Does the state equally fund its historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) and predominately white colleges? That’s the question at the heart of a federal court battle.
Students from four of the state’s historically black universities rally in front of the Garmatz Federal Court Building coming with a message.
“All we’re asking for is equal funding.” Brian Stewart, a student at Morgan State University, said.
Inside the courthouse, attorneys representing the universities are too. After six weeks of debate, closing arguments come on Friday.
Morgan, Bowie, Coppin State universities and the University of Maryland, Eastern Shore are asking for a combined $1 billion. It’s money they say the state never paid over the decades following desegregation, even though federal laws required it.
4 comments:
"Historically black colleges say that with more cash, they will be able to attract non-African-American students to their universities. They have seen a decline in the number of Caucasian students over the years, and with that, they will be able to further desegregate their universities."
When I was in high school, my guidance counselor suggested that I apply to Bowie State. She said my grades and race meant that I would likely get a full scholarship to attend school there. I did a visit, not wanting to dismiss the advice of somebody who I greatly respected, and even applied. But there didn't really seem to be a program that was up to my academic performance. I chose to take out loans to pay for school, at a much higher expense to myself, than go there.
When I was in college, I had to do research at UMES several times for my classes.
I chose not to even apply at UMES for my Masters because every time I went on campus, I felt very uncomfortable. Between the thuggish music and what felt (and looked) like leering at me, there didn't seem to be a culture where I fit in. There was no welcoming feeling like I got from UMBC and SU, both of which I attended.
I'm not trying to say that there is any racism going on over there. Stares and hard looks don't hurt me at all. Just that there wasn't anything but a piece of paper that they could give me that would make me want to go there.
Instead of fancy buildings, they should try to create a culture that "minority students," who are underrepresented on campus, find compatible with what they want.
Rather than marketing themselves as a "Historically Black University" they should market themselves as quality school of higher education. As soon as you label yourself Black, and put in programs geared towards blacks, and seek to collect money based on your blackness you pigeon hole yourself. A consequence of that positioning is that other groups may not see such a place as disereable.
I would agree, marketing yourself as historically black, to me infers that the wish is to remain black. As to the amount of funding, UMES's campus has newer buildings and is much prettier than a number of the "regular" state campuses. Frostburg comes to mind, they have just started really renovating that campus. it doesn't look like they get anywhere near the amount of state and federal funding.
WHOA, 240, STOP!!! Wholly Crappe! You are suggesting that "historically black" schools are RACIST??? Well, of course this is racist! How on earth could it not be? Black means everybody is the same; white means ni&&ers are a$$holes. Didn't you get the memo?
I really get sick of this crap in our world and the extra time it takes out of my day to deal with it. My kids need a better college appeal other than concentrated racism. How do you chose colleges? by race? That's how they are accepting you!
So let me get this straight. Black colleges want money because they are black colleges, but they promise to spend it trying to get white students?
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