sniper” situation from happening again.
SEE and other organizations on campus should have better judgement when choosing to show movies that perpetuate false narratives and stereotypes of Muslim and should be held accountable if they do not take this into consideration.
More Zabiha options on the campus meal plan to accommodate Muslims who adhere to those rulings.
More counselors who are sensitive to the needs of Muslim students. Ensure that the have the training be sensitive to the nuances in the Muslim community and are from the communities we often come from.
Additional training or staff is necessary.
 

FOR THE PRO-PALESTINE STUDENT COMMUNITIES

The encouragement of equal and positive representation of Pro-Palestinian human rights activists on campus. Specifically, condemning the conflation of Pro-Palestinian activism with racism and Anti-Semitism.
Pro-Palestinian activists are people who seek the fair treatment of Palestinians in Palestine and the rest of the world. Pro-Palestinians do not reject the human rights of any group of people, and encourage a fair and just system of governance across the globe.
The active encouragement of faculty and students to engage in discourse and learning about the Palestinians’ struggles and the Boycott Divest and Sanction movement without fear of consequences by the university administration.
Faculty and students have long been targeted for their political stances and their rights to free speech impeded, especially on this issue. We hope the university administration recognizes their disenfranchised groups and helps develop an environment within which it is safe for them to voice their opinions.
 

FOR THE UNDOCUMENTED STUDENT COMMUNITY

A full-time Undocumented Student Coordinator to advocate for, advise, represent, and protect undocumented and DACAmented students.
A declaration of the University of Maryland, College Park as a sanctuary campus for undocumented and DACAmented students and their families.
Ensured protection of student information about immigration status from local, state, and government agencies.
A system to ensure reaction and protection from the UMD Administration if an undocumented or DACAmented student faces detention or deportation proceedings.
A full-time immigration attorney for the Offices of Undergraduate and Graduate Student Legal Aid.
An Undocumented Student Resource Office to provide academic counseling, legal support, mental health counseling, and to guide students to university resources.
Mandatory training about undocumented students’ unique experiences and needs in academic settings for all university faculty and staff.
A significant expansion of mental health services for all students of color, especially undocumented and DACAmented students.
A system to ensure that DACAmented students can continue to receive in-state tuition if their DACA status is cancelled.
An opening up of merit scholarships and emergency funds to undocumented and DACAmented students.

 Signed by: African Students Progressive Action Committee, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated Theta Nu Chapter, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Incorporated Iota Zeta Chapter, The American Indian Student Union, Ashley Vasquez, BSOS UMD Senator, Committee on Committees Undergraduate Rep, Bisexuals at Maryland, The Black Student Union, Chi Chapter of Hermandad de Sigma Iota Alpha, Incorporada, The Coalition of Latinx Student Organizations, Community Roots, Eta Beta Chapter of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority Inc, Ethiopian Eritrean Student Association, Kappa Phi Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated, Katherine Swanson, Student Body President, NAACP, University of Maryland, Lambda Theta Alpha Latin Sorority, Inc. Upsilon Chapter, Lambda Theta Phi Latin Fraternity, Inc. Delta Eta Chapter, The Muslim Student Association, True Colors of Maryland, Political Latinxs United for Movement and Action in Society, Preventing Sexual Assault, The Pride Alliance, Students for Justice in Palestine, Student Labor Action Project, Our Revolution

---

The following university officials declined to comment on specific demands before publication:

University President Wallace Loh, Chief Diversity Officer Kumea Shorter-Gooden, Provost Mary Ann Rankin, Associate Provost and Undergraduate Studies Dean William A. Cohen, University Police spokeswoman Sgt. Rosanne Hoaas, Vice President for Student Affairs Linda Clement, Counseling Center associate director David Petersen, The Clarice spokeswoman Sarah Snyder and College of Arts and Humanities spokeswoman Nicky Everette.

Officials recommended Diamondback reporters speak with the communications office. University spokeswoman Crystal Brown wrote in an email that “there will not be a point by point response to the list of demands, but rather a comprehensive response that addresses the collective group of concerns raised.”

