J. Carlyle Sitterson
Encyclopedia
Joseph Carlyle "Lyle" Sitterson (January 17, 1911 – May 19, 1995) was an American educator who served as chancellor of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
from February 16, 1966 to January 31, 1972.
A native of Kinston, North Carolina
, Sitterson first came to UNC in 1927 as an undergraduate student. He remained at the University, joining the faculty of the history department in 1935 and later earning his Ph.D., also in history. In 1955, Sitterson became the dean of the School of Arts and Sciences, becoming vice chancellor in 1965 under Chancellor Paul F. Sharp.
On February 16, 1966, Sitterson was installed as chancellor of the University, succeeding outgoing Chancellor Paul Sharp. Sitterson took office in the midst of the controversy surrounding the North Carolina Speaker Ban Law
, a state law passed on June 26, 1963 by the North Carolina General Assembly
which forbade individuals who were known to be members of the Communist Party
or had invoked the Fifth Amendment
in connection with congressional investigations of communist activities from speaking on any of the campuses of the University of North Carolina
.
Student leaders and faculty members of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill led a campus movement in opposition to the law which climaxed with the invitation of speakers Herbert Aptheker
(an avowed communist) and Frank Wilkinson
(an outspoken critic of the House Un-American Activities Committee
). Two weeks into his chancellorship, Sitterson denied the students' request to allow Aptheker and Wilkinson to speak on campus. On March 2, 1966, Frank Wilkinson spoke to a crowd of more than 2,000 students from across a wall that separated the campus of the University from the surrounding town of Chapel Hill
- thereby avoiding trespass of the law. On March 9, 1966, Aptheker followed in Wilkinson's footsteps, speaking to a similar sized crowd from a position across the wall. The denial of the speakers' invitations was used as the basis for the lawsuit
which, in 1968, eventually overturned the North Carolina Speaker Ban Law before a U.S. District Court in Greensboro, North Carolina
. Student leaders took the role as the plaintiffs in the lawsuit while Sitterson, UNC System President William C. Friday
, the University of North Carolina and even the State of North Carolina were the defendants.
Sitterson faced other challenges during his tenure including a 1969 strike of campus dining facility employees which was led by a new African American student organization called the Black Student Movement
and a general walkout of students following the murders of four Kent State University students in May 1970.
Throughout Sitterson's career as an administrator at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, he continued to teach courses in history. Chancellor J. Carlyle Sitterson was succeeded by Chancellor Ferebee Taylor on January 31, 1972.
Sitterson also worked with a number of service organizations, specifically Research Triangle Institute and the North Carolina Center for the Advancement of Teaching (NCCAT), a group formed in 1984 with the goal of promoting professional development among teachers in the arts, sciences, and humanities
. Sitterson served as NCCAT's first board chair.
In 1987, the University opened Sitterson Hall, named for the former chancellor, which is currently the home of the UNC Department of Computer Science.
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is a public research university located in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States...
from February 16, 1966 to January 31, 1972.
A native of Kinston, North Carolina
Kinston, North Carolina
Kinston is a city in Lenoir County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 23,688 at the 2000 census. The population was estimated at 22,360 in 2008. It has been the county seat of Lenoir County since its formation in 1791 . Kinston is located in North Carolina's Inner Banks...
, Sitterson first came to UNC in 1927 as an undergraduate student. He remained at the University, joining the faculty of the history department in 1935 and later earning his Ph.D., also in history. In 1955, Sitterson became the dean of the School of Arts and Sciences, becoming vice chancellor in 1965 under Chancellor Paul F. Sharp.
On February 16, 1966, Sitterson was installed as chancellor of the University, succeeding outgoing Chancellor Paul Sharp. Sitterson took office in the midst of the controversy surrounding the North Carolina Speaker Ban Law
North Carolina Speaker Ban
On June 26, 1963, the North Carolina General Assembly passed the Act to Regulate Visiting Speakers, later known as the Speaker Ban Law. The law forbade anyone to speak on a University of North Carolina campus who was a known member of the Communist Party, or who was known to advocate overthrow of...
, a state law passed on June 26, 1963 by the North Carolina General Assembly
North Carolina General Assembly
The North Carolina General Assembly is the state legislature of the U.S. state of North Carolina. The General Assembly drafts and legislates the state laws of North Carolina, also known as the General Statutes...
which forbade individuals who were known to be members of the Communist Party
Communist party
A political party described as a Communist party includes those that advocate the application of the social principles of communism through a communist form of government...
or had invoked the Fifth Amendment
Fifth Amendment to the United States Constitution
The Fifth Amendment to the United States Constitution, which is part of the Bill of Rights, protects against abuse of government authority in a legal procedure. Its guarantees stem from English common law which traces back to the Magna Carta in 1215...
in connection with congressional investigations of communist activities from speaking on any of the campuses of the University of North Carolina
University of North Carolina
Chartered in 1789, the University of North Carolina was one of the first public universities in the United States and the only one to graduate students in the eighteenth century...
