Wesleyan President apologizes for school’s racist past, excited for future

MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – Wesleyan College is apologizing for a past that includes racism towards African-Americans.

Dr. Vivia Fowler posted a message on the school’s website with the apology letter.

In the early 1900’s Wesleyan wasn’t how it is today.

“We’re proud of who we are today,” Dr. Fowler said. “We’re one of the most diverse colleges in the South.”

The women’s college admitting that more than 100 years ago racist and appaling actions happened on campus towards African-Americans.

“We’re not proud of these parts of our past that have racist elements to them, we acknowledge them, we learn from them, we study them and now we use this opportunity as a spring board to move forward,” Dr. Fowler said.

Old yearbooks from 1910 and 1913 are reminders of students treating some African-Americans who worked on campus like mascots, or naming a class after the Ku Klux Klan.

Dr. Vivia Fowler became President of Wesleyan July 1. She says its a big job, but one she is prepared for. Fowler graduated from a women’s college and spent the last 10 years as Provost at Wesleyan.

She’s using her first couple weeks to acknowledge what happened more than a century ago and celebrate how far the school has come.

“We want to build a community of tolerance, respect, inclusivity and in fact if I may – even love,” Dr. Fowler said.

Wesleyan’s student body today – almost one third African-Americans and one third international students.

“We love the diversity, we learn from diversity, we learn from each other and we celebrate that,” Dr. Fowler said. “I’m ready to step into some really, big precious shoes that Ruth Knox left behind.”

Visit Wesleyan’s website to hear more about the school and admission. You can do that by clicking here.