Washington, DC - Congressman Al Green (TX-09), yesterday, along with colleague, Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee (TX-18) gained support from forty-one members of the Congressional Black Caucus in opposition of Governor Rick Perry’s proposal to appoint a conservator for Texas Southern University. Congressman Green, who received his Juris Doctorate from Texas Southern University’s Thurgood Marshall School of Law, joined by Congresswoman Jackson Lee led the Congressional Black Caucus' effort to implore the Texas Governor to find a better solution and urged the implementation of recommendations made by his appointed blue ribbon panel. Congressman Al Green's Statements are below.
"Texas Southern University is no stranger to successfully overcoming hurdles. In fact, it was the struggle for equality in Texas that gave birth to TSU. Since its founding, TSU has fought for its survival and in doing so has produced a significant number of top-ranking professionals in many fields. Two shining examples of TSU’s successes were Congresswoman Barbara Jordan and Congressman Mickey Leland. In this tradition, we must allow TSU the opportunity to overcome these obstacles and do what is in the best interest of the university and its 11,200 students."
"As an alumnus of this fine institution of higher education, I am proud to stand with my colleagues in the Congressional Black Caucus in adamant opposition to conservatorship of TSU. Although there are financial challenges to be addressed and solved at TSU, the problem facing the university is not a question of whether or not its operations should be overseen, but rather one of who should oversee them. The appointment of a conservator could not only stigmatize the school, but it could also lead to demoralization of the students and faculty, a sharp decrease in student enrollment, divisiveness, and could even result in the loss of accreditation for TSU. It is imperative that Governor Perry consider the recommendations of the Blue Ribbon Panel, which he appointed, and find a solution that will allow Texas Southern University to remain autonomous and continue to fulfill its mission and legacy of academic excellence."
Copies of the Congressional Black Caucus’ letters to Governor Perry are attached.
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April 17, 2007
The Honorable Rick Perry
Office of the Governor
State Insurance Building
1100 San Jacinto
Austin, Texas 78701
Dear Governor Perry:
We, the Members of the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC), oppose the appointment of a conservator for Texas Southern University (TSU) and urge you to implement the recommendations of the TSU blue-ribbon panel. We recognize there are financial challenges to be addressed and solved at TSU, but we believe that a conservator at TSU would not be in the best interest of the university or its 11,200 students, such a measure would likely stigmatize the school, decrease student enrollment, and generate divisiveness.
In its report, the TSU blue-ribbon panel appointed by you recommended that:
- TSU remain independent
- The accountability rider be reinstated
- The state grant TSU $13.6 million in emergency appropriations
Contrary to your proposal, the advisory committee did not recommend conservatorship of TSU. We believe there are alternative ways to manage the improvements of TSU. We encourage you to explore other methods to improve the university’s finances to help ensure that TSU maintains its strong and independent nature.
Texas Southern University has been and remains an important part of higher education not only in Texas but within our nation as well. Historically, there have been few colleges and universities that addressed the needs of the higher risk student. Today, there is one public university that has, as part of its mission, a responsibility to provide opportunity for these men and women and it is Texas Southern University.
To support Texas Southern University’s mission and its legacy of academic excellence, we stand in opposition of conservatorship of TSU and urge you to implement the recommendations of the TSU blue-ribbon panel.
Sincerely,
Members of the Congressional Black Caucus
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April 17, 2007
The Honorable Rick Perry
Office of the Governor
State Insurance Building
1100 San Jacinto
Austin, Texas 78701
Dear Governor Perry:
We, the Members of the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC), are ardent champions of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). We possess a strong legislative history of seeking more funding for HBCUs and ensuring that they exemplify academic excellence. We oppose conservatorship!
It has come to our attention that for the first time in Texas' long history, you have recommended that a conservator is appointed to oversee TSU. Never before has a major institution of higher education, much less an important HBCU, been recommended for conservatorship. We write to register our strong opposition to TSU being subjected to conservatorship. This action does not befit the distinguished history of TSU, which includes notable alumni such as two former Members of the U.S. House of Representatives, Barbara Jordan and George "Mickey" Leland. The appointment of a conservator will exacerbate rather than overcome the challenges facing TSU by demoralizing the faculty, alumni, and student body.
Appointing a conservator would replace the school’s Board of Regents as well as the president with a single individual with the extraordinary power to terminate tenured professors. We believe there must be strong oversight; however, the appointment of a conservator is likely to result in divisiveness, community strife, decreased student enrollment, the loss of outstanding scholars, and possibly the demise of the institution.
In its report, the TSU blue-ribbon panel recommended that:
- TSU remain independent
- The accountability rider be reinstated
- The state grant TSU $13.6 million in emergency appropriations
For those of us for whom the education of young people has been the major work of our lives, the fate and future of TSU is a deep and abiding concern. We are particularly concerned that placing TSU in conservatorship, while it is still engaged in a major capital fund-raising campaign, may adversely affect the decisions of alumni, supporters, and friends to support TSU. Therefore, we ask that no action be taken to place TSU in conservatorship. We urge you instead to engage the Texas Legislative Black Caucus and others who are committed to protecting the future of TSU through compromise.
All of us share the goal of helping TSU overcome the fiscal and administrative challenges confronting it. The Congressional Black Caucus is committed to working to ensure TSU and other HBCUs receive the funding and leadership necessary to continue their historic mission of providing superior educational opportunities to deserving young men and women. We have no doubt that you share this view and look forward to working with you to find a better solution.
Very truly yours,
Carolyn C. Kilpatrick
Chairwoman, Congressional Black Caucus
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