Black in a sea of white faces
ewell Bell remembers
being in a cab in Boston
earlier this year and wonder
ing why there were so many
black faces in the cars that
went whizzing by.
Then she realized where she was — and
where she had just flown in from.
Bell is the director of the University’s
Council for Minority Education, and thus
comes in daily contact with the nearly 200
black students — and athletes — on campus.
And being black herself, she says she can
understand the often frustrating life of a black
athlete in Eugene.
Not only is there a lack of a black com
munity and its support services in Eugene, but
people often stereotype black athletes because
of their skin color and athletic prowess.
“On a campus without a large percentage
of non-white students, you see that attitude a
lot,” says Bell, who began her job as director in
April. “People think that the athletes are in
terested in sports, not academics. Although
that may be a prevalent view, it’s not necessari
ly true.
“I think most black athletes see college
sports as an opportunity to get an education,
especially those for whom it’s not financially
possible," she says. “It’s the same for students
who excell in music, or debate, or many other
traditional academic pursuits.”
But why would a black athlete from say,
Los Angeles or Seattle, come to Eugene when
USC or Washington are knocking at their door?
Why not, asks Debbie Adams, who starred
on the women’s basketball team for four years
— and was often the only black on the team —
and now is an assistant basketball coach.
“In my case, I didn’t have a lot of time to
go out and see if there was a black community
here,” Adams says. “It never entered my mind
not to come here because of the lack of a black
community.”
Adams says her high school background in
Seattle — she went to a nearly all-white school
— and her family’s belief that an education
was the most important thing about college
colored her thinking more than the shade of
her skin wherr she signed a letter of intent.
"For a kid who went to an all-black high
school, the adjustment would probably be
Emerald photos
Eugene "Choo Choo" Young gave up his final year of college football to pursue law school.
harder,” she says. “But a lot just depends oh
how you were raised. An education is really im
portant to me, so I see athletics as a way to at
tain that goal.”
Gary Campbell, the running back coach for
the Oregon football team, agrees with Adams
that he is rarely conscious of the lack of fellow
blacks in Eugene.
“There could be 7,000 black fans in the
stands at one of our home games and I
wouldn't know it,” he says. "Football is the
same wherever you go. The people, the
coaches are the same, and I deal with coaches
most of my waking hours."
Although Campbell has lived in cities with
large black populations — Washington D.C.,
Baton Rouge, La., Los Angeles and Stockton,
Calif. — during various coaching assigments,
he says he is not really aware of the difference
in the numbers of blacks between those cities
and Eugene.
Much of the reason is that Campbell is “a
little bit removed” from Eugene’s social life
because of his involvement with football, he
says.
"If I’m not here," he says, motioning to the
Oregon football offices, "I’m on the road.”
Like Adams, Campbell came from a non
stereotypical background. He transferred from
an all-black junior high to play on an all-white
high school football team because his coach
wouldn't let him play his favorite position —
running back.
. But Campbell planned to go to college
before he ever played prep football in Texas.
But even then, he had to fight the stereotype of
athletics and academics being mutually ex
clusive. He says that his parents were “very
disappointed” when he decided to go out for
football.
“They thought my grades would go down,”
he recalls. “But they didn’t. Without football, I
couldn’t have gone to UCLA (on an athletic
scholarship).”
But what about the athlete who doesn’t
have academic goals like Adams or Campbell
had, who needs a "black Community” to survive
Oregon's grey winters?
Adams doesn’t think there are many biacK
athletes like that in Eugene. "If they didn’t like
it here, they wouldn't stay,” she says matter of
factly. But they do stay, which Adams says
means they must be coming for purposes other
than strictly athletics.
Both Adams and Campbell acknowledge,
however, that having other blacks in Eugene
gives them a sense of security.
“It's a cultural identity thing," says Camp
bell. “You see black people so seldom in
Eugene, that when you do see another black,
you say ‘Wow, there's another one.’ ’’
"It’s little-bitty things, like food and music.
I try to get my players over to my house as
often as possible because they need it, that
sense of 'home cooking.’ ”
Bell says its human nature not to want to
stand out.
"If you come from a larger place, it
becomes part of the way of life to expect mix
tures,” she says.
White students from the Eastern seaboard
or small towns face the same problems, says
Donald Dutton is one of nearly 200 black students who attend Oregon.
Barbara Nicholls, counselor for student athletes.
“Change is what is involved,” she says.
“White students from back East notice the lack
of diversity here.”
But that lack of diversity does make it
easier on the black players on the Oregon foot
ball team to have a black coach, Campbell
says.
"They might not relate to me if the entire
staff was black,” he says. “But here, they find
a way to make friends. They know we have
something in common, even if it’s only the ob
vious — that we’re both black.”
Although Campbell remembers a few per
sonal instances of racist remarks directed his
way while he has been in Eugene, he says that
this town is no more racist than any highly mix
ed city.
“I like this city,” he says. “There are pro
blems here, but the same problems exist in the
city. You just realize the fact more here because
you are aware of being one of the few blacks.”
blacks.”
