Is There Room At ‘Da House?
As you know, a large number of Tulane students are over at Georgia Tech until they can reconnect with their families and/or return to New Orleans. As you also know, Tulane was not the only school that suffered extreme damage; other New Orleans colleges and universities were in the path of Hurricane Katrina, namely HBCUs Xavier University of New Orleans and Dillard University. Dillard’s website points to a Sallie Mae page; the website for Xavier has been down since last week.
I know…what does this have to do with Atlanta, right?
Well, local HBCU Morris Brown College has agreed to take in evacuees from the two colleges, although neither of the schools have accepted the offer. The backstory on Morris Brown College, the only HBCU founded by African-Americans for African-Americans has taken its fair share of hits in the past few years, including losing their accreditation, students fleeing the campus and almost closing their doors permanently. Just last year, the school registered only 117 students. It has the capacity to take at least 2,500.
So while Georgia Tech is taking in students from Tulane, why aren’t they extending the same courtesy to African-American students at Xavier and Dillard? If they are, is the local media just not picking up on it? Furthermore, why isn’t HBCU titan Morehouse College opening its doors as well? Spelman College will hold a community-wide forum for suggestions on helping out and have many programs in place including a Hurricane Katrina scholarship fund for guest students (I’ll be there at 11am for those interested). I especially have to call ‘da House to task because of the large new student housing options along Joseph Lowery Avenue they recently erected which, according to word on campus from a few students I talked with, are damn near empty. We’re talking about a school that make nearly $4 million a month. What’s it gonna take to get the heads in those beds?
Contact Morehouse College and ask them if they will take in student evacuees from Dillard and Xavier or donate to Hurricane Katrina relief efforts. You can reach Merlin Todd, director of housing and student services at mtodd@morehouse.edu, or call him at 404-681-2800 x2672. Reaching the president of the college, Walter Massey, is nearly impossible unless you get through his cadre of administrative assistants.
Good luck with that.
Here is a list of colleges in the area affected by Katrina, if you would like to check on who is providing for them:
LOUISIANA
1. New Orleans:
* Dillard University
* Loyola University New Orleans
* Southern University at New Orleans
* Tulane University
* University of New Orleans
* Xavier University of Louisiana
* Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center
* Louisiana Technical College, Sidney N. Collier campus
* New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary
* Our Lady of Holy Cross College
* Delgado Community College
2. Slidell:
* Grantham College of Engineering
* Louisiana Technical College, Slidell campus
3. Baton Rouge:
* Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College
* Louisiana Technical College Baton Rouge Campus
* Our Lady of the Lake College
* Southern University and Agricultural and Mechanical College at Baton Rouge
MISSISSIPPI
4. Gulfport:
* Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College (four campuses in Gulfport, Perkinston, and Gautier)
5. Jackson:
* Jackson State University
* Millsaps College
* Virginia College
* Wesley Biblical Seminary
6. Lorman:
* Alcorn State University
7. Hattiesburg:
* University of Southern Mississippi
ALABAMA
8. Mobile:
* University of South Alabama
* University of Mobile
* Bishop State Community College
* Spring Hill College
* Southeast College of Technology
Note: This is a partial listing and does not include colleges with fewer than 500 students.
http://chronicle.com/free/v52/i03/03a00101.htm
I think Georgia State University is offering some kind of assitance for college students affected by Katrina.
Georgia State is taking anyone from an accredited university in LA.
I think it’s a little unfair to say that Ga Tech is intentionally not offering assistance to “African-American students at Xavier and Dillard,” as I’m sure there are plenty of African-American students at Tulane who would not be turned away from GT simply because their skin color — perhaps this is more of an academic level decision, as I think it’s safe to say Dillard is not quite up there with GT academically.
in response to “why aren’t they (GT) extending the same courtesy to African-American students at Xavier and Dillard?” I have to say i find this kind of characterization dangerous, even if unintentional. Yes its not as egregious as Randall Robinson reporting last week, as fact, that black (not white or hispanic but only black) hurricane victims in New Orleans have begun eating corpses to survive. Yes, he has since retracted the statement, although a little late considering media world wide has widely reported this unsubstantiated account as fact. I mean what kind of statement is that from Robinson regarding black people..that he thinks they, only they, would resort to cannibalism a mere 3 days after the hurricane hit. Anyway, I digress. The point is, let’s put a little “I” before “E” and do a little homework and thoughtful introspection, especially when potentially branding an entity as racist. I do, for what it’s worth, appreciate your follow up question posing whether it is the case or not but the lead in was unecessary. I personally think GT, as others, are doing their part and finding their way the best they can. The president of GT, I’m sure you’ve seen, has posted on the GT home page exactly what they are doing for students at this time and their intentions in helping further.
I knew it wouldn’t be long before two “anonymous” commenters would half-ass read my post and immediately think I’m jumping to a racist conclusion. The focus of what I was asking was why doesn’t Morehouse open its doors to their fellow UNCF schools (which further reading would have shown that yes, they have done just that). So to respond to each “anonymous” commenter:
Dana: The selective aid system you’re casually alluding to is part of the purpose I asked the question in my post originally. Nowhere did I say that Tech wasn’t intentionally allowing students from Xavier or Dillard to attend; I said I hadn’t heard about it (and it wouldn’t be the first time local news overlooked something). Secondly, I didn’t bring up skin color at all…so why did you? Dillard is no Georgia Tech, but students in need have to learn and/or graduate regardless of the “academic level decision”/selective aid system, so don’t bring that unless you’re adequately prepared to discuss the full ramifications, dear.
Jehad: As I addressed Dana, I asked the question because I didn’t see where they were providing aid to students from those schools. I could have easily substituted the University of New Orleans or Loyola University in place of Xavier and Dillard, but as a Morehouse alumni, I felt the need to address them specifically in terms of extending relief to evacuee students of a fellow UNCF institution. I also have friends from Xavier and Dillard who asked me the same questions, so I’m asking that of my alma mater. Nowhere have I stated that Georgia Tech is racist. Please read the entire context of the post before launching these half-cocked comments. By the way, do you just work for Level 3 Telecommunications or do you use their service?