[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 162 (Monday, November 14, 2016)] [Extensions of Remarks] [Page E1429] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF CSULB EOP CELEBRATION ______ HON. ALAN S. LOWENTHAL of california in the house of representatives Monday, November 14, 2016 Mr. LOWENTHAL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the California State University, Long Beach's Educational Opportunity Program which is celebrating its 50th Anniversary. Founded in 1967-68 by Dr. Joseph White, Professor Emeritus of Psychology and Psychiatry and the first Director of the Educational Opportunity Program (EOP) at California State University, Long Beach (CSULB), it is the first such program implemented on a college campus in the State of California. The 1960s was a decade of civil unrest throughout the United States. In the City of Los Angeles, the 1965 six-day Watts Riot affected a number of communities of color. In 1960, The California State Master Plan for Higher Education created a three-tiered system to provide instruction in the state: University of California, California State University, and the Community College Systems. The Master Plan, however, resulted in a decline of minority enrollments. As a result, African American academicians, civil rights advocates, and community activists sought to implement strategies that would increase the number of underrepresented students into institutions of higher education and develop effective methods to address this imbalance. The event celebrated the legacy of Dr. White and his colleagues for their blend of scholarship, social activism, and mentoring which influenced and increased enrollment of African-American Students along with other students of color within the LA County and beyond. To honor the individuals and programs that transformed the lives of countless African-American students that attended CSULB during the late 60s and early 70s; and to make this history and research available as an integral part of the African-American Legacy within the Long Beach Community, Dr. White served as a member of the CSULB faculty from 1962 to 1968. During his tenure, he became increasingly frustrated by the University's low Black student enrollment. He lamented, ``Here we were, right at the end of South-Central LA and out of 15,000 students at CSULB, only 65 were black. It didn't make any sense.'' The original pioneers responsible for EOP's implementation on the CSULB campus and expansion statewide are as follows: Dr. Joseph White, Assemblyman Willie Brown, Dr. Clyde Taylor, and Mr. Ernie Clark. Others were invited by Dr. White who also contributed to the implementation of EOP and student support services for students of color on CSULB's campus include: Dr. George Demos, Congressman Alan Lowenthal, Dr. Fernando Hernandez, and deceased contributors Dr. June Cooper, Dr. Ora Williams, Dr. Enid Blaylock, and Anthony Wilkins. Despite all that has been accomplished over the years, the mission and goals still remains an ongoing journey. ____________________