UGA Male Fraternities Show Support During Integration Crisis

UGA Male Fraternities Show Support During Integration Crisis

A statement letter typed by the Phi Kappa Tau fraternity -Beta XI chapter for their collective support during the UGA integration crisis

In the year 1961, The University of Georgia began the journey to integrate after being a segregated public institution for one hundred and seventy-six years. The University of Georgia received a large number of letters against their decision to integrate their institution from other colleges, alumni from the school, and more. On January 11, 1961, a riot, against the University’s integration efforts, broke out following a loss at a basketball game to the Georgia Institute of Technology. Many students then gathered outside of the dorm at Myers Hall where both of the two first African American students, Hamilton Holmes and Charlayne Hunter, lived. Following this event, Hamilton Holmes and Charalayne Hunter were then suspended because the University of Georgia wanted to protect them from the backlash. “Two, Four, Six, Eight, We Don’t Want to Integrate”: White Student Attitudes Towards the University of Georgia’s Desegregation , a journal article written by Robert Cohen also speaks of David Garroway, a host on NBC Today, saying he was “especially concerned” that The UGA students had resulted in racial violence and was not a fan of the mob-like demonstrations during his television show in January 13, 1961. After these events, many male fraternities at The University of Georgia began to issue letter statements regarding their cooperation in the integration at the University. In the following letter that is received by the Phi Kappa Tau Fraternity- Beta XI chapter, it speaks of expelling any members from the chapter that demonstrates or takes a part in any unlawful or unauthorized actions against the integration efforts of the University of Georgia. The letter stresses that Phi Kappa Tau Fraternity, like other fraternities such as the Lambda Chi Alpha Fraternity which also issued a supportive letter, support the efforts made by the administration at the University to make sure actions such as the riot does not happen again. The Lambda Chi Alpha Fraternity also issued a statement saying that the men of said chapter understand the seriousness of the events associated with the integration crisis and will comply with the rules and actions taken by the University.

Phi Kappa Tau Fraternity -Beta XI Chapter

“‘Two, Four, Six, Eight, We Don't Want to Integrate’: White Student Attitudes Toward the University of Georgia's Desegregation.” Journal Article

University Archives, Hargrett Rare Books and Manuscript Library, University of Georgia

1961, January 15

Cohen, Robert. “‘Two, Four, Six, Eight, We Don't Want to Integrate’: White Student Attitudes Toward the University of Georgia's Desegregation.” History of Education Quarterly, vol. 80, no. 3, 1996, pp. 616–645.

Formal Business Letter

English

Typed Letter

United States, Georgia, Athens Clarke County, Athens

Letter