The personal information of the invitee has been redacted at her request.<\/p>\n (A02.02.05, Admissions 1979-80) (1980).<\/em><\/p>\n In 1980, Sammie T. Robinson, the Assistant Director of Admissions, wrote to invite faculty members to invite them to participate in festivities for the \u201cWeekend for Black Prospective Freshmen.\u201d Robinson notes that the \u201cnumber of black freshmen at Bowdoin is embarrassingly low (six)\u201d and thus urges faculty to help make the weekend, meant to remedy these dismal demographics, a success. The schedule of events included a reception at the John B. Russwurm Afro-American Center and dinner with professors at their homes. The phrasing of this letter suggests that this may have been the first time they did so.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u00a0(A02.02.05, Admissions 1980-81) (1981)<\/em><\/p>\n In 1981, a year after the Office of Admissions began its relationship with the Weekend for Black Prospective Students, Sammie T. Robinson writes again to Bowdoin faculty about the event. He refers to the weekend as being “annual.” He encourages faculty members to attend the reception once again, as prospective students had found this opportunity “[impressive].”<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n (A02.02.05, Admissions 1981-82) (1982)<\/em><\/p>\n In another letter to faculty a year later in 1982, Robinson refers to the students invited to the Weekend for Black Prospective Freshmen as \u201cminority high school seniors.\u201d This phrasing, though seemingly minor, may signal a shift in the demographics this program is geared towards. The weekend is named for \u201cblack prospective freshmen,\u201d though may be shifting to include students of a variety of racial minorities.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n (A02.02.05, Admissions 1982-83) (1983).<\/em><\/p>\n In 1983, the “Weekend for Black Prospective Freshmen” was renamed to the “Weekend for Minority Students.” The shift in language shows a shift in targeted demographics. The “Weekend” was not only targeting black prospective students, but minority students of all racial backgrounds.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n![\"Personal](\"https:\/\/courses.bowdoin.edu\/education-2310-spring-2019\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/286\/2019\/05\/Personal-Files-of-Chanel-Matthews.jpg\")
<\/a>This invitation to a black student admitted to Bowdoin details the highlights of the Black Prospective Freshman Weekend. The Office of Admissions describes the weekend as a chance for students to \u201cchoose Bowdoin\u201d and give them \u201can idea on student life on campus, both academically and socially\u201d while \u201cassessing Bowdoin\u2019s pros and cons.\u201d The weekend entailed, \u201camong other things, visits to classes in session, dinner with faculty members, an informal reception with Black students and faculty, dinner with Black students, visits to fraternities on campus, and a campus at the John B. Russwurm Afro-American Center.\u201d The weekend was designed to give students a full picture of what \u201cstudent life on campus.\u201d Attendees not only had the opportunity to speak with Bowdoin students and faculty but also to become acquainted with spaces they might spend time in at Bowdoin, from Russwurm to fraternities. The weekend also encouraged students to discuss potential aid packages with financial aid officers. The Afro-American Society and the Office of Admissions collaborated to plan this event, likely helping to create a more holistic picture of what campus life looks like for black students.<\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n