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The Black Student Movement was established in November of 1967 as a result of the slow growth of the Black population on campus and because of Black student dissatisfaction with the campus NAACP chapter. It was from this beginning that the Black Student Movement began to take its position as being the leading voice for Black Students on UNC’s campus. The ensuing year became yet another momentous one for Black students on the campus because it was within this time frame that the Dixon Resolution and the Phipps Committee were established. The Dixon Resolution, written by Professor John Dixon on May 3, 1968, requested that the Chancellor appoint a five person committee to generate recommendations for the faculty to help improve the academic climate among Black students. It was the Phillips Committee, lead by Professor Dickson Phillips, that recommended an eight step plan to improve the intellectual climate and remove educational disabilities on the basis of the race of Black students on campus and those to come. On December 11, 1968, the Black Student Movement presented a list of 22 demands to Chancellor Sitterson for improvements that they wished to see implemented. It was because of this list that many of the programs and curricula in place at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill were established. On November 14, 1998 to commemorate the BSM’s 30th Anniversary, students rallied in support of the Housekeeper and Groundskeeper Struggle, and presented Chancellor Michael Hooker with a list of 22 new demands.
The Black Student Movement has been active in many of the historical events that have taken place at the University, most recently as a voice for the struggle of a free-standing Black Cultural Center. The Black Student movement has also been a great contributor to the cultural climate at UNC, making the organization familiar with several other cultural organizations. Former leaders of the Black Student Movement saw fit for there to be outlets available for Black students to be creative and share the many talents they possess. From this idea, subgroups of the Black Student Movement were formed. They include the Gospel Choir, the Opeyo! Dancers, the Ebony Readers/Onyx Theatre, the Black Ink, and most recently the Harmonyx a capella group.
As the second largest student organization, the Black Student Movement is proud of an average annual membership of 400 students from several different backgrounds. The Black Student Movement holds general body meetings every Wednesday at 5:30 PM in Upendo Lounge of Chase Dining Hall which was the historical location of the “Black Student Union” during the 1970’s and 1980’s.