Southern University's National Academic Signing Day was a big success again this year! Thanks so much to our alums and chapters who participated. You did an amazing job! It was great to see high school seniors from around the United States signing academic letters of intent to attend Southern this fall. Applications continue to come and our campuses have admitted more students than they did last year. The incredible coordination by the IT departments of our three undergraduate campuses and the fantastic leadership and support of our Recruitment and Admissions offices were phenomenal.
The threat to abolish the Southern University System (and all other higher education systems) continued this week in the Louisiana Legislature. On Wednesday, Representative Rick Edmond's bill, HB 152, was heard in the House Education Committee. This time there was a more united front with the other systems. I was pleased to join not only Dr. Leon Tarver, the Chairman of the SU Board of Supervisors, but also the leaders of the LSU and UL Systems, who likewise opposed the bill. I am pleased to report that, after our testimony in support of our respective university systems, the bill was defeated by a vote of 5-6, and it died in committee. We are not out of the woods yet, as Senator Conrad Appel's bill, SB67, which was virtually identical to this bill, did pass last week. As I shared with both the Senate and House Education Committees, the Southern University System should be invested in more heavily. Louisiana has the distinction of having the only HBCU System in America. Louisiana should celebrate this incredible resource and work harder to make it stronger, not abolish it. I'm grateful to the legislators who agree with us and continue to support our alma mater. You can view the testimony by clicking on or copying and pasting the following link:
I'm on my way to Houston this weekend. The Houston Chapter is one of our largest and most powerful chapters in the country. The chapter is hosting a big golf tournament today and their legendary Crawfish Boil and Fish Fry is tomorrow. Marian, the kids and I love this trip. The Houston Chapter does a marvelous job recruiting students and had a great turnout last week for National Academic Signing Day. I am so proud of the work of this chapter.
Finally, thanks to all of you for your support during my first term as National President. I've enjoyed serving my alma mater, and I am so pleased to have been re-elected for a second term. We have had a fabulous two years, and I'm looking forward to continuing our success and unveiling our new plans for the second term. Congratulations to LaQuitta Thomas, Patricia Johnson, and Janet St. Cyr Moore on their re-election as well. Best of luck to the candidates running for 2nd VP, 3rd VP, and Chaplain. I look forward to hearing the results of the election in July at our Annual Conference in Chicago! If you haven't registered for the conference, please join us. It will be a great conference.
Gwendolyn Perry Honore
