WDAM - Channel 7 - Serving Hattiesburg, Laurel and the Pine BeltBlack alumni associations voice opposition to school merger
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JACKSON, MS (WLBT) – Alumni representatives from the state's three historically black universities met with state officials Thursday.
They made it clear they are opposed to Governor Haley Barbour's proposal to merge Jackson State University, Alcorn State University and Mississippi Valley State University to save money.
The Lieutenant. Governor thought he was meeting with one senator, Alice Harden, who went to Alcorn State University, but he graciously invited a group of at least ten representatives of all three historically black institutions into his office, along with the media.
After listening to their concerns, Bryant reminded them this was Governor Haley Barbour's proposal -- not his and in these tight budget times, all proposals have to be listened to.
"I don't think we should single out the governor's proposal. I assure you everybody is going to have to be cut and we should look at the best proposal, so we can continue funding our IHL and K-12," said Lieutenant Governor Phil Bryant.
""Let's get it on. I'm against it." House speaker Billy McCoy made it clear he opposed the governor's proposal before he even knew about the meeting. "I don't have time or energy to beat around the bush. I'm against this…one hundred percent against this. And if you had never walked in this door, I would have been against it," said McCoy.
After the meeting was over, Matt Thomas, immediate past president of the Alcorn State University Alumni Association, summed up the talks.
"And I think what we accomplished is at least they know where we stand as three. And I think that this is important to preserved the historical aspects of our universities, the diversity of each," said Thomas.
So, what they got from the LTV. Governor is that all proposals must be looked at in these tight budget times and a strong statement against the governor's proposed merger from house speaker Billy McCoy.
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