Alumni representatives from Jackson State University, Alcorn State University and Mississippi Valley State University met with state officials on Thursday to hear their opinions about Governor Haley Barbour’s proposed merger.
The group gathered at the State Capitol and met with Lt. Governor Phil Bryant and Speaker of the House Billy McCoy.
The meeting put together by Senator Alice Harden, an alumnus of Jackson State University with the topic of discussion being the groups’ message theme, “No Merger, No Closure, but Adequate Funding.”
“Mergers lead to closures. If you start with merger, you end up with closure,” said Harden. “Because what ends up happening is these schools end up closing themselves.”
But Bryant quickly interjected when it was mentioned about the closures.
“The Governor’s plan said nothing about ‘closing’ any institution,” said Bryant. “Realistically, I do not foresee a program where consolidation will exist,” said Bryant. “We have to work with something that is achievable. All institutions will see some type of cut.”
“However, JSU Student Government Association president Courtney Gray said the merger itself would mess up the spirit of each of the institutions.
“If this [merger] happens, it will destroy the legacies,” said Gray. “These institutions have a rooted history and the merger would destroy that.”
Now while the Lt. Governor did not say rather he supported or opposed the Governors plan, he did however stress that he would continue to research the proposal.
“Let me say that this is the Governor’s plan and we’re looking into it,” said Bryant. “We’re going to consider the things the Governor has on the table. But it is our intentions to consider all aspects of the Governors plan.”
The group also talked about adequate funding for all eight institutions of higher learning, the Ayers case settlement and other critical issues facing higher education in Mississippi.
Bryant said that in some way, everyone will experience some type of cut.
“Realistically, I do not foresee a program where consolidation will exist,” said Bryant. “We have to work with something that is achievable. All institutions will see some type of cut.”
While Bryant did say rather he supported or was against the Governor’s proposal, Speaker of the House McCoy was very adamant about his feelings.
“I do not agree with the Governor on this,” said McCoy. “And I’m not going to support it.”
McCoy went on to say that all the measures will be considered in the House and go through the normal committee process.
The group is continuing their fight to spread awareness about the Governor’s plans to merge the three universities, as well as University of Mississippi for Women.
For more information and to learn more about the proposed merger or to keep up with the progress of the fight, visit www.savemshbcus.org
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