GA lawmaker suggests merging historically black colleges with nearby white-majority schools

A state lawmaker told Georgia college leaders Monday they need to look at merging public historically black colleges with nearby white-majority schools to help meet budget cuts.

Senate Higher Education Committee Chairman Seth Harp told University System of Georgia officials during a budget hearing that the move also would help close the “ugly chapter” of segregation in Georgia. The Republican from Midland suggested combining historically black Savannah State University with nearby Armstrong Atlantic University, and historically black Albany State University would merge with Darton College.

University system Chancellor Erroll Davis told lawmakers that such move would face strong opposition.

Like most state agencies and departments, Georgia’s public colleges are facing budget cuts of up to 10 percent this year.

AP

  • George Pope
    These schools does not need to be merged, wake up people, just because a political leader said this or that does not make it true. This government belongs to you, you have to fight for the right positions, African American schools are just as important if not more important than white schools. These same lawmakers do not have a problem with the money this country spends on Bush's War, over 10 billion dollars a month,(white majority made that decision), they did not have a problem with bailing out Wall Street, at a tune of 700 Billion dollars, the white majority made that decision to save the white elite. Historical Black colleges never got their fair share of dollars from the state, historically and now, you did not demand it, they never get their fair share of grant money from government and private organizations. Your leaders do not demand it, so please stop, listen, and take action about your own history and legency, fight for what is right, organize, your community, churches ???, and groups to express your position. Take a group of strong people to meeting with your law makers, make some counter recommendation, cut some state grant programs, or research done by the state at white colleges, you check the budget out I guarantee you can fine somethings to cut. If you do not take action know one else will, if it is to be it is up to you.......
  • Sigh...Sigh...This makes me sad.

    this has happened before with other schools. The most prominent example is Tennessee State.

    My question is, what name will the combined schools have?

    If only alumni supported their schools like other alumni do (e.g., Harvard, Stanford, University of Texas), our HBCUs would not be in this predicament.

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