 In 1973, he played a key role in mediating a conflict between Kappa Alpha and African American students over the hosting of Confederate-themed Old South Week, ultimately helping the university reach a compromise that would allow the celebration to be held only if it were off campus.Another major first for African American students at ETSU occurred when Glenda McKissic was elected homecoming queen in 1969, despite a walkout by many whites during the coronation ceremony.Between 1970 and 1989, nine more African American women would be crowned as homecoming queens.