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Simon Tuska (Class of 1856), the first Jewish student to attend the University of Rochester, writes "A Stranger in the Synagogue," the first work published by a student or alumnus (1854) 1854
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Theodore Thanbyah is the University's first Asian graduate (1871) 1871
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A marble bust of Frederick Douglass sculpted by Johnson Mundy is placed on display at the University. Today it can be seen in Douglass Commons (1879) 1879
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The first African-American student, Henry Austin Spencer, matriculates (1881) 1881
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Charles Augustus Thompson is the University's first African-American graduate (1891) 1891
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Women are admitted on equal terms as undergraduates, and the University becomes coeducational (1900)
1900
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Ella S. Wilcoxen is the first woman to earn a degree—Ph.B. (1901)
1901
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Women students start their own yearbook, the Croceus; the first issue is dedicated to Susan B. Anthony (1909)
1909
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Annette Gardner Munro becomes Dean of Women, and is the first woman to receive an honorary degree from the University (1910)
1910
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Dr. Elizabeth Denio becomes the first woman professor, and teaches art history (1910)
1910
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The College for Women is established and the University becomes coordinate, with separate classrooms and facilities for men and women (1913)
1913
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Catharine Strong Hall for the College for Women opens and houses classrooms, offices, and an auditorium (1914)
1914
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Anthony Memorial Hall opens and houses a gymnasium and other facilities for the College for Women (1914)
1914
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M. Elizabeth Marsh earns a doctoral degree in physiology of nutrition: the first woman awarded a Ph.D. at the University (1927)
1927
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Marion Warren Fry is the first women to elected to the University's Board of Trustees and serves until 1958. (1943)
1943
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Professor of English Kathrine Koller becomes the first woman to head a major academic department at the University of Rochester. (1946)
1946
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A record number of women (13) are in the medical school graduating class. (1949)
1949
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Kappa Nu fraternity opens its house (1955)
1955
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Dr. John Hope Franklin lectures on dissent and free speech at intellectual institutions (1955)
1955
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Women's dormitories open, with wings named for Susan B. Anthony, Lewis Henry Morgan, Mary T. L. Gannett and Emily Weed Hollister (1955)
1955
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Undergraduates picket Woolworth's in downtown Rochester to protest student arrests and lunch-counter discrimination in the South. (1960)
1960
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Two busloads of Rochester undergraduates head to Washington, D.C., to participate in a nonviolent demonstration urging the U.S. government to a "Turn Toward Peace" in Vietnam. (1962)
1962
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Educational Opportunity Program is established and the first cohort of students of color receive targeted academic and social support services. (1968)
1968
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The Black Students Union lead a six-day takeover of the 3rd and 4th floors of the Frederick Douglass Building... (1969)
1969
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Gay Liberation Front is founded (1969)
1969
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The Interfaith Chapel is dedicated--one of the largest glass structures of its kind in the world, with 6,500 square feet of colored-glass walls (1970) 1970-05-24
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The Grapevine, issued by the Office of Minority Student Affairs , begins publication “for the purpose of providing the minority community with a voice for their concerns." (1973) 1973
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Merle Spurrier Gymnasium is dedicated (1974)
1974
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Philip S. Bernstein Professorship in Jewish Studies is established (1974)
1974
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The women's dormitory--the Women's Residence Hall--is renamed in honor of Susan B. Anthony (1974)
1974
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Jesse T. Moore, professor of history, receives the Edward Peck Curtis award (1980)
1980
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The College's Korean American Student's Association (KASA) is founded (1980)
1980
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The University launches a concentration in Women's Studies (Susan B. Anthony Institute) (1980)
1980
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"The Gifford Report: Study on Race Relations at the University of Rochester" is issued (1983)
1983
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Susan B. Anthony Professorship is established (1983)
1983
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Edwin I. Colodny elected Chair of the Board of Trustees (1985)
1985
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Frederick Douglass Institute for African and African American Studies established (1985)
1985
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Grant Holcomb appointed director of the Memorial Art Gallery (1985)
1985
