Students, Epps Discuss Center

Black students hoping to strengthen the University commitment to a black Cultural Center yesterday told Archie C. Eipps III, dean of students, that they hoped someday to have a building to house offices and provide space for performances.

"We're concerned with a decline in University support for the cultural center," Angela Belgrave '80 said after the meeting. She said the students had asked Epps to help them raise money and lend its support in other ways to the center, currently a single office in Phillips Brooks House.

"A building would show a commitment to blacks in the community," Belgrave added.

Epps said after the meeting he would meet again with the students for further discussion.

"We have to re-examine this in the light of increased student interest in the last couple of years," Epps said.

Epps said students will submit a detailed proposal to him sometime in the next few months. "I will then check around the University community to see what kind of support exists for such a proposal," he added.

The cultural center began operation in 1970 after a report from Dean Rosovsky recommended its establishment. At that time, the University helped students raise a $140,000 endowment for the center.

"They are asking us to use our good offices in that fundraising capacity again," Epps said.

Epps said he had been concerned in the past that the cultural center might serve to take black students "out of the mainstream" of Harvard life.

"They assured me that was not their intent," Epps said, adding, "It is possible to strike a balance.