Dear Southernites:
We did it!! I am so pleased to report that Senate Bill 67 was defeated in the Senate Finance Committee this week! I have great admiration for the
bill's author, Senator Conrad Appel. I think he is genuinely looking for solutions to help improve higher education in
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SUAF Past President James Brown, SUAF President Castille, Houston President Tracey Taylor-Jarrell, and SUS President Ray Belton
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Senate Finance Committee- Dr. Tarver
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Senate Finance Committee - President Castille
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SUS President Belton, SUAF President Castille and Brandon and Brant Cassimere at Houston Crawfish Boil
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Louisiana. While I disagree that the Southern University System should be abolished and that higher education should be governed by a single board, I do strongly agree with Senator Appel that Louisiana should continue to look for bold opportunities to make
Louisiana's higher educational system world class. I have enjoyed the healthy debate on this issue over the last several weeks in the House and Senate and applaud Senator Appel for having the courage to keep these issues before the citizens of Louisiana. I am hopeful that he and his supporters of the single board concept will continue to work with everyone in higher education to strengthen the Southern System as well as the other systems of higher education. Please see videos below.
As a 5-campus system of higher education, bolstered by a strong PreK-12 Laboratory School, the Southern University System anchors the local economies in Baton Rouge, Shreveport, and New Orleans. Our System is one of the most powerful institutions in the country for fighting poverty and crime and dramatically changing the lives of ordinary people. It is a university system where both average and above average students can become exceptional, productive citizens in this state and all across the country and the globe. Frankly, I would encourage the Legislature, the Governor and the Southern Board to look for more ways to expand the Southern System. We are on the brink of expanding our PreK-12 program to the Shreveport and New Orleans campuses. I hope we seize this opportunity. We are poised to expand our Baton Rouge campus to the downtown area in the next several months. I believe this will be a game changer for Southern in the business community. There are even more opportunities awaiting the Southern System. The future looks bright for our family of Jaguars, Knights and Kittens.
I am proud of the manner in which our Board Chair and the members of our Board of Supervisors have fought for Southern in the Legislature this session. Indeed, in addition to Dr. Leon Tarver testifying, Dr. Rani Whitfield also testified this week on another very important piece of legislation that may create huge financial and educational opportunities for Southern. I like what our new university leaders are doing. We've got a great team in place. But, I am most proud of you, our alumni, for all you have done from across the country to let the Louisiana legislature know how much you support Southern.
Last weekend, our Houston and Atlanta chapters hosted two very successful crawfish boils and raised lots of scholarship money for our students. President and Mrs. Belton drove to Houston in the stormy weather to join us. We really appreciate their support and the support of his administration. This weekend, Marian and I plan to stay close to home and attend the Home Chapter's Crawfish Boil and Musical Festival on Saturday, May 7th, from 12:30-4:00 p.m. at Greenwood Community BREC Park. Last year, most of the gubernatorial candidates and other statewide officials showed up. I think this year we will see many of the candidates running for mayor-president "pinching tails and sucking heads." I am one of the "celebrity judges" for the Music Fest Stroll Off. It's going to be so much fun!
Defending the Gold & Blue,
Gwendolyn Perry Honore
Lucretia Chancler
