Medgar Evers College (MEC) is a senior college campus (offering bachelor's degrees) of the City University of New York. MEC was founded in 1970 through cooperation from educators and community leaders in Central Brooklyn. MEC is named after Medgar Wiley Evers, a Mississippi-born black civil rights activist who served in World War II, became disenchanted by the knowledge that he was fighting for freedom halfway around the world while he and other American blacks endured segregation and other forms of racism, and later helped secure many social and political advances for African-Americans, including helping the first black student, James Meredith, attend the previously-whites-only University of Mississippi in 1962. Evers was assassinated on June 12, 1963. A significant focus of MEC is promoting educational opportunities for African-Americans, although the College welcomes and admits students of all races and ethnicities.
MEC is divided into four schools: Business; Continuing Education; Liberal Arts and Education; and Science, Health, and Technology. The College also operates several external programs and associated centers such as The Center for Law and Social Justice, Center for Womens' Development, Center for Black Literature, and Caribbean Research Center.
MEC's intercollegiate athletic teams compete as the Cougars. |