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The Student Association for Development of Interest in the Indian Subcontinents (ADITI) is established (1985)
1985
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Susan B. Anthony Center for Women's Studies established (1986)
1986
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The Eaves Report (Faculty Senate Ad Hoc Report on Minority Graduate and Faculty recruitment and retention Issues) is submitted (1992)
1992
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Eastman School of Music inaugurates the Gateways Music Festival, a celebration of Black classical music and musicians (1995)
1995
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Nan Johnson co-founds and is the first director of the Susan B. Anthony Center for Women's Leadership (1995)
1995
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Stanton/Anthony Conversations Series begins (1995)
1995
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The University of Rochester founds a campus chapter of Habitat for Humanity (1995)
1995
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George Walker '57E (DMA) wins the Pulitzer Prize for his work Lilacs for Voice and Orchestra (1996)
1996
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Mary Steichen Calderone '39M, first medical director of Planned Parenthood, is inducted into the National Women's Hall of Fame (1998)
1998
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The Presidential Commission on Race and Diversity is established in response to a petition from student minority leadership groups (2016)
2016
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Sevin Yeltekin appointed as the 8th Dean of the Simon School of Music (2020)
2020
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Robert F. Kennedy speaks in Strong Auditorium; Campus Young Republicans protest the appearance. (1964-09-29)
1964-09-29
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In honor of the sesquicentennial of Frederick Douglass, the Men’s Dining Center (which also included the Faculty Club, and African Students’ Center) is formally renamed as the “Frederick Douglass Building.” Today it is Douglass Commons. (1967-04-27) 1967-04-27
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Black Panther leader Eldredge Cleaver urges students to “take a decisive break with this system, and take a blow for the human race.” (1968-10-10)
1968-10-10
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Annual Diversity Conference: Overcoming the Invisible (2018)
2018-04-13
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Annual Diversity Conference: It’s Our Time: Creating a World for All (2017)
2017
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Diversity Conference: #URDiversity: What Do You Stand For? (2016)
2016-04-08
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Annual Diversity Conference: From Bystander to Ally (2015)
2015-04-17
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Annual Diversity Conference: Crossroads--An Opportunity for Progress (2014)
2014-03-28
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Annual Diversity Conference: Our Differences, Our Strengths (2013)
2013-04-12
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Annual Diversity Conference: Change the Conversation (2012)
2012-04-20
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Annual Diversity Conference: Why Diversity? (2011)
2011
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Annual Diversity Conference: Building a Stronger Community (2010)
2010
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Albion Tourgee (Class of 1862) defends Homer Plessy in the Plessy v. Ferguson "separate but equal" case before the Supreme Court (1896)
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The University commemorates the 150th anniversary of the birth of Frederick Douglass by hosting a series of lectures (1967)
1967
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Ivoe De Calesta (Class of 1902) enrolls in 1898, and may be the first Hispanic student at the University (1898)
1898
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Beatrice Amaza Howard is the first African-American woman to graduate from UR (1931) 1931
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The Black Students’ Union and Pan-Afrikan Graduate Students’ Association issue "Special Report: An Assessment of the University of Rochester" (1983-07-01)
1983-07-01
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SALSA, the College’s Spanish and Latino Students’ Association, is formed in November by Edward Chafart (1987)
1987
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The College Diversity Roundtable (CDR) is founded (1999-11-16)
1999-11-16
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Statement of Educational Philosophy (2005)
2005
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Annual Diversity Conference: Boundless Together--How Do We Move Forward When We Disagree? (2024) 2024-10-15
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Presidential Diversity Awards (2010)
2010
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Presidential Diversity Awards (2011)
2011
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Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Leadership Summit: Lift Off: Lead. Connect. Transform. (2022 ) 2022-04-07
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Juneteenth becomes an official University holiday 2022-06-20
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Lonnie Mitchell is appointed as both the director of the newly-formed Center for Afro-American Studies and as a professor of psychology (1970)
1970
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Naomi Hooker Chamberlain is appointed Coordinator of Community Services for the Rehabilitation Center at URMC (1963) 1963
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Marcus Alexis is hired as an Associate Professor of Business Administration (1962), the first Black faculty member on the River Campus. 1962
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Department of Black Studies established (2022) 2022-10-06
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