DePauw’s African American Heritage: the Pioneers, an archives exhibit

The Association of Afro American Students (AAAS) was established in 1968 by students, Sharon Garner, Elsa Brown, Suzanne Davis, Hurley Goodall, Jim Jackson, and Jim Johnson. Johnson was selected president. AAAS was more than a social club. In an article in the DePauw, its first president, Jim Johnson stated, “The Association of Afro-American Students is an identification alliance. It is not a black co-ed fraternity, nor a co-ed fraternity, nor, in the the strictest sense, a black power group.” It looked to the International Center as its model. In 1969, black students presented the university with a manifesto which listed as “absolutely necessary,” a black student union house, a black admissions officer, a required African or African-American course and black convocation speakers. Positive change on campus has been one of the chief goals of AAAS. Besides AAAS there have been many African American individuals who have been very influential on the DePauw University campus throughout the years.