While much of the media focused on the passing of the gavel from outgoing Institutions of Higher Learning (IHL) President Alfred McNair to incoming president, Bruce Martin, there were other items that were consequently obscured. It’s not that the passing of the gavel was unimportant. It is traditionally passed from the president to the vice president at the end of each term, making it fairly routine and fairly predictable, while other matters are not so routine and predictable.
MVSU ENDOWMENT TRANSFER
The college board approved transferring management of the remaining $19.8 million Ayers-mandated public endowment funds due to Mississippi Valley State University’s (MVSU) to the university itself. It also approved transfer of the $293.3 thousand in private endowment funds to the university’s foundation.
Although on the surface it seems like simple matters, there is much discussion that can and should take place regarding these decisions.
For starters, Attorney Isaac Byrd proposed at least $100 million for each of the three historically Black universities (MVSU, Alcorn, and Jackson State), but the college board only provided $70 million for the three combined.
Second, each university’s share of the public endowment funds was to be managed by IHL until it had reached a goal of 10% white enrollment and sustained that figure for three consecutive years.
Third, even after the board vote, MVSU is only able to invest the funds, with approval from the board needed on how it is actually spent.
Although things such as faculty and staff compensation, facilities improvement, and scholarships are mentioned, one can see from how Alcorn and Jackson State have spent their funds that it is not totally up to the institution’s discretion.
The same rules and conditions apply for the private endowment as were stated for the public endowment. It should be noted additionally that the private endowment funds never reached the level of the proposed and usually proclaimed $35 million figure. The only legitimately reported figure of funds raised is $1 million, hence Valley’s $293.3 thousand pro rata share.
Another consideration that must be taken into account when discussing the endowments, as posited in the settlement agreement, is that the funds are to support the recruitment and education of white students. That particular purpose was not something that the plaintiffs, Black Mississippians, had sought.
Judge Neal Biggers had insisted that the case was one of desegregation rather than reparations, that is, the enhancement of the Black colleges. Based upon that notion, Biggers criticized the Black colleges for having too few white students, pushing for endowments or scholarships for white students as a corrective action. An irony of the situation is that many white Mississippi officials have taken a position against affirmative action and special assistance based upon race because it would help Black students.
This brings us then to seeing MVSU being given permission to manage an endowment based on race, the white race, more than 20 years after the Ayers case was “settled.” It may be news that the college board took the action, but reasoning and justification of it is loaded with propaganda, with omitted and unexplained information.
ALCORN PRESIDENTIAL SELECTION
In an executive session, the college board elevated Dr. Tracy Cook from Interim President to President. The term of the contract is for four years. His salary is set at $300,000 per year, supplemented by the foundation at $5,000.He is also provided a $15,000 moving allowance. This matter, too, appears to be a simple one.
The action, nevertheless, follows a familiar and disturbing pattern. That pattern is that for the historically Black universities in the system, legitimate presidential searches are being done away with.
Dr. Jerryl Briggs was named Interim President of MVSU following the departure of Dr. William Bynum. He remained in that position until the board decided to name him President. There was no search.
Dr. Tracy Cook was named Interim President of Alcorn after the departure of Dr. Felecia Nave and Interim President Ontario Wooden. He remained in the position until the board elevated him last month. There was no search.
With the firing of Dr. William Bynum at Jackson State University, Attorney Thomas Hudson was named as Acting President, but then elevated to President without a legitimate search taking place. When he resigned as President, Dr. Elayne Hayes Anthony served in an acting capacity until Dr. Marcus Thompson was named President, after what turned out to have been something less than an above-board search. Thompson was named from the ranks of IHL’s staff.
This means that all current Black college presidents were hand-picked by the board, without legitimate searches or significant involvement from members of those institutions’ communities.
While we are not criticizing the individuals who were chosen, we are criticizing the process used by the board to bring them forward as presidents. It is a disturbing pattern. It shows a lack of concern for even attempting to secure the best for the Black institutions, a lack or respect for the faculty, students, and alumni of the Black institutions, and an apparent lack or awareness or lack of concern for how accrediting agencies view the matter of university leadership selection.
The process used by the board seems akin to plantation owners observing field workers in order to decide who to put in charge of the work force, the selection being based more upon loyalty to the plantation boss than upon competency, rapport with the work crew, of any other relevant criteria.
It is also noteworthy that in the session wherein Alcorn’s president was selected, a second matter on the table was not concluded.
Meeting Minutes indicate that the board discussed whether to decide on the performance of an employee at Mississippi University for Women (MUW).One can only speculate whether the concern was over the then proposed merger of MUW with Mississippi State University. Had that occurred, something would need to have been done regarding salary and title change. Since the merger did not occur, however, there was no decision for the board to make.
COMMENCEMENT SPEAKERS
For the most part, the commencement speakers for next month’s graduations were not listed. Mississippi State seems to be using its president as the speaker for all its graduation ceremonies.
Alcorn State University has selected a well-known personality, Montell Jordan, as the speaker for its undergraduate and graduate students. He will apparently also be granted an honorary doctoral degree during the ceremony.
Jackson State University has selected two alumni as its speakers. Senator Laphonza Butler of California will speak to the undergraduates and Mississippi federal district judge Carlton Reeves will speak to the graduate students.
GRADUATION STATISTICS
The board gave its approval to the list of prospective graduates in the system. Although there are any number of things upon which one could focus, the writer chose just three. The first is that Alcorn State University, by having 305 undergraduate and 95 graduate students receiving diplomas, ranks number five in terms of the number given, ahead of MVSU, MUW, and Delta State. The second thing being noted is that by having a combined total of 1,377 students graduating, Alcorn, Jackson State, and MVSU account for 11.5% of the graduates in the system. Third, the total number of students graduating this year is 11,952, down from 12,247 last year.
CONCLUSION
There are obviously other things that took place during the meeting. The writer, even on his best days, could not cover them all. Nonetheless, since the college board plays such a large and critical role in the lives of all residents and taxpayers, others would do well to monitor its actions closely and speak up when there is a need.