---

 

CREDITS

Editing by
Ellie Silverman, Talia Richman, Mina Haq, Danielle Ohl

Web Development and Design by
Jake Hughes

Design by
Evan Berkowitz

Photography by
Tom Hausman & Diamondback Staff

Reporting by
Diamondback Staff

#ProtectUMD's student-made video listing demands https://twitter.com/pansexualdulce/status/801245650327375872?s=20
Will you #ProtectThisHouse? Watch the video of the students making their commitment here https://twitter.com/BlackTerp/status/798942709578924033?s=20

Protect UMD in the media
https://twitter.com/DebraAlfarone/status/799328666241134596?s=20
https://twitter.com/JMKTVShow/status/799320196448219136?s=20
https://twitter.com/emilie_fleuette/status/799348333139533825?s=20
Student recount - https://twitter.com/marissaaaxn/status/799337944095932417?s=20
Student recount - https://twitter.com/Mr_Kahleb22/status/799344508664213504?s=20

*Organizers choice Student recount - Kirstyn *
- Today made me so proud to be a minority on this campus. Proud of y'all. Proud to raise our voices. #UMDWALKOUT #protectUMD #proudterp - https://twitter.com/ThatsSo_Kirstyn/status/799391813878644736?s=20

UMD's very own Professor Rayshawn Ray https://twitter.com/SociologistRay/status/800008254562635776?s=20

UMCP Ethiopian-Eritrean Association #ProtectUMD Press Release #FearTheTurtle - https://twitter.com/UMCP_EESA/status/869674024791572480?s=20

Black Terps Matter Organizer Saba Tshibaka's recount of the event
(fun fact: #ProtectUMD happened on her birthday her freshman year!)
https://twitter.com/celestialsaba/status/799404035623292928?s=20

(Here is UMD's NAACP recount of the same year - 2016 https://twitter.com/naacpumcp/status/815368062404882433?s=20)

Listen to the call to action - https://twitter.com/H2dcphotog/status/862375278689091589?s=20
Watch this video of their 11/17/2016 Walk-out here or below: https://youtu.be/RNL_jhsdvLI

Administration's Response to PROTECT UMD (1/26/2017)

http://www.dbknews.com/2017/01/26/university-of-maryland-loh-sanctuary-campus/
https://www.dbknews.com/2017/01/26/university-of-maryland-loh-protectumd-letter/
For some reason the official statement has been taken down from the website. 
Black Terps Matter demands the University of Maryland to cease the retraction of official statements put out on behalf of the University and letters to the UMD Community.

Occupy Mckeldin (2019) 

Hosted by: Preventing Sexual Assault 

BTM Unlearning Session #2 | Preventing Sexual Assault | We'll be talking about Sexual Assault, what resources we should all know about, and what umd org PSA is doing to help. | https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89909513258

https://bit.ly/BTMUnlearningPSA
http://black-terps-matter.mailchimpsites.com/sexual-violence-information
September 2nd, 2020 @ 1 PM

https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=383399959173456
https://www.facebook.com/events/mckeldin-mall/occupy-mckeldin-2019/2342941882591985/
https://www.rainn.org/types-sexual-violence

 

University of Maryland Student Government Association

7/01/2020
On President Pines's first day, the SGA Administration released a roadmap to campus and policing reform that will serve as our plan for this year and recommendation to the Legislature.
We look forward to working with President Pines and the Black community throughout the year on these action items.
To view the full roadmap, please visit: ter.ps/campusreform

Response to the Murder of George Floyd and Acts of Racial Injustice

SGA Correspondence 5/29/2020

 

UMD Releases Anti-Racism Action Plan

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfPDtf9WmmJ4UDcxfcByU2DYv1ho0fvZi-i7ClDsN7wmkQmbA/viewform

^ Join UMD's Network for the Anti-Racist Movement! ^
Thank you for showing interest in this virtual community for different efforts on the UMD campus for the anti-racist movement! Please fill out this form to be added to our e-mail list-serv and provide us with any feedback.

Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/pg/umdnarm/posts/

Black Terps Matter

Est. 6/25/2020

https://black-terps-matter.mailchimpsites.com/
https://black-terps-matter.square.site/
https://www.instagram.com/blackterpsmatter/
 

7/25 Teach-In @ Mckeldin

Teach-In Reference Document: *for use during event/after

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1-KEpwWBaT7d4VF5QwZIbdZr1l8MyZtYOhYEVVkeJid4/edit

Link to Logistics for Teach-in event:

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1K_IUb-rKAO7Eco4COU_cz-_y6vIoNMlHwGdWMxR_P_A/edit?usp=sharing

Take survey on UMD’s Response to COVID-19 (and be redirected to reslife to file a formal complaint)

https://blackterpsmatter.surveysparrow.com/s/umd-covid-19-response-poll/tt-2d62c9

ACTION Plan #1 - Before the semester starts!

