Students for Equal Treatment

The student organization Students for Equal Treatment (SET) was formed in spring 1962 by African American students seeking to desegregate off-campus eating establishments and movie theaters. Marion Barry, graduate student in chemistry (and future mayor of Washington, DC) was among the organizers and served as its first chair. Others active in its establishment included Avon Rollins, Harry Wiersema Jr., Birt Waite, Phil Bacon, Jerry Williams, and Matthew and Marshall Jones. UT officials declined to allow SET to meet in university facilities because of its controversial mission. Rev. Ewell K. Reagin offered the Presbyterian Student Center as a meeting place. The leaders of the organization circumvented their banishment from campus facilities by organizing the Forum for Racial Equality, Etc., a discussion group. FREE actually served as the recruiting arm for SET, but since it ostensibly promoted dialogue rather than social activism, it met in the Student Center.

The first phase of SET’s campaign began in spring 1962 when, after extensive negotiations, five restaurants near the campus agreed to open their doors to all races. By the next fall, however, two of the restaurants had returned to segregated service. Campus ministers and Dr. Herman Spivey, vice president for academic affairs, personally visited establishments in fall 1962, telling restaurant owners that “students will cooperate in keeping from embarrassing you if you will cooperate with us freely.” Byerley’s Cafeteria and the Tennessean Restaurant declined to serve African Americans. On January 19, 1963, members of SET began picketing outside Byerley’s and kept doing so for several weeks, at lunch and dinner. SET appealed to the Student Government Association, which passed a resolution essentially saying that a problem did not exist.

In mid-February a few picketers decided to enter Byerley’s. As the racially mixed group met Byerley and his supporters, Byerley’s son-in-law fell to the ground, claiming that Marion Barry had kicked him in the leg. Students present said that did not happen, but a fracas resulted, the police were called, and Barry was arrested for assault. Several other picketers were also arrested. Barry and Harry Wiersema were arrested a few weeks later for picketing the Tennessee Theatre. A number of SET members were arrested for attending an integrated graduation party on May 31, 1963, at the home of Malcolm Ottaway. Police characterized the party as a “drunken sex orgy.” Those who attended said such was not the case. UT officials launched an investigation and placed several students on probation. In January 1964 SET presented a petition to the Student Government Association urging the integration of athletics at UT and asked SGA to consider joining in their petition drive.

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  • Title Students for Equal Treatment
  • Author
  • Keywords Students for Equal Treatment
  • Website Name Volopedia
  • Publisher University of Tennessee Libraries
  • URL
  • Access Date July 14, 2025
  • Original Published Date
  • Date of Last Update October 17, 2018