Article "Byrd Urges Firing Of Dr. Severinson"

Dublin Core

Title

Subject

College integration

College of William and Mary

College presidents

College students, Black

Southern States

United States. Civil Rights Act of 1964

United States. Congress. Senate.

United States. Department of Health, Education, and Welfare

Description

This article discusses how Senator Harry F. Byrd Jr. called on President Nixon and the secretary of the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare (HEW) for the immediate removal of Dr. Eloise Severinson, HEW's regional director for Virginia. Byrd criticized Severinson's decisions, especially over her demands on educational institutions, which would "require lowering academic standards." Byrd made these claims of lowered standards after Severinson informed state schools that they would need to integrate in order to continue receiving federal funding under the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Byrd argued the majority of state voters were against Dr. Severinson's changes to the education system in Virginia. Dr. Severinson had warned the College of William and Mary that they would lose $1 million a year in federal funding if they did not meet desegregation requirements of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Not only does Byrd want Dr. Severinson removed from HEW, but kept out of any leadership roles within the state.

Source

"Byrd Urges Firing Of Dr. Severinson." The Richmond Times-Dispatch (October 22, 1970). RG 6.2.5 Box 25 Folder 3 "US Government HEW "Civil Rights" 1970 to 1971", University Archives, Virginia Baptist Historical Society.

Publisher

The Richmond Times-Dispatch

Date

1970-10-22

Format

newspapers

Language

English

Type

Text

Identifier

UA6.2.5.25.3-19701022.jpg

Coverage

Richmond (Va.)

Text Item Type Metadata

Student Contributor

Kirsten Avila

Files

Citation

“Article "Byrd Urges Firing Of Dr. Severinson",” University of Richmond Race & Racism Project, accessed October 14, 2024, https://memory.richmond.edu/items/show/2509.