After the fountain memorial located in Borchuck Plaza faced damages due to harsh weather over winter break, a conversation about its remodeling started around campus.
The fountain was built on March 25, 2013 and has represented black success by giving dedication to the first five black students that enrolled at ETSU. These five individuals were Eugene Caruthers as the first black graduate student in 1956, then two years later, Elizabeth Watkins Crawford, Clarence McKinney, George L. Nichols and Mary Luelle Owens graduated as ETSU’s first black graduates. These students were the ones that initiated the desegregation of ETSU and made it the inclusive campus it is today.
Keith Johnson, vice president for Equity and Inclusion who oversees this project, did not see this accident as adversity, but as an opportunity.
“When we talk about the desegregation at East Tennessee State University, this was a monumental thing.” Johnson said. “Since the fountain was destroyed as a result of the freeze, it gave us an opportunity to look at, ‘Is this the best way to memorialize and symbolize the story that began more than 60 years ago.’”
Instead of fixing the existing fountain, Johnson is aiming to bring a new memorial to Borchuck Plaza that will commemorate the respected individuals even better. Being only in the infancy stages of this project, coming about this idea only two weeks ago, there are no set plans that can be released yet. But Johnson said students will have a say in what happens, whether that is to keep the old design or bring about a new one.
“I just want to make sure we have the best representation that there’s justice for those folks who gave up the pathway they intended to, to be a part of the integration that would change East Tennessee State University forever.” Johnson said. “That’s what is important.”
Johnson mentioned he planned to invite an alumnus from 50 years ago to take part in this project. He also reached out to the art department and some ETSU staff along with students for input.
“This is a bigger story than just creating some kind of fountain, or some kind of statue, or some kind of symbol in the middle of Borchuck Plaza,” Johnson said. “This is more about a story of hope, a story of inspiration and bravery.”
For more information, visit easttennessean.com/2023/01/05/memorial-fountain-damaged-from-cold-temperatures/.
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