"Blacks have already been granted a room in the union. This should be enough if they must have a special place."- Dr. Louis Bultena, Head of he Department of Sociology, Anthropology, and Social Work

In the fall of 1969, President Maucker took three members of the Afro-American Society to the State Board of Regents.  The students were given the opportunity to explain that a cultural center on campus would "provide an opportunity for improved cultural understanding...through fostering awareness and appreciation of culturally and racially identified music, art, literature and other human accomplishments."  Supporting the Society's statements, President Maucker made it clear that such a house would be "financed essentially from the University budget."  Although there were several board members who expressed their reservations about using state funds for this purpose, the Board approved the cultural center idea in principle, requesting the University to prepare a more detailed recommendation.  At that time there were similar facilities at Iowa State (financed entirely through donated funds) and at the University of Iowa (the university provided a house, furnished utilities, and the salary of $200.00 a month for a resident manager).

The COURIMGE was charged with preparing a specific program for a minority group cultural home. It was the Maucker's expectations that the plan contain the purpose of the cultural house, a careful definition of the kinds of programs to be carried on, and a description of the type of facility, furnishings, and equipment needed. A budget for the management of the facility for both the remainder of the 1969-70 and 1970-71 academic year was also to be presented.  Maucker was sure to caution the COURIMGE , "The project will fall of its own weight unless the budget is quite modest."  The COURIMGE turned the mater over to the Academic Advisor to Black Student, Robert K. Murphy.  Murphy submitted a proposal called, The House of the Third World."

After receiving the proposal, President Maucker was disappointed with the disregard for the guidelines he laid out for the committee and its $30,000.00 budget which Maucker deemed anything but modest.  Maucker responded, "The proposal does not provide a satisfactory basis for a recommendation to the State Board of Regents. The project must in fact be a genuine multiple, minority group cultural enterprise...It must call for a minimum investment and support from tax funds, supplemented by voluntary contributions of service and funds,...so that we are not asking the University to bear practically all of the cost."

In January of 1970, the Committee on University Responsibility approved the establishment of the cultural center.  When the matte came before the faculty, Dr. Louis Bultena, Head of the Department of Sociology, Anthropology, and Social Work held misgivings regarding the project. "A cultural house might seem to solve an immediate pressing demand, but I think it would offer no enduring solution to the problem of race relations on this campus. I predict it would be a source of trouble for years to come. I estimate the culture house as described would cost at least $50,000.00 a year.  Blacks have already been granted a room in the union. This should be enough if they must have a special place."  As many guessed, Bultena proposed a motion to abandon the project and use the funds instead for financial aid for black students.  The motion was defeated and the cultural house proposal was approved by the Faculty.

Even though the Faculty vote was a positive step, President Maucker was still very cautious about taking the matter to the Board of Regents.  At the February board meeting, President Maucker mentioned that the committee was still refining the center's proposal. It wasn't until the March board meeting that President Maucker, along with UNI black students presented the cultural house proposal and a budget of $20,000.00.   State Representative from Cedar Falls, Willard Hansen, requested an opinion from the  Attorney General to investigate the legality of using state funds for the project..  The Board decided to take no action until it heard from the Attorney General's Office.

Next: The 17 hour Sit-In at the President's Home

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