Adams believes that the white population
of Eugene is “supportive of all athletes,”
regardless of skin color. And her experiences
with the University's athletic department have
been similiar.
"They don’t see any difference. If you can
get the job done, you'll be out playing."
Because of the lack of a “black communi
ty," black athletes at the University have tend
ed to establish a community of their own, Bell
believes.
“A football player has 99 built-in friends,”
she says.
Adams recalls her freshman year, when she
“created” her own community with fellow
black athletes.
Adams agrees with Bell’s belief that the
process of black athletes establishing their
own community is more a matter of the over
whelming “whiteness” of Eugene.
“It would be good to share across cultural
and racial boundaries,” Bell says. “But it is pro
blematic with such a small minority of blacks.
Historically, small groups coming into an area
and trying to blend have had problems.
“Cultural dominance works against
creating diversity.”
Bell says she sees problems that affect
black athletes, but believes the problems are
more individual than skin-color related.
“I don’t want to respond by lumping all
blacks and all black athletes together," she
says. “Blacks are individuals.”
And Campbell couldn’t agree more.
“I consider myself a football coach,” he
says. “Sometimes at the end of a function for
alumni, I realize I’m the only black in the room.
But I’m accustomed to being the only black."
By John Healy
Can the University’s s30
Academic Speed Reading
Course be as good as the
s500 Commercial Speed
Reading Course?
Yes ... and better!
With so much reading required for school, how can you
afford not to take a reading improvement course? How
can you afford not to take ours? New workshops begin
on Tuesday nights starting October 18 from 7 - 9 pm.
For more information contact
Tha Learning Resource Center • 5 Friendly Hail • 686-3226
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BOOKSTORE
13th & Kincaid
Mon.-Fri. 7:30-5:30
Sat. 10:00-3:00
General Books 686-3510
McKay’s Open Pantry Delicatessen
FEATURING
Broasted Chicken - by the bucket or the piece • Party trays made to order
Fresh home-made pizza • Fresh bagels and pocket bread • San Francisco style sourdough bread
31 varieties Imported and Domestic Cheese • 35 varieties lunch meat and sausages
Full line salad bar • Hot food to go • Fresh sandwiches made daily
Hot or cold. Imported or Domestic foods with old-fashioned service
1960 Franklin Blvd. S & H Green StamPs-10° 655 w Centennial Blvd.
Eugene ^_0___^ Springfield
747-3023
343-6418
Open 8 am to 8 pm daily
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Bring Out Your
Best With RIM
SCHEDULE OF ACTIVITIES - FALL 1983
Activity
Bowling*
Inner Tube Polo*
Slow Bike Race
Ultimate Frisbee Tournament
Cross Country*
Punt/Pass/Kick Contest
Colt Scramble Tournament
Volleyball*
Tennis Doubles
Badminton Singles
3x3 Basketball
Racquetball Singles
Basketball Tune-up
Wrestling*
Div. *
M-W-C
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M-W
M-W-C
M-W-C
M-W
M-W-C
M-W
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Players
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Entry
Deadline
10/7
10/10
to/12
10/14
10/17
10/20
10/19
10/24
10/28
11/11
11/14
11/30
12/2
TBA
Start
Date
10/18
10/12
10/12
10/15
10/19
10/20
10/20
10/26
10/29
11/12
11/15
12/1
12/3
TBA
•M-Men, W-Women, C-Coed
* Intramural Sport - Under IM Regulations
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Results - Thanks to the Emerald, you will find the previous
week's results published each week on Wednesday in Sport
Shorts. Watch for scores in intramural and all campus events.
We are extremely pleased to see this become a regular part of
the Wednesday edition.
Intramural Bowling - If your team did not get signed up or
missed the managers meeting on Tuesday, October 11, check at
the RIM office immediately to get a team registered.
Special Event Today - For the time of your life, stop by at the
corner of 13th and University and take part in the SLOW BIKE
RACE. The object is to be the slowest bike in town.
Ultimate Frisbee Tournament - scheduled for October 15; entries
due Friday, October 14 by 5:00 pm in the RIM office. There are
divisions for men, women and co-ed teams.
Intramural Cross Country Meet - will be held this fall on
Wednesday, October 19; entry deadline is Monday, October 17.
A team consists of 4 runners for men and women, a co-ed team
is 2 men and 2 women. Individuals may run unattached.
Golf Scramble Tournament - scheduled for
Thursday, October 20 at 3:30 pm at Laurelwood
Golf Course. Price for this 9-hole event is
$3.75. A team consists of 2 players. Each
partner hits from the best lie.
Punt/Pass/Kick Contest - Here's your chance to
test your kicking and passing. Come out to the
IM Field at 3:30 pm and join us on Thursday,
October 20.
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RECREATION 8c
INTRAMURALS
103 Gerlinger Hall
*4113 or x4121
BUD )
LIGHT I
Budweiser presents this page as a
service to students interested in
recreation and intramurals Publication
of RIM News should not be interpreted
in any way as an endorsement of the
sponsor's product by the University of
Oregon
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