JACKSON – Approximately 250 students, alumni and supporters of Mississippi’s Historically Black Colleges and Universities rallied at the state capitol on Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. holiday, Monday, Jan. 18.
The rally was a twofold event: a celebration of the life and legacy of Dr. King and more specifically, a protest of the Governor Haley Barbour’s’ proposal to merge Mississippi Valley State University and Alcorn State University with Jackson State University as part of the efforts to balance state budget. Protester say the merger will not happen, but their main concern is that Mississippi HBCU’s are “adequately funded.”
The large group marched from the state fairgrounds to the steps of the capitol. Out front were the national alumni presidents and/or representatives of the three state-supported universities. They were also joined by supporters from Tougaloo College, Rust College, Florida A&M University and Prairie View University of Texas. The group was also joined by the Mississippi Coalition for the Prevention of Schoolhouse to the Jailhouse.
“If you love HBCU’s, make some noise,” cried Othor Cain of the HBCU Alliance, the organization established to “watch” any legislative measure leaning toward merger or closure of any of the historically black colleges and universities in the state. The crowd, covering the steps of the capitol bursts into cheers and applause.
Cain told the crowd that the state just approved some $35 million dollars for a new company. He asked, where will it get its work force if there is no adequate funding for education of our HBCU’s?
“We’re watching our state legislature; we’re watching the presidents of these universities; we deserve adequate funding for our HBCU’s, voiced Cain. Cain stressed that all HBCU’s are standing as one on “King Holiday.” He told the crowd that some talk is going on over in Louisiana about merger of HBCU’s there.
State NAACP President Derrick Johnson urged the crowd to pack the House of Representatives gallery during Governor’s State of the State Address to Mississippi this past Monday evening. “And we will fill up that gallery. We will point down to him and say you will not take our universities; you will fully fund our universities, and if you don’t fully fund we will shut this state down,” said Johnson.
Remarks were made by alumni presidents, the Student Government Association presidents, president of the Magnolia Bar Association, Sen. Alice Harden of the Legislative Black Caucus, who was joined by several other members.
“If it had not been for an HBCU, I would probably still be in the Mississippi Delta, picking cotton,” said Hilliard Lackey, president of the Jackson State University National Alumni Association.
Jackson-Hinds MVSU Alumni Chapter president Mary Crump said that when she went to MVSU in the 1960’s, it was the only place she could enroll in nursing. Valley took me under its wings,” she said. “All we ask for is adequate funding. Gov. Barbour, we will be at your door step,” the veteran nursing manager said.
ASU’s SGA President Ryan Martin said his university is like a “strong root of a tree, planted by the rivers of water. We shall not be moved.”
Sen. Alice Harden told the crowd to “please be diligent for we are in this for the long haul.” She also informed them of the committee hearing on the issue on Jan. 28 around 10 a.m. “Come to the committee room and hear the discussion,” she encouraged.
Among the many students in the crowd was Prisca Patrick of Clinton, Miss., a sophomore at Jackson State University. “It’s the history behind our HBCU’s that’s important,” she said. “I was expected to go to Mississippi State or Ole Miss, but I chose to attend where the majority of my people are.” Patrick pointed out the students of the state’s majority non-blacks school have already begun class for this semester, and “we’re out her fighting just to get adequate funding.”
One member of the crowd, Luther Woodruff, does not totally believe the state budget is so bad that it will take mergers or consolidations to balance it. “If that is really the case, then why aren’t some of the predominately white colleges and universities slated for merger or closure,” said Woodruff, a JSU alumnus whose children all attended Jackson State.
To learn more of future activities of the HBCU Alliance in their efforts to “follow this process all the way,” as Cain stated, log on to www.savemshbcus.org
Be the first to comment