Community Involvement Program (CIP)

A Coalition of black students from the Black Student Union chapters of Pacific in Stockton College – along with Raymond and color stand close to college students, progressive COP liberal arts students and activists in Anderson Y – agreed the most urgent need at Pacific was increasing student diversity. The impetus was a drive for scholarships for local Stockton college students who, lacking a local CSU option, could not even afford to transfer to Sac State or Stanislaus State. These were Stockton students looking for help from the local private college, students from Hispanic, black, and Asian-American communities that collectively comprised over 40% of the City’s population.

During Spring of 1969 a group of 25 leaders, led by  BSU spokesman John Standon (‘71) and MEChA leader Victor Ornelas (‘71, later a regent) climbed into President Burn’s eighth floor office to present their non negotiable demands:

The present condition of this campus is orientated towards white middle-class students…this has resulted in a white racist campus lacking in perspective for both blacks and whites…this situation must be changed to educate more blacks and re-educate the whites. The following must be done by September of 1969. Two hundred fifty black students be admitted …the basic requirements and admission be suspended;…the recruitment program must be headed by a black director and the program provide tutoring for students who desire it;…in addition to the 250 black students there be 250 Third World students allotted slots under the proposed minority Educational Opportunities Program! 

Within a day, Burns met with students to announce the University’s plan, the Community Involvement Program (CIP). This bold adventure would provide a college education for 200 culturally disadvantaged students from Stockton on full scholarship, including a tutorial program involving faculty and students. The students were elated and the minority community of Stockton surprised by the stunning move, another first for Pacific: the first University in the country to proffer such a program for its host City. Black Religion Professor John Diamond and remarkable Raymond student, Yvonne Allen (‘69) headed the program that in its first year included nearly 50 Latinos and other 30 black students among its 115 members.

Gilbertson, Philip N. 2016. Pacific on the Rise : The Story of California’s First University.
             Stockton, California: University Of The Pacific.

Kara Pratt Brewer. 1977. “Pioneer or Perish” : A History of the University of the Pacific
             during the Administration of Dr. Robert E. Burns, 1946-1971
. Fresno, Calif.: Pioneer.