.
Student leaders and faculty members of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill led a campus movement in opposition to the law which climaxed with the invitation of speakers Herbert Aptheker
Herbert Aptheker
Herbert Aptheker was an American Marxist historian and political activist. He authored over 50 volumes, mostly in the fields of African American history and general U.S. history, most notably, American Negro Slave Revolts , a classic in the field, and the 7-volume Documentary History of the Negro...
(an avowed communist) and Frank Wilkinson
Frank Wilkinson
Frank Wilkinson was a civil liberties activist, Executive Director of the National Committee Against Repressive Legislation and Executive Director of the First Amendment Foundation....
(an outspoken critic of the House Un-American Activities Committee
House Un-American Activities Committee
The House Committee on Un-American Activities or House Un-American Activities Committee was an investigative committee of the United States House of Representatives. In 1969, the House changed the committee's name to "House Committee on Internal Security"...
). Two weeks into his chancellorship, Sitterson denied the students' request to allow Aptheker and Wilkinson to speak on campus. On March 2, 1966, Frank Wilkinson spoke to a crowd of more than 2,000 students from across a wall that separated the campus of the University from the surrounding town of Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill, North Carolina
Chapel Hill is a town in Orange County, North Carolina, United States and the home of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and UNC Health Care...
- thereby avoiding trespass of the law. On March 9, 1966, Aptheker followed in Wilkinson's footsteps, speaking to a similar sized crowd from a position across the wall. The denial of the speakers' invitations was used as the basis for the lawsuit
Lawsuit
A lawsuit or "suit in law" is a civil action brought in a court of law in which a plaintiff, a party who claims to have incurred loss as a result of a defendant's actions, demands a legal or equitable remedy. The defendant is required to respond to the plaintiff's complaint...
which, in 1968, eventually overturned the North Carolina Speaker Ban Law before a U.S. District Court in Greensboro, North Carolina
Greensboro, North Carolina
Greensboro is a city in the U.S. state of North Carolina. It is the third-largest city by population in North Carolina and the largest city in Guilford County and the surrounding Piedmont Triad metropolitan region. According to the 2010 U.S...
. Student leaders took the role as the plaintiffs in the lawsuit while Sitterson, UNC System President William C. Friday
William C. Friday
William Clyde "Bill" Friday He was born in Raphine, Virginia and raised in Dallas, North Carolina. He served as the head of the University of North Carolina system from 1956 to 1986....
, the University of North Carolina and even the State of North Carolina were the defendants.
Sitterson faced other challenges during his tenure including a 1969 strike of campus dining facility employees which was led by a new African American student organization called the Black Student Movement
Black Student Movement
The Black Student Movement is an organization at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. It is the second largest student-run organization on the school's campus. The organization was created in November 1967 because of limited population growth of blacks on the UNC-CH campus...
and a general walkout of students following the murders of four Kent State University students in May 1970.
Throughout Sitterson's career as an administrator at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, he continued to teach courses in history. Chancellor J. Carlyle Sitterson was succeeded by Chancellor Ferebee Taylor on January 31, 1972.
Sitterson also worked with a number of service organizations, specifically Research Triangle Institute and the North Carolina Center for the Advancement of Teaching (NCCAT), a group formed in 1984 with the goal of promoting professional development among teachers in the arts, sciences, and humanities
Humanities
The humanities are academic disciplines that study the human condition, using methods that are primarily analytical, critical, or speculative, as distinguished from the mainly empirical approaches of the natural sciences....
. Sitterson served as NCCAT's first board chair.
In 1987, the University opened Sitterson Hall, named for the former chancellor, which is currently the home of the UNC Department of Computer Science.
External links
- Inventory of the Office of Chancellor of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill: Joseph Carlyle Sitterson Records, 1966-1972, in the University Archives, UNC-Chapel HillUniversity of North Carolina at Chapel HillThe University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is a public research university located in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States...
. - Inventory of the J. Carlyle Sitterson Papers, 1800-1995, in the Southern Historical CollectionSouthern Historical CollectionThe Southern Historical Collection is a repository of distinct archival collections at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill which document the culture and history of the American South...
, UNCUniversity of North Carolina at Chapel HillThe University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is a public research university located in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States... - Oral History Interview with J. Carlyle Sitterson from Oral Histories of the American South