Georgia Tech Discrimination Today

Georgia Tech is one of the most diverse campuses in the world, and has made a huge change in the student body since the school was founded. Just like the integration process over 50 years ago, Georgia Tech respects and honors everyone and does not discriminate based on gender, race, religion, etc. There is a specific Anti-Harrasment Policy at Georgia Tech that specifically states that discriminatory harassment based on gender, race, age, religion, etc, is strictly prohibited. The objective of this policy is to ensure the equal treatment of students and faculty at Georgia Tech. This policy also effectively provides examples of what is prohibited and of how a complaint can be made on the issue.

Over the past 50 years the female population has grown significantly, even though there are still almost twice as many males in the student body today. Ever since early 20th century the role of women in society has changed dramatically, and more are enrolling at Georgia Tech. Georgia Tech has programs for women that promote the school like the Society of Women Engineers and Women in Engineering. Once women were admitted as students, sororities were formed on Tech's campus.

Georgia Tech has also developed other programs to promote equality and diversity within the campus. The Georgia Tech Challenge Program is a program targeted for minorities on campus, however any student can do the Challenge program. This 5 week program is during the summer before a freshman's first semester at tech. The goal of this program is to effectively introduce necessary skills and techniques to the students, so that they will succeed in class their first semester and beyond. This program was created because statistically minorities do poorer academically their first year at Georgia Tech. During this 5 week summer program, the students live at the Georgia Tech dormitories and take college core courses that are similar to actual classes at Tech. The Challenge Program is an effective way to bring more diversity to Tech's campus because these students are given the opportunity to develop knowledge on how to succeed at Tech.

Overall, the Georgia Tech student body has changed dramatically over the past 50 years. Georgia Tech is now one of the most diverse campuses in the country. For the most part, Georgia Tech has taken a positive attitude toward discrimination and not discriminating against anyone for any reason. Over the past few years, Georgia Tech has made some effective changes to policy and procedures to help stop discrimination.

Tech's Past Discrimination

For many years, Georgia Tech was an engineering school strictly for white males. It seemed like Georgia Tech discriminated against everyone else. It wasn't until 1952 that women were first admitted into the Institute. In the fall of 1952, four coeds were admitted into the Georgia Tech student body. This was a big step for Georgia Tech. The Technique was and still is the official newspaper of Georgia Tech, and it was a great way to relay information. A headline in an August issue in 1952 reads, "Tech Accepts Four Coeds for Registration this Fall." This article described the adjustment of women joining the student body. One of the women, Elizabeth Herndon, was interviewed and she said all the professors and male students treated her and the other girls with respect.

Another huge step in the integration of the Georgia Tech campus, was the addition of African Americans and other minorities. During the 50s and 60s most schools were forced to integrate which led to riots, protests and injuries. However, Tech approached the situation differently. Georgia Tech became the first public school in the deep south to integrate without a court idea. This led to an overall better and more peaceful integration of students. The Georgia Tech President made sure that the integration process would be respected. So in 1961, Ford C. Greene, Ralph A. Long Jr., and Lawrence Williams became the first Black students at Georgia Tech.