Plight @ Institutions of Higher Learning

[prayerfull]

This is truly a sad day for Morris Brown - and all HBCU's...

Any Morris Brown alums in the house?

--------------------------------------------------------------------------
UPDATE: BREAKING NEWS
Morris Brown loses accreditation

By ANDREA JONES
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Morris Brown College today learned it will lose its accreditation -- a devastating blow that will strip the school of the federal financial aid most students depend on to help pay their college expenses.
The 117-year-old historically black school has been dealing with mounting financial debt and federal scrutiny for more than a year and had hopes that it was finally on the right track.

Morris Brown's accrediting agency, the Decatur-based Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, clearly disagreed.

The agency's commission, made of 77 high-ranking officials--- mostly college presidents and chancellors --- yanked the school's accreditation Monday, during a national meeting in San Antonio.

College president Charles Taylor announced the decision at a campuswide meeting with students and faculty this afternoon.

Morris Brown was founded in 1885 by the African Methodist Episcopal Church Ñ and is the only Georgia college founded by blacks.

One of six schools in the Atlanta University Center, Morris Brown's mission has been in part, to educate students who might not have had the opportunity to go to college otherwise.

Notable alumni include the late civil rights activist Hosea Williams and Pulitzer Prize-winning author James McPherson.

[1savvydiva]

You know, when I saw this in the paper, I thought that it may have just been a rumor. (You remember when that rumor that all of those HBCUs were closing...including Allen here in Columbia?)

So I am not all that familiar with this, what does this mean for those progressing seniors who would graduate next semester and such...will their degrees not mean anything? Does anyone know? If that is the case, that is really horrible!

[Steeltrap]

I'm not an HBCU alumna, but my mother attended Howard for two years in the late 1940s before she had to drop out for lack of $$$.

I want to see such schools preserved because our kids may need them more than ever if the Supreme Court kills off affirmative action admissions, which may happen by next June. And I think it's going to happen.

The court agreed to review the 1978 Bakke case, which concerns how colleges and universities use race in admission standards.

The Morris Brown story is very unsettling, and I do feel sorry for those young people.

[WenD08]

this is so sad. this school is unique among the AUC institutions as of the four undergrad schools, it was the only one founded by Blacks for Blacks. this is terrible for me as a Spelman alum and as the cousin of a Morris Brown alum what about those that are there? what will they do?

[SoProud2BeAnAlphaXi]

Sorry to intrude on your board, but I wanted to post this link http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmp...atoday/4687048 which talks a little more about the specifics for the accreditation review, and also about the impacts on students and student enrollment. I haven't seen anything yet about the decision on Grambling State. This is very sad indeed.

[AKA2D '91]

SACS met with our acting President, Soror Neari Warner (Alpha Theta shout out! ) today in San Antonio...
http://www.nola.com/news/t-p/frontpa...ambling10.html

Isn't it funny that in this article it is revealed that the PWI 30 miles east of Grambling is having difficulties too? I think I mentioned how the PWI aren't "pubbed" as much as the HBCUs. In fact, it wasn't mentioned on the local tube or anything, but good ole GSU was. I wasn't lying when I said it, and now, an article to back me up. (Just go back to the thread in this forum or the DST forum if you don't believe me.) That chit makes me

[PearlEssence08]

I'm not a Morris Brown alum, but I am an AUC alum (Spelman grad). When i read this I felt really bad for them. Even though I didn't go there, I still feel as though it's a blow to the entire AUC.

[Love_Spell_6]

Originally posted by Steeltrap
I'm not an HBCU alumna, but my mother attended Howard for two years in the late 1940s before she had to drop out for lack of $$$.

I want to see such schools preserved because our kids may need them more than ever if the Supreme Court kills off affirmative action admissions, which may happen by next June. And I think it's going to happen.

The court agreed to review the 1978 Bakke case, which concerns how colleges and universities use race in admission standards.

The Morris Brown story is very unsettling, and I do feel sorry for those young people.

