In this silent WSB newsfilm clip from February 26, 1974, African American students at the University of Georgia in Athens, Georgia march to a meeting with president Fred Davison where they present a list of "discriminatory grievances"; after the meeting Davison and student leaders speak to a crowd waiting outside and answer a reporter's questions.

The clip begins with African American students walking across a sidewalk and down some stairs near the residence halls. The students are dressed in warm clothing, and many carry signs. The march continues past a police car parked along the side of the road and up a hill. Next the camera focuses on the glass door to the office of university president Fred Davison. Behind the door, several people stand in the office. The activity then moves inside another room. Students walk through a second doorway and into the office. Finally, several students stand on the steps of Old College with President Davison and speak to the crowd of students standing in front of them. The b-roll of the clip is silent. During this part, a reporter interviews an African American young man. The reporter and the young man stand in a hallway filled with other African Americans.

African American students began attending the University of Georgia following its court-ordered integration in January 1961. Although the number of African American students at the university increased over the following years, many of those students did not feel that the university fully supported African American students and faculty. On February 25, 1974, a fight broke out after an intramural basketball game between a white fraternity and an African American fraternity. The Black Student Union responded by organizing the march seen here to university president Fred Davison's office. Several students met with Davison for over an hour. During the meeting, the students presented a list of grievances, including problems with recruiting African American students and coaches, poor representation in governing bodies for intramural activities and housing, and degradation of black students in the classroom. While President Davison referred to the meeting as "positive" and "encouraging," leaders at a Black Student Union meeting later that evening expressed discouragement with the university's response.

Title supplied by cataloger.

The Civil Rights Digital Library received support from a National Leadership Grant for Libraries awarded to the University of Georgia by the Institute of Museum and Library Services for digital conversion and description of the WSB-TV Newsfilm Collection.

1 clip (about 1 min.): color, silent ; 16 mm.

1 clip (b-roll): color, silent ; 16 mm.

Original found in the WSB-TV newsfilm collection.

WSB-TV newsfilm clip of students at the University of Georgia marching on campus and meeting with university president Fred Davison in an attempt to gain more university support for African American students on campus, Athens, Georgia, 1974 February 26, WSB-TV newsfilm collection, reel 2015, 34:18/35:07, Walter J. Brown Media Archives and Peabody Awards Collection, The University of Georgia Libraries, Athens, Ga, as presented in the Digital Library of Georgia.

Forms part of: Civil Rights Digital Library.