Tomorrow is the big day! SU National Academic Signing Day! All across the state and across the country, alumni chapters will be hosting students who will sign letters of intent and commit to attend Southern. All three of our undergraduate campuses are participating. SU Alumna Dr. Kim Hunter Reed, who was recently appointed by President Obama as U.S. Dept. of Education Deputy Undersecretary, will join us live in Mumford Stadium. The number of applications our Baton Rouge campus received for fall 2016 has skyrocketed again this year, and the number of admitted students is up substantially compared to last year. You, our alumni, are helping our three campuses continue to recruit students and grow our enrollment throughout the system. Between 11:00am and 1:00pm CDT, we will virtually go from location to location via Google Hangout to our three campuses and throughout the country. We hope you join us at a location near you or online via our Google Hangout. Please see our announcement here in News & News for more details.

  

Yesterday was a particularly busy day. I started the morning testifying in the Senate Education Committee meeting. Senator Conrad Appel's bill, SB 67, which proposes to amend the constitution to abolish the Southern University System (as well as the other college systems) and create a single board was on the agenda. A couple of weeks ago, the House Education Committee scheduled a similar bill for consideration, but it was deferred and not heard. I have attached a video file of my testimony. Please let the Louisiana Senate and your legislators know that the alumni of Southern University support the SU System. Ironically, while this bill was being heard, the SU Board of Supervisors was working hard at its retreat here in Baton Rouge developing strategies to further streamline and strengthen our System.

  

I left the state capitol building and then joined a huge crowd of alumni at the annual Baton Rouge Area Association of Black Journalists Scholarship Luncheon. Every year, I purchase a table and invite students from Southern Lab to attend. It is an excellent event and a great opportunity for our high school students to rub elbows with Louisiana legends in journalism. Many local and national print, radio and television personalities attended the star-studded event. I'm so proud of Southern Alumna, Michelle McCalope, who has done a fabulous job growing and organizing this event for our community over the last several years.

  

As you know, life isn't always rosy for the Jaguar Nation. The stunning news about the NCAA sanctions for many of our athletic programs also made yesterday a particularly difficult day. I know our mighty alma mater will endure. Let's continue to look for ways we can support our campuses and the incredibly challenging work they do for our students.

  

Defending the Gold & Blue, Jags and Knights!