Be a part of the solution

Within the last two months, almost 7,000 students had schedules at Southern University. Only about 6,200-6,500 kept schedules, paid their fees and went through the new Banner process and old financial aid process.
Southern faced financial exigency, low enrollment and furloughs head on. Faculty, staff, students and the administration voiced their opinions for their side.
Letters to the editor, commentary and news stories were written. New television news segments were aired. The vote came and went and the crisis of financial exigency was avoided.
Then the budget had to be presented to the Board of Regents. There were some issues that the board felt needed to be corrected or explained.
After all, we were projecting the budget for 2011-2012 and 2012-2013 fiscal years with enrollment at 7,000 students.
The Board of Regents wanted clarification of this restructuring the administration wanted to do and how this would lead to the prosperity of the university. Because, they wanted clarification the acceptance of the budget was deferred.
Furlough arguments and misunderstandings ensued. The purpose of the university was in question and the procedure for doing so would be the first thing on the chopping block.
Choosing between two “f” words,”financial exigency/emergency” and “furlough.” The faculty would make the decision but, questions still surface.
What was the agreement? Was there an agreement? I thought it was an offer. Is there a difference? Can the university legally do what they are doing?
Next, the furlough schedules … Faculty were told to sign a schedule to be furloughed at times they were not scheduled to teach classes.
For students these times would be during preparation time for class and office hours. Making professors less available for questions and professor to student interaction.
Then book vouchers were not taken out of refund checks. Students were outraged when asked to pay back the money utilized to pay bills, loans, etc.
Vice Chancellor for Finance and Adminstration Flandus McClinton addressed the student body at SGA’s Town Hall that students would be able to register for the spring and that a mechanism to take it out of spring refunds would be used.
During all of this, students have only spoken out refund checks, having to pay back book vouchers and financial exigency. Chances are the board will consider financial exigency again. Will you be there?
We need to be more aware and speak out about things that affect us. Anything and everything that happens at this university should concern you.
I challenge you to utilize homecoming as a opportunity to show the best that Southern University has to offer. While you are shoulder to shoulder with alumni, newspaper representatives, BET, Black College Today, board members, community members and complete strangers; talk about the difference you are making at this university. And ask what are they doing to make this university better.
Money can’t buy us student enrollment numbers, faculty and administration that are willing to sacrifice, character, integrity or pride.
We have to build our university up with a foundation of prosperity, principle, and purpose.