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MARCH 21 – 27, 2010 | DEFENDER
HBCU
Recount
home to some of the nation’s most diverse student and faculty populations and are leading the way in recruitment, retention and graduation of African American as well as Latino students. HBCUs have historically had some of the most diverse faculty in the nation, and staff and administrators reflect that same commitment to diversity, preparing our students for the real world of diverse populations not just in the U.S. but also globally. This diversity also benefits students when they are The old Prairie View A&M buildings on campus served their purpose and the univerready to graduate. Businesses as well as sity continues to produce great leaders. graduate and professional schools seeking to diversify look to HBCUs first. Particularly Defender: It appears that many HBCUs are support for our students. Lack of sufficient telling are the testimonies from individuals becoming more diverse. Do you think that’s a funds is the single greatest reason for students who have matriculated at an HBCU and a good thing and is that trend reflected at your not completing their degrees in a timely manpredominantly white institution (receiving a university? ner. They take fewer classes, or drop out a bachelor’s degree from one and an advanced Rudley: A wide group of students, particusemester, or are forced to stop altogether degree from the other). They testify to the fact larly first generation undergraduates, benefit because they lack the funds to attend college that recruitment and pre-recruitment opportufrom the hands-on, supportive education with full time. HBCU alumni must step up to the nities are more abundant for HBCU students small classes and faculty interaction that is the plate, get involved and begin to support their than for African American students matricumark of HBCUs. Texas Southern University alma maters as alumni do at other private and lating elsewhere. While the 105 HBCUs repwill never lose our unique position in serving public universities. And community and busiresent just three percent of the nation’s institu- the African-American community, but stuness leaders need to partner with our universitions of higher learning, they graduate nearly dents from every ethnic background can bene- ties and programs to help our students one-quarter of African Americans who earn fit from the unique programs and support sys- through internship and mentorship programs, undergraduate degrees and have a huge tems inherent at Texas Southern and other funding for programs and scholarships, and impact on those graduating with advanced HBCUs. Even more importantly, our African- involvement in developing stronger academic degrees. Over half of all African- American American students benefit from attending and research programs professionals are graduates of HBCUs. More school with a more diverse student body as Wright: So often, the general public has not than 50 percent of the nation’s Africanthey prepare to go out into a very diverse and been as knowledgeable of HBCUs as they are American public school teachers and 70 perglobal working environment. of other institutions. I think if the public cent of African-American dentists earned Wright: Today, even though all universities, would take the time to look at the websites, or degrees at HBCUs. Nearly 30 percent of all public, private, religious and so on, are open come out to some of the programs at campusAfrican-American pharmacists in the country to African Americans, a large percentage of es, they’ll see that there’s a wide range of culreceived their degree from a single HBCU— all the Blacks who finish college are gradutural activities, athletic activities, and recreTexas Southern University. ates of HBCUs. Even though there are only a ational activities. I think if the public was Dr. George Wright: In the historical sense, little over 110 historically Black colleges in more knowledgeable of all that we do, it when you consider that for much of the time this country - which means they’re a small could make a huge difference. And just like period since slavery, much of the time period percentage of all the colleges in this universithe public will often go out of its way to let that these schools were created, HBCUs were ty - they still