Systemic Racism in Greek Life at Puget Sound in the 1960s

The Trail is the student newspaper at the University of Puget Sound. On page 10, there is a feature titled “Pardon My Opinion,” where students are asked “What do you think of integration of the fraternities and sororities on the UPS campus?” What information are we given about the polled students and what would you like to know further? Whose voices are missing in this poll?

This letter is from R. Franklin Thompson, the President of the University of Puget Sound, to the presidents of the fraternities and sororities on campus. It includes a two page typed statement. What is the statement about? Why does President Thompson state that he wrote the enclosed statement?

This letter is from Mrs. Harold G. Moss, Co-Chairman of the Housing Committee of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) to R. Franklin Thompson, President of the University of Puget Sound. This letter is responding to President Thompson’s September 22, 1965 statement on race, color creed (see item in set). What are Moss’s criticisms of President Thompson’s statement?

The Trail is the student newspaper at the University of Puget Sound. On page 1, there is an article titled “NAACP Threatens With Direct Action.” The article describes a campus visit by Tacoma National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) President Frank Morris. What is the major issue at UPS that Morris shares with the group of students and professors? What does Morris say of President R. Franklin Thompson’s statement of September 22, 1965 (see item in set)?

This letter is from Lyle M. Nelson, Director of University Relations at Stanford University to R. Franklin Thompson, President of the University of Puget Sound. This letter describes the suspension of the Sigma Chi fraternity chapter at Stanford after they gave a membership bid to a Black student. How does Nelson format his letter to convey the events over the past two years? What information does he include? What euphemistic language does the national Sigma Chi organization use to continue their discriminatory practices?

This letter is from Helen M. Fenton, Chairman of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) Housing Committee to Richard D. Smith, Dean of Students at the University of Puget Sound. Throughout the letter, Fenton refers to a TIME magazine article from April 8th, which was not digitized but is located in the Archives & Special Collections if you’d like to request educational access. What is Fenton asking Smith (and the university administration as a whole) to do? How do the TIME magazine examples support her argument?

The Trail is the student newspaper at the University of Puget Sound. On page 1, there is an article titled “Greek Handed New Ultimatum.” The article discusses a resolution made by the Faculty Senate that week. What is the resolution about? Was the resolution unanimously passed?

This is an anonymous letter from members of the eight fraternities on campus to “Whom It May Concern.” Although the letter is vague, can we make any guesses as to what information was requested of them? What is the tone of the letter and how does that factor into the events happening at Puget Sound and nationwide at this time?

The Trail is the campus newspaper at the University of Puget Sound. On page 2, there is an article titled “Stanford Greeks Break With National.” The article states that the Stanford chapter of Sigma Chi has officially broken with the national fraternity over their two-year dispute over racial discrimination. What other nationwide news of Sigma Chi do we learn in this article? To learn more about systemic racism at Puget Sound and other universities, including Oregon State University, explore the rest of this issue of The Trail.

This letter is from Frank Russell, Tacoma Branch President of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) to R. Franklin Thompson, President of the University of Puget Sound. How long has it been since the Tacoma Branch’s first letter to President Thompson on the issue of discrimination in the fraternity system? What is Russell requesting as a next step?

This letter is from R. Franklin Thompson, President of the University of Puget Sound, to Dean Henry, Puget Sound student and President of the Interfraternity Council. Attached to the letter are meeting minutes from the October 24, 1967 Central Board (student government) meeting and an Interfraternity Council resolution dated October 21, 1967. What is the resolution about? How does President Thompson feel about the resolution?

This is a statement adopted by the Administration and Faculty of the University of Puget Sound and shared by President R. Franklin Thompson. Who does the statement apply to? What is the statement asking them to do? Is there a timeframe provided for action?

This letter is from Elizabeth Kloppenburg, President of the national Delta Gamma sorority, to R. Franklin Thompson, President of the University of Puget Sound. Attached to the letter is President Thompson’s December 13, 1967 response. In her letter, Kloppenburg refers to a “membership selection statement,” likely the November 30, 1967 statement on living groups (see item in set). What is her one question about the statement? How does Thompson respond? Note that Delta Gamma does not have a sorority chapter on campus at this time, but is coming to the university soon.

This letter is from Spencer Stokes, History professor at the University of Puget Sound, to R. Franklin Thompson, President of the University of Puget Sound. Stokes is a faculty advisor to a fraternity on campus and he states that he witnessed a case of racial blackballing. What is racial blackballing and how was it enabling discrimination in fraternities at Puget Sound? What is Stokes' suggestion to Thompson to get rid of this practice?

This letter is from R. Franklin Thompson, President of the University of Puget Sound, to the presidents of the fraternities and sororities at Puget Sound. This letter seems to be a response to Professor Stokes’ April 15th letter (see item in set). What is Thompson encouraging students to do? Does Thompson offer any support in this endeavor?

This letter is from Colleen Smith, a member and presumably the President of Panhellenic at the University of Puget Sound, to R. Franklin Thompson, President of the University of Puget Sound. Attached is a letter from the presidents of all of the sororities at Puget Sound to Thompson, dated May 12, 1968. What is the issue the sororities are writing about on May 12th? How are they in conflict with Central Board (student government)? In the July 24th letter, Smith states that Central Board is preparing a letter to incoming first-year students. What does she want from Thompson?