RitaMae: She didn't chew my azz out. This is a very passionate debate with credible arguments on both sides. I think I made some valid points. PhrozenGenius was able to better articulate what I was trying to say. I do feel though there is no need to ever disrespect anyone in this debate. We all want what's best for HBCU's. Like PhrozenGenius has said, this is taxpayer dollars. I as a tax payer in the state have a vested interest in how my money is used. I would be the same way if a PWI in Florida was doing the same thing.

Okay so I said "chew" but in a playful manor.. I was just trying to lighten the aire!!! Calm down already. :D

I will agree that you did make some valid points. But we can all make a point but are the right people hearing those points!? In other words what can we do to rectify the situation other than spouting off 'articulate' responses to a problem that remains yet unresolved.

Don't get me wrong - as I said - I do not hold A&M or its administration blameless . . .but at the same time the BORs turned a blind eye to things that were going on that weren't quite right for a long time b/c of Hump and their "fear" of him. I am very angry at the bad light my alma mater is in, but I do NOT appreciate nor encourage people to blanketly call for the school that has educated so many to close its doors. If this was UF or FSU or USF or any of the other public universities, these legislators would not be saying such things . . .it is downright disrespectful. As I stated, the problem took 10 years to make, it is going to take more than 10 minutes to fix. I LOVE MY SCHOOL and I will dayumed if I am going to let someone who did not walk on the hill and deal with what I dealt with disrespect my beloved university. . . .PERIOD!!!!:mad:

My anger was not steered toward your concern for the mismanagement of funds - I am a taxpayer as well and am equally concerned. MY ISSUE was your comment that FAMU should close its doors - even in jest it was, imo, an irresponsible thing to say because that is what the majority has been saying for years . . . FAMU educates many AA students in this state that have good grades but are not accepted to UF or FSU . . these students go on to become lawyers, doctors, teachers, etc . . . as an alum I am interested in keeping my school open an assisting in fixing the problem - NOT seeing its doors close!

I really wish there was an actual way to effect change in a place with ease. Until then, there really isn't. The people with the most sense aren't in power. Those in power won't listen to those with the most sense because they're typically not "on the inside."

So, we have two options:
1. Get together, throw caution to the wind and SHOUT, PROTEST, and PICKET!

or

2. We can bleach our skin pretend to be campaign contributors to state legislators and infiltrate the Good Ol' Boys Club...

The latter seems highly unlikely though...(BEWARE: Blanket Statement Approaching)
Come to think of it, the first does two. Black folks are hard to move, especially when they don't gain anything PERSONALLY from it.

Sadly, I agree. I have written the legislators, and will be writing mine to condemn her for her ridiculous statements. Her consituency includes those people who graduated from that great school (but this is the same person that said, when they RE-opened FAMU's law school - loooong story about the autrocities surrounding that - short story FSU's law school used to be FAMU's- that it didn't matter if they opened up a law school for us- we still wouldn't be able to pass the bar . . .see dumb as a box of rocks and has diarreha of the mouth all the time!)

FAMU has SO much to offer the entire community. Your rep is only echoing the sentiments of her peers within the legislature. The problem that we have as a people is that there are very few of us who take steps such as you have to make the wishes of the community known to their representatives in government. Thus, the stewards of the people are more "self-serving" capitalists with a penchant for resume fillers than anything.

Hey, look at it like this, at least you're not in Alabama.

Part of this problem is caused by the fact that the bodies that are supposed to oversee higher education in Florida have been in a state of turmoil for the last few years. With all of the constant changes going on at the BOR/BOG/BOTs level, it not surprising that this problem wasn't addressed sooner, before it grew to be so out of control.

I sincerely hope that FAMU can get this resolved. Eleven public universities are not enough to serve the rapidly growing educational needs of Florida. We need to be expanding and developing all of the schools we currently have, and adding new institutions as well. Closing one of them would just compound the problem.

N4L what the heck does his familial relationships have to do with anything? Plus she is not the current national president and hasn't been for 25 years.

ETA: FAMU's doors will not be closed. I bet this is the siren call that will mobilize folx and not just FAMU alumni and students.

I agree.

[Tangent/]I made this same argument to a group of HBCU alum years ago. They were extremely irrate and sensitive to the point where they tried to lash out against me personally. Their arguments ranged from I wouldn't understand b/c I didn't go to an HBCU to I wouldn't understand because I was younger and hadn't been in the "real world of full time work experience" yet. Such passion should have been directed at the HBCUs.[/end tangent]

When you look at the issue objectively, HBCUs have a lot of structural problems. Many of them don't have the stellar reputations that they once did. The calibar of student for some HBCUs has struggled along with their administrations. This doesn't mean that there aren't good students at these HBCUs but bad apples can spoil the perception of the bunch. Just like bad apples among HBCUs spoil the perception of HBCUs.

Loyalty is fine if some people want to attach themselves to HBCUs. But loyalty without demand for improvement and accountability is a waste.

I wondered the same thing.:confused: :(

Rita Mae and LitAKAtor, you are letting your emotions obscure the facts. And the fact is that Florida A&M University is a BUSINESS!! And like any business, if there are inadequate resources to keep that business running, that business will cease to exist one way or another.

Too many black folks are unable to separate their heart and loyalty from sound business decisions, hence you get emotionally charged discussions as these. Whether or not N4L attended FAMU is irrelevant and has nothing to do with his ability to intelligently discuss the issues at hand. As long as folk like you continue to argue, debate, and fight issues with emotions rather than with facts and business saavy, then businesses like Florida A&M University frankly deserve to go down the toilet.

This is real talk and tough love.

Signed,

A former Central State University (HBCU) student whose school encountered issues similar to that of FAMU.

The point of your post was that your point stands even without your signature detail. ;)

First, let us not get it twisted- as a BUSINESS major I quite capable of removing the emotion I feel for my school from the business aspect of running a university/business. Moreover as an ATTORNEY, I am more than capable of engaging in intelligent debate and am able to articulate facts without clouding the same with emotion. So not quite sure what you mean by "people like you."

Additionally, aside from my comment to N4L that I felt his suggestion to close FAMU's doors was irresponsible, the substance of my post was far from emotionally charged. Notwithstanding, who wouldn't be a bit peeved at someone making a blanket statement that the school you love have its doors closed without the benefit of a dialogue regarding the issue. His subject was (to my recollection - and paraphrasing)- was is it time for them to close their doors or something to that effect.

I would advise both you to read my post in its entirety instead of piece mealing it to garner its meaning. As I stated numerous times <b> I do not hold my alma mater blameless in this situation, but AGAIN it takes more than 10 minutes to fix that situation. </b> There is work that needs to be done - but it doesn't mean closing a 100+ year old school's doors without a valiant effort to fix the issues. In light of the historical significance FAMU has in this state, it deserves the opportunity to attempt to fix the fiscal problems that are there . . .that is what is occurring now.


DSTCHAOS's statment:

"When you look at the issue objectively, HBCUs have a lot of structural problems. Many of them don't have the stellar reputations that they once did."

As do PWUs (structural problems). Re: stellar reputations - is do you have some facts to support this blanket statement. I would disagree with the term many - I would say some - but then again, there are SOME PWU's that have less than stellar reps as well. So, what is your point? Objectively speaking, I can name SEVERAL HBCUs whose educational programs are top notch and its graduates are competing and can compete with the likes of ANY graduate from ANY PWU, to wit - FAMU (pharmacy, nursing, education, business) Hampton (architecture, pharmacy), North Carolina A&T (engineering), and let me not forget Morehouse and Spelman and the host of other HBCUs who have have excellent educational reputations. If you have some facts to the contrary, please share - I am all ears. (in case there is some thought that this is an emotionally charged statement- let me quash those thoughts now - it isn't - if you have contrary information - please share

We aren't talking about PWIs. You can start a thread on them if you want.

This is qualitative information that are "facts" simply because I have read and heard the opinions myself. Reputation is based on both the objective and the subjective. In that case:

Many HBCU alum, administration, employers, graduate schools, general population people, etc. don't hold schools like Hampton and Howard in the same regard as they once did in terms of 1) academic rigor; 2) quality of student body; 3) preparation for the job market or graduate school; and 4) prestige (subjectively defined).

This isn't a point of debate as far as I'm concerned because for every person who respects HBCUs as a whole there will always be (more) people who don't. Simple as that.

ETA: I'm talking about the colleges and universities as a whole, not particular departments or programs. So mentioning a school's specific program to me doesn't dismiss the idea of it being a struggling HBCU as a whole. I'm also not talking about ALL HBCUs being sucky--there's one HBCU that I absolutely adore and it is one of the best schools in the national PERIOD, as far as I'm concerned.