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1MzHA3aDGeQ0wXU2YN518rWpjcjmY_JCZzEWl9LxGjD4/edit?usp=sharing

http://bit.ly/BTMwatchthemarch
 

President Darryl Pines stated “tone it down because it’s unnecessary” right before this he said “we should move onto other substantial questions” during town hall with Nyumburu + BFSA 8/25/2020

President Darryl Pines talks about BTM Organizer Saba during townhall with Nyumburu + BFSA 8/25/2020

Saba’s follow-up clarification to Pines’ remark and explanation about why it is so important that the president is constantly meeting with student activists during town hall with Nyumburu + BFSA 8/25/2020

 

This Nyumburu + BFSA 8/11/2020 Town Hall featured Black Lives Matter Los Angeles Organizer and Activist, La Mikia Castillo. This dynamic town hall addresses various aspects of Police Terrorism and how to organize to change the system.

BFSA/Nyumburu Town Hall Series (Black Lives Matter Need to Matter on Campus)

Note about UMD Building named after a racist during Nyumburu + BFSA 8/11/2020 Town Hall

Find more information on the emails BTM has sent to UMD’s administration here.

President Darryl J Pines

Term begun 7/01/2020
Below are a few public interviews President Pines has done since he started his presidency.

https://dbknews.com/2020/07/01/darryll-pines-umd-president-mental-health-community-policing/

 

https://thekojonnamdishow.org/shows/2020-07-23/education-in-a-pandemic-what-the-future-holds-for-large-universities

https://www.npr.org/2020/06/11/875311221/new-umd-president-steps-into-the-job-amid-crisis

 

Pines to Teach ‘Grand Challenges’ Course - https://today.umd.edu/articles/pines-teach-grand-challenges-course-adadb3b4-12b7-48a7-a0fb-018a636f1837

 

9 Things you probably didn’t know about President Pines (terp.umd.edu)

https://terp.umd.edu/9-things-you-probably-didnt-know-about-president-pines/

 

1st SGA GBM recap

https://dbknews.com/2020/09/24/umd-sga-pines-workers-safety-collins-memorial/

Pines' TerrapinStrong Initiative

2020 March on Washington 8/28 @ 12 PM

Black Terps Matter is not organizing to go to the event as a group, but we encourage all interested parties to be as safe as possible, both against the coronavirus and while educating themselves about The Commitment we’re looking to make in the upcoming months. As mentioned earlier in the document, we have individual members that plan on attending the outdoor event (while wearing masks the entire time) and will be live-streaming to easily spread the message throughout the UMD community.
View our Instagram highlight with our recount of the event here.

To visiting (non-Black) members of the UMD community, Black Terps Matter asks that before watching the recording/live stream - please watch this 52 second video to better understand how your brain is always using prior information to make sense of new information coming in.

The Commitment March in Washington DC is being convened by Reverend Al Sharpton and Martin Luther King, III.
This intergenerational day of action will demonstrate our commitment to fighting for policing and criminal justice. The Commitment March will take place on August 28th, 2020 - the 57th anniversary of the historical March on Washington, where Martin Luther King, Jr. delivered his "I Have a Dream" speech. 

Colby and Saba at The Lincoln Memorial  for the 57th anniversary of The March on Washington - Hosted by NAN & NAACP | Picture by Julia Nikhinson/The Diamondback

On Friday, August 28th 2020, many individual students from Black Terps Matter convened in Washington D.C to celebrate the 57th anniversary of the 1963 civil rights March on Washington, an iconic event in American history. Read about the 2020 March in the Washington Post, Politico, and BBC News. We also hosted a live-stream (in collaboration with MICA) in an on-campus building (ESJ room 0202) to bring the event to students on campus, while socially distancing. Find Black Terps Matter's reference document for the event here - http://bit.ly/BTMwatchthemarch
 
Read Diamondback Article on 2020 March ft. BTM Organizers Saba and Alysa - here
View our Instagram highlight with Black Terps Matter's recount of the event here.
View All Eyez on UMD (UMD-Student Run Platform - see interview below!) recount of the event here.

An amazing source of information is from our University's very own Independent Student-Run Newspaper 
-
The Diamondback on Black Issues (August 2020)
https://dbknews.com/2020/07/24/umd-black-terps-matter-teach-demands-protest-racism/

https://dbknews.com/2020/08/28/umd-pines-bfsa-systemic-racism-unions-fall/

https://dbknews.com/2020/08/29/march-on-washington-umd-university-of-maryland-protest-george-floyd-police-brutality-washington-dc-racism-martin-luther-king-jr/

https://dbknews.com/2020/08/29/maryland-athletics-nba-strike-black-athletes-speak-out-against-racism/

Rev. Al Sharpton and George Floyd’s family on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial. (Julia Nikhinson/The Diamondback)

BTM Organizer Saba recording the 2020 March on Washington to for BTM Organizer Alysa to stream on campus in ESJ 0202.
Socially distancing for the pandemic's sake lol (we traveled into the pool for the photo/video only, a small price for a huge moment)

Last updated August 28, 2020