I know that many people are sad over this, but is it because the school is closing or because the students were receiving a sub-standard education? If the education wasn't where it was supposed to be, isn't it best that they close instead of passing students that are un-prepared to compete in society????

Also, regarding affirmative action, have we really reached a point in our community where we think our children NEED affirmative action to get into universities. I would argue that our children need a restoration of Intellectualism. Black people don't need to be GIVEN anything, we need to work for it. That should be the attitude we force our children to adopt, instead of pushing affirmative action down their throat....and having them rely on it so much to the point that they feel hopeless without it.

Just my 6 cents...

OOps.....my conservativism slipped out again

[abaici]

Affirmative action is still very needed. Why, because resources are still not equal. I am in education and I see the differences between schools with a majority of white students and ones with a majority of black/latino students. I attending Spelman also, and I feel that the loss of Morris Brown will greatly change the dynamic of the AUC. I really do not feel the students at Morris Brown were receiving a substandard education. The same is true of Grambling. Both my parents attended Grambling, along with several family members.

Recently, a friend and I were talking about the Morris Brown situation. We basically surmised that as alums of HBCU's we need to contribute to our schools. He even suggested a AUC wide fundraiser. I think it would be effective, but the problem exists with the mismanagement of funds. We need people in those positions who know what they are doing.

[AKA2D '91]

Substandard? Whose measuring stick are we using? Why is it that we have seen a rising trend in non-AA enrolling in these HBCUs? Why are the Engineering departments and Nursing departments being bombarded with NON-AAs? I guess for that SUBstandard education? Oh, let's not forget law schools. I guess those are substandard attorneys.

Substandard? I guess all graduates of HBCUs are living in substandard conditions with substandard lives?

Never have...never will.

[Steeltrap]

Originally posted by Love_Spell_6


I know that many people are sad over this, but is it because the school is closing or because the students were receiving a sub-standard education? If the education wasn't where it was supposed to be, isn't it best that they close instead of passing students that are un-prepared to compete in society????

Also, regarding affirmative action, have we really reached a point in our community where we think our children NEED affirmative action to get into universities. I would argue that our children need a restoration of Intellectualism. Black people don't need to be GIVEN anything, we need to work for it. That should be the attitude we force our children to adopt, instead of pushing affirmative action down their throat....and having them rely on it so much to the point that they feel hopeless without it.

Just my 6 cents...

OOps.....my conservativism slipped out again

I'm with you about the restoration of intellectualism. I look at affirmative action as a foot in the door. If "others" feel that they need to do it, why not take advantage of it?

I don't feel any guilt. I went to my PWI, worked hard, got my degree. I may have been an AA admit (my SATs were 960 back in 1982). But I used it to get where I needed to be.

And yes, we should have prepared ourselves for the eventual end of affirmative action back in the 80s, during the Reagan years. I suppose, however, we got a reprieve w/Clinton.

[Love_Spell_6]

Originally posted by AKA2D '91
Substandard? Whose measuring stick are we using? Why is it that we have seen a rising trend in non-AA enrolling in these HBCUs? Why are the Engineering departments and Nursing departments being bombarded with NON-AAs? I guess for that SUBstandard education? Oh, let's not forget law schools. I guess those are substandard attorneys.

Substandard? I guess all graduates of HBCUs are living in substandard conditions with substandard lives?

Never have...never will.

Well, if those who hand out accredidations have found through their own research, studies, etc. that Morris Brown needs to lose their accredidation, I will have to say that is substandard. I don't think that Morris Brown was singled out, they just weren't making the grade. And any school for that matter who isn't up to par Is and should be treated the same. HBCU's are no exception.

And as far as Non-AA's attending HBCU's, most that I talk to and ask why ONLY give the financial aspect as their reasoning. It's either cheap...or they're getting a scholarship. But again, I am speaking from my own personal experience.

And I'm sorry if HBCU alums are offended by this, but facts are facts. Howard as an institution cannot compete with the resources that Duke or Stanford has. I'm not just trying to down HBCU's, I'm just looking at the issue. I've been on both sides of the coin, so I'm speaking from my own personal experience, as well as those that I know.

And as for affirmative action, I think anytime you make someone work hard (even if it's harder than the next person) for something, it builds character. But when you give them something just based on the color of their skin, that doesn't build character. It starts a trend of people beginning to expect things because of their skin color, not their ability. I agree that there are differences in the education that some students receive, but the way to combat that problem is not to "give" them something because of that. OUr community needs to adopt a stricter work ethic and not feed into the idea that society owes us something. My founders didn't have affirmative action, and they excelled because they chose to. They couldn't afford to wait until someone gave them something. They had to get up, get out and get it themselves!



AN Aside...White women are the major beneficiaries of affirmative action, not blacks!!!

[AKA2D '91]

I don't know about MB's case, but for Grambling, the issue wasn't what was or wasn't learned or taught. It was for issues that students nor teachers had any control over. Whatever administrators, politicians or the UL system decided, we could not and cannot control.

Like I said before, most universities have issues, it's just that some have the dollars to cover it up, while others do not. On the other hand, the members of the media are/ could be financial supporters/backers or graduates of the institution which would account for not hearing about such details.

Someone made a good point earlier. Many of us graduate and do not support our institutions unless it's homecoming. It has to change. You need to know what's going on. Find your local alumni chapter become a member or start one. The motto of our local alumni chapter is "Become the change you want to see."

LMAO @ cheap. If you say so, being enrolled in 2 HBCUs for a total of 5 years, I didn't have to receive any student loans, nor did I receive one grant. So, I guess it was cheap...

BUT IT'S PAID FOR and I worked damn hard, too!



GSU Alumni
Wilfred Crosby Chapter
Life Member

[RedefinedDiva]

2D, I agree with you all the way. As an alum of the UL system, I know that there are a lot of deals that go on behind the scenes. At my UG, the alumni and members of the community came together to support the efforts of the school when money was needed, etc. There were PLENTY of incidents that went on, but because it was a PWI and members of the media "forgot" to report these things. Oh, but let the smallest thing happen at an HBCU and it's all over the news at 5, 6, and 10. We have to support our schools. If we don't, who will?

As for affirmative action, I don't feel that we NEED it, but I will not downplay it. Affirmative action may be the reason that some of us are where we are today, whether we know it or not. I am not saying do away with it and I am not it's biggest supporter, either. Of course, we all need to do things for ourselves and anything that we achieve is better if it is earned instead of given. Affirmative action juts give some of us the chance to get on the playing field to prove ourselves. Sure, affirmative action can get us jobs, in school, etc. It doesn't matter to me how we get there, but it's what we do when we get there that counts.

Finally, I will never down an HBCU. To say that an HBCU offers a substandard education is a slap in the face. Louisiana alone has Xavier University that has one of THE BEST pharmacy schools in the country. Dillard boasts a great nursing program. Grambling offers a wide variety of great programs, as well as Southern U., which has it's own law school. People attend our HBCUs for the education, heritage, brother/sisterhood, etc., not because it is four blocks from home and they can walk to school or because tuition is only $1,500 a semester. we have to give our schools more credit than that.

[Steeltrap]

Originally posted by RedefinedDiva (in part)
As for affirmative action, I don't feel that we NEED it, but I will not downplay it. Affirmative action may be the reason that some of us are where we are today, whether we know it or not. I am not saying do away with it and I am not it's biggest supporter, either. Of course, we all need to do things for ourselves and anything that we achieve is better if it is earned instead of given. Affirmative action juts give some of us the chance to get on the playing field to prove ourselves. Sure, affirmative action can get us jobs, in school, etc. It doesn't matter to me how we get there, but it's what we do when we get there that counts.

I'm also not a huge supporter of it. I consider AA a necessary evil and believe that many of those who are against it -- Justice Thomas, Ward Connerly -- have provided no workable alternatives.

But I really appreciate RedefinedDiva's statement.