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In this interview, Jamison talks about his time at Virginia Tech, particularly in relation to being one of the few African Americans on campus, and his efforts in building a fellowship between African American students. He served on the Human Relations Council, a precursor to BSA, to recruit more students, which he continued on in his professional career.]]>
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LaVerne Hairston Higgins, commonly known as Freddie, grew up in Roanoke, Virginia and arrived at Virginia Tech through following her math teacher from high school. While at Virginia Polytechnic, she was heavily involved in social activism and studied math.

Linda Edmonds Turner grew up in Halifax County and arrived at the school through the Rockefeller Foundation. She is a triple Hokie, receiving her Bachelor of Science in 1970, master's in 1976, and PhD in 1979.

Upon arriving to Virginia Polytechnic Institute, these women did not know they would be among the first Black female students of the school. However, they turned into trailblazers for later classes of students, especially in challenging the schools traditions. In this interview, the women talk about their experiences at Virginia Polytechnic through this intersectional lens. They recount experiences with discrimination on campus and pockets of acceptance they found, professors they butted heads with, displaying the Confederate flag during home games, stories from Hillcrest, and participating in social activism on a predominately White campus. ]]>
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She got into Howard on a scholarship studying electrical engineering, but switched to computer science her freshmen year. After graduating, she ultimately chose Virginia Tech for computer science after they offered her a teaching assistantship.

In this interview, Kunmi talks about her journey of arriving at Virginia Tech, her personal and academic experiences as a graduate student (including salsa dancing), and learning and working as a textile artist.]]>
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After graduating, he worked in various architecture firms, eventually landing in working for the Department of Defense. In this interview, Johns talks about his time at Virginia Tech, as one of the few African American students, work with his fraternity Omega Psi Phi, and favorite memories at the school. ]]>
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At this time, Squires Student Center was being renovated and the Black Organizations Council began pushing for the inclusion of a Black Cultural Center. Lisa, and her fellow members of the Black Organizations Council, put the Black Cultural Center on the blueprints and, subsequently, in the front mezzanine of the Squires Student Center.

As a Hokie, Lisa’s voice established a living, functioning monument of diversity. For Lisa, the Virginia Tech community gave her a sense of solidarity and empowered her to become an advocate for the African American community. Lisa understands that the Hokie Nation is not monochromatic. Hokies do not allow differences to weaken us; rather, our diversity inspires Hokies to become leaders, dreamers, and campaigners for social change.
Beyond ethnicity, nationality, or gender, every Hokie knows what makes Blacksburg, Virginia home–even if it is just walking across the drillfield in the rain.]]>
2016-04-22]]> Permission to publish material from the VT Stories Oral History Collection must be obtained from Special Collections, Virginia Tech.]]> Lisa Ellison, VT Stories]]> Oral histories]]> Special Collections, University Libraries, Virginia Tech]]>
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In this interview, Lorraine talks about her time at Virginia Tech, integrating into the school, becoming active in the Black Student Association, and finding a cultural community. Lorraine covers the changes she would like to see at the school in relation to diversity, and what she hopes for the future. ]]>
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Levi Daniels, born in Washington D.C., went to Virginia Tech from 2000 to 2005 and studied accounting information systems and management. He became involved in student life his junior year, taking part in the Black Student Alliance, the VT Chapter of the National Society of Black Engineers, and working with international students.

The two met while forming Virginia Tech's Student African American Brotherhood as students. In this interview, Michael and Levi talk about their experiences as racial minorities in a predominately White institution, especially relating to outreach and forming communities.
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