The Southern University System Presidential Search committee held a public forum Thursday to obtain opinions and concerns of the faculty, staff and students on the Baton Rouge campus.
This was the third in a series of open forums held on each campus in SU’s System. The first being held on the Shreveport campus and the second at Southern-New Orleans. The forum is open to everyone with a stake in Southern University, according to committee head Murphy Bell, and was a tool designed to help the committee make a decision that would please everyone in the system (faculty, staff, and students).
”The school has to improve in a number of different ways, one which is to go out and raise money other than from the state of Louisiana. Our next president is going to have to take us to the next level which makes this a very critical presidential search process.” Bell said.
The floor was then opened to anyone present who wanted to express their feelings or concerns on this matter to the committee. According to Raymond Lockett, a committee member and Chairperson over the Department of History, there were a lot more students present at this forum than at any of the previous two held on the other campuses.
“I can tell you what the average student is looking for in a president,” stated Jerry Jones, senior political science major, he continued “integrity and someone who is honest, not only with his colleagues that sit in this room, but also the students that sit in front of the union and don’t know if their programs will be accredited next year and years afterwards. I can also tell you that students are looking for someone who can come forward and raise money and not raise money for Bayou Classic vendors and things of that nature. Also we need someone who will draw attention to the school in a positive light because it seems easy for the people we select draw attention on issues in a negative light. We need someone to lead this institution away from the river and not to the river.”
Others were also in attendance to express their feelings on the situation such as two-time SU graduate Tia Mims, receiving both her bachelor’s and master’s degree from the College of Arts and Humanities. According to Mims she felt that a presidential candidate should recognize the overall appearance of the university and do what is necessary to improve Southern’s campuses. Marilyn Goff, a print journalism teacher here at Southern, expressed her concerns for choosing someone who what she called an “academic” and also expressed interest in having General Honore becoming the system president.
“We need a man or woman who is honest, who will look you in the eye and not shy away from the truth. Someone who is known for making tough decisions, someone who is respected by the students, the faculty, the staff, the community, state and someone who recognizes that Southern University is a leader in the HBCU community. In my opinion the person who will do that job is General Honore and until we hire someone like him we will continue to fall down hill, continue to see enrollment fall, and we are going to be an embarrassment to ourselves and the community.” Goff stated.
Some other faculty members who didn’t want to comment on their choices for the presidential candidates spoke on other issues concerning the school’s current condition and its future. Physics professor Diola Bagayoko spoke passionately on subjects concerning budget cuts and other money issues that are crippling the school. He expressed his thought on not spending too much money on this search as well as his thoughts on the need to pay more attention to the blight of the school due to budget cuts. He also wanted to note that while his fellow staff member Ms. Goff was right about most of her statements that it is impossible to have a president who is not an academic and also how competency holds a lot of weight with those agencies who give the university money.
“I have noticed that Southern is ran like a business which is also its curse because our clients are the students and everyone should keep that in mind they are the reasons we are here.” Raushanah S. Hunter, the student member of the committee and 3rd year law student said and she concluded “The truth is without the students there would be no Southern.”
Many other committee members added their thoughts and concerns on this issue as the open forum drew to a close. Mr. Bell added that while the president will indeed have to be a phenomenal individual and step out to improve SU, it is also take the combined efforts of faculty, staff, and students at each campus to help move the university forward. Also Bell expressed his desire to hear more from the students themselves either at future forums or through email and urged those in attendance to spread the word and get others to follow suit.
“We want to hear what you have to say, we want to guarantee you that this search doesn’t proceed like those in the past. We are here to find the best person for Southern University so that it can be where it’s supposed to be, not only as an HBCU but in the country.” Bell concluded.
The forum was broadcasted live on the systems website and there will be more committee meetings with an opportunity for the public to speak. According to Bell there has been a number of people who have expressed interest in the position and hopes that the search will come to a positive end.
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Concerns aired in SU open forum
September 24, 2009
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