The namesake of Witherspoon Student Center, Augustus Witherspoon, was the second African American to earn a doctorate from NC State, receiving his Ph.D. in botany. He was also the first African American to become a full professor at NC State.
Witherspoon spent a total of 23 years at NC State. In his time at the University, he held the following positions: assistant dean, associate dean, acting dean of the Graduate School and associate provost and coordinator of African American affairs at NC State.
Andaiye Qaasim, assistant director of the African American Cultural Center, said Witherspoon’s impact across the University was extensive.
“Almost every single diversity committee on this campus probably can give its legacy to Dr. Witherspoon, or someone can say it’s been impacted by it,” Qaasim said.
Witherspoon and Lawrence Clark, former associate provost and professor of mathematics in the College of Education, are also credited as the founding fathers of the AACC. Additionally, Witherspoon helped found the Eta Omicron chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha, the first Black Greek letter organization at NC State.
M. Iyailu Moses, NC State’s first director of the African American Cultural Center, worked alongside Witherspoon to create and organize events and programs for the AACC.
“He had so much energy; he had so much compassion for everything he did,” Moses said. “He was just a special person.”
The AACC dates back to the early 1970s, when African American students met in Witherspoon’s home or in the basement of a YMCA building. In 1974, after the YMCA was torn down, African American students asserted their need for a cultural center and a space that honored Black students on campus.
In 1975, many African American student organizations moved to an old print shop, though it was not until 1991 that there was a permanent space for the AACC. This new space, now known as Witherspoon Student Center, was originally called the Student Center Annex.
The building was later renamed to honor Witherspoon in 1995, after his death in 1994. Thus, the Witherspoon Student Center became the first building on NC State’s campus to be named after an African American.
Sydney Alston, a graduate student studying public history, said the building memorializes Witherspoon and holds great importance for the community.
“Every time someone walks into this building, they’re thinking about Dr. Witherspoon, right?” Alston said. “Or even if they’re not aware of him, they’re entering into a building that sits sort of under his influence, under his legacy.”
Moses said Witherspoon cared deeply and was devoted to helping students across the University.
“I think that, given that he meant so much to a lot of people at NC State and that he influenced a lot of people at NC State, he influenced the culture to become a culture of inclusion,” Moses said. “And so I think that’s quite an honor that the entire building is named after him.”
Today, the Witherspoon Student Center is home to the AACC, Student Media, Military and Veteran Services and the campus cinema. The AACC has several spaces within the building, including a library, a gallery and the main center where programs are held and students and faculty can relax.
Alston said Witherspoon’s accomplishments paved the way for African American and other marginalized students, and his legacy has and will continue to have a lasting impact on students, faculty and staff.
“As somebody who is going to get their Ph.D., people like Witherspoon are sort of an example that Black students like me and other marginalized students, like women and Latin American students and Asian students, that we can all exist in these spaces, that we are as smart as we think we are,” Alston said. “We’re as capable as we think we are. Our contributions are just as important as everybody else’s, and we’re capable of being doctors and scholars and academics and professors.”
