Harold Conner Jr., the son of the late Harold Conner Sr., speaks on Oct. 20 tat the ceremony to rename two of UT Martins residential facilities. I Photo / Erika O’Brien
The University Village 1 and University Village 2 residence halls will be renamed in honor of two trailblazers in UT Martin history on Oct. 20.
University Village 1 will be named Arnold Pryor Place in honor of Jessie Lou Arnold Pryor. Pryor became the first black student to enroll at UT Martin in the fall of 1961, effectively ending segregation on campus. She graduated in 1965 with a degree in education, making her the first black student to complete her entire degree at UT Martin, and continued on by earning her masterās degree from the University of Illinois. Pryor has previously been honored with a bench in Unity Circle on campus in Sept. of 2011 to celebrate 50 years of integration on campus.
University Village 2 will be named Conner Community in honor of Harold Conner Sr. Conner was the first person of color to hold a university administrator position in 1969 in the role of Assistant Dean of Students. Conner was instrumental in desegregation efforts in the Weakley County school system and starting campus organizations at UT Martin such as the Black Student Association. Conner was also a U.S. Army veteran, a minister, and a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.
There is a naming ceremony taking place between the two residence halls on Friday, Oct. 20 at 3 p.m. The ceremony is open to the public and will celebrate the accomplishments of the honorees in racial equality at UT Martin.
The commitment to rename the halls comes from former chancellor Dr. Keith Carver in Sept. 2022 to honor both individuals for working towards equal opportunities for students of color.
