Fenwick Hall

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• October 1970 - Black students of Fenwick Hall say that a dorm solely for black students is necessary “to help make this adaption to white society easier,” to have "a haven from ignorant stares and rude behavior,” according to the article. Frank Sylvia commented that "After a full day of going to mostly white classes, it is really beautiful to get back with blacks, to get together." A freshman girl, Pamela Jackson, pointed out that the dorm is composed mostly of freshman, who are new to the college situation. Although the black residents of Fenwick feel that it is "a predominantly black coed dorm," with the primary emphasis on black, Kevin Duffy, director of housing, views Fenwick as an experiment in coed housing. (Mary Beth Ayella, “Blacks Consider Fenwick Necessary, The Heights)
• April 1977 - “The Housing Office, in compliance with federal laws, has opened Fenwick Hall to racially mixed habitation. This means that Fenwick, which for the last seven years [housed] predominately black students, male and female, on the second and third floors, will be racially mixed as the other dormitories. Initially awarded to black students as one of the Administration's concessions during the protest period of the early 70s, Fenwick has been the focal point for many activities, both social and cultural. In the past, all freshmen that were admitted through the now defunct Black Talent Program, were assigned housing in Fenwick. Because of this many Black Talent students are very familiar with the "Wick" and feel a sense of loss at it's being integrated. Many students that I conferred with expressed the feeling that total integration of Fenwick is but another infringement upon the rights of minority students at Boston College, another being the revamping of the Black Talent Program … Fenwick Hall can only be missed by those who had the opportunity to live there and acknowledge the fact that a year or so spent at the ‘Wick’ was an integral part of the total black experience at Boston College.” (Daryl Logan, “Fenwick to Be Fully Integrated”, The Heights)