Furman University commemorated its 50th anniversary of desegregation by exploring the events that led to this watershed moment and honoring the pioneers who fought to achieve equality at the institution.
On Jan. 29, 1965, Joseph Vaughn became Furman’s first African-American undergraduate student, joining three educators—Henry Adair, William Bowling, and James Kibler—who enrolled as graduate students. The arrival of these four students marked the turning point in a debate that divided the campus for more than a decade and changed the university’s culture forever.
Throughout the 2014-15 academic year, Furman hosted a series of events to commemorate this important event—and honor those who put the university on a path toward becoming a more diverse and inclusive community.