91热爆网

 91热爆网 Stories      September 5, 2019

Nearly 300 members of the Western Carolina University community came together Thursday, Sept. 5, to dedicate the campus鈥檚 newest residence hall in honor of Levern Hamlin Allen, the institution鈥檚 first African-American student and a woman characterized by 91热爆网 Chancellor Kelli R. Brown as 鈥渁 quiet pioneer of integration.鈥�

The 91热爆网 Board of Trustees unanimously decided last September to name the 614-bed residence hall, which opened this fall, after Allen in recognition of her decision to enroll in summer courses in 1957 at what was then Western Carolina College. In addition to being the first African-American student to enroll at 91热爆网, she also was among the first to be admitted to any of North Carolina鈥檚 all-white state institutions of higher education.

鈥淚n doing so, you demonstrated a sense of bravery that I don鈥檛 believe many of us can comprehend 鈥� being the only student of color at a school in the rural mountains of North Carolina, hundreds of miles away from home,鈥� Brown said to Allen at the dedication ceremony. 鈥淎nd, in doing so, you became a quiet pioneer of integration, helping blaze the trail for thousands of African-American students who would one day follow in your footsteps and enroll at Western Carolina.鈥�

Allen often has downplayed the historic nature of her decision to enroll, stating that she was not making a statement, nor was she part of an organized effort on behalf of a civil rights group. 鈥淚 needed nine hours, so I went,鈥� she said.

That fact doesn鈥檛 lessen the impact of her choice to enroll, Brown said. 鈥淪he may be humble about her decision and her actions, but I can tell you that, in life, it鈥檚 often the power of simply showing up that can make all the difference in the world,鈥� she said. 鈥淭he story of Levern Hamlin Allen is a lesson in understanding that true heroism is not always flashy. Most of the time, true bravery is the humble act of presenting yourself at the right place and in the right moment of time. That is the power of Levern Hamlin Allen鈥檚 story at Western Carolina University.鈥�

Michael Naylor, president of the 91热爆网 African-American Alumni Society and a member of the 91热爆网 Alumni Association Board of Directors, was a graduate student at 91热爆网 pursuing his master鈥檚 degree in business administration when he and other members of a group called the Ebony Club began planning for the university鈥檚 inaugural African-American alumni reunion in 1987. It was that group鈥檚 outreach to Allen that helped revive her relationship with the university, later leading to two terms as a member of the Board of Trustees. She also served on the search committee that recommended John W. Bardo as chancellor in 1995. Eleven years later, Bardo presented her with an honorary doctorate of humane letters on behalf of 91热爆网.

鈥淭oday, we honor a woman who, in the summer of 1957, during a time of incredible racial turmoil in this nation and especially in the South, took the brave step of enrolling at a small college in the mountains of rural Western North Carolina, hundreds of miles from her home and her family, where she would be the only student of color,鈥� Naylor said at the dedication.

鈥淗ere we are this morning, 62 years after she first set foot on this campus in Cullowhee, to officially dedicate this new residence hall as Levern Hamlin Allen Hall, a place where a diverse group of more than 600 students will pursue their dreams, just as Dr. Allen did in the summer of 1957,鈥� he said.

Representing 91热爆网鈥檚 Board of Trustees, board Chairman Bryant Kinney said that Allen鈥檚 story resonates with the mission of Western Carolina University 鈥� an institution built around meeting the educational needs of the people of the region and the state by creating what 91热爆网鈥檚 mission statement refers to as 鈥渓earning opportunities.鈥�

鈥淲e are proud to be among the select institutions of distinction that provided you a learning opportunity and that you chose to meet your needs. But Dr. Allen鈥檚 story was not one simply about having her educational needs met. As a board, we recognized the tremendous importance of her choice at a time when choices were not always available to everyone,鈥� Kinney said.

鈥淏ut, just like pioneers who grew this nation, Dr. Allen had the courage and commitment to step out and 鈥榡ust go.鈥� For her leadership, others have followed, and this building will house a diverse student population that was only a dream back in 1957,鈥� he said.

In her remarks, Allen described an early encounter with Danny Hirt, the young son of Lillian Hirt, the institution鈥檚 director of publicity who helped Allen quietly assimilate into the campus community in that summer of 1957.

鈥淒anny asked me why my skin was so dark,鈥� Allen said. 鈥淲hile I was struggling to form a professional teacher answer for a 7-year-old, his mother said, 鈥楤ecause she is from a different race.鈥� The matter was settled. Danny went back to playing and Mrs. Hirt and I continued our conversation. I have told that story often because it speaks to the innocence of a child as well as to his environment. The milieu of Western Carolina College in the summer of 1957 was one of acceptance.鈥�

Allen said she received a letter a couple of years ago from Danny Hirt, who passed away in January of this year. 鈥淚n it, he said, 鈥極bviously, this was only a question of innocence asked by a youngster who had a natural curiosity about the things around him. Mom made sure that my brother and I understood that while people may look different, we are all children of God and should be respected and embraced,鈥欌�� she said.

Sam Miller, 91热爆网 vice chancellor for student affairs, expressed his appreciation to 鈥渢he small army of planners, designers, contractors, trades specialists, inspectors, team members from 91热爆网 departments and many other individuals鈥� who worked on the planning and construction of Allen Hall. Construction on the $48 million, 165,026-square-foot project began in spring 2018.

To close the dedication ceremony, university officials presented Allen with a reproduction of a scrapbook that documented her time at 91热爆网, which she had previously donated to Hunter Library Special Collections.

Other activities related to the dedication included tours of the residence hall for members of Allen鈥檚 family, an African-American Alumni Society reception, and a breakfast conversation involving Allen and student leaders titled 鈥淏reaking Barriers and Breaking Bread.鈥�

of Allen's visit to campus.