Video: MUW Celebrates 50 Years of Integration

COLUMBUS, Miss.(WCBI)– As Mississippi University for Women celebrates fifty years of integration, the six students who changed the landscape of the historic university talk about their experiences.

They were honored at a special ceremony on the W campus Thursday morning. The four that were present were awarded a Medal of Excellence and each spoke about her experience in 1966.

Laverne Greene say,”Yes it was just about education. It was close to home and we just felt like we could and we should be here… and we came.”

These women say they faced isolation and bigotry on campus.

Barbara Turner says,”It was mostly people staring and instructors acting a little bit aloof. It was definitely separation. I just developed a persona that I was perfectly fine.”

However, the former students say knowing they left an impact on the university is an honor.

Turner says,”To have been in this auditorium before and to have felt not apart of it and now to be here on stage a serious part of it is almost as important as what I felt after the first year when I saw so many young women. I remember thinking they live here and they can go to school here now.

Greene says,”I hope other students, my children, my grandchildren and other people here in Columbus will take advantage of what has been started and continue.”

Thursday’s ceremony was held during a campus wide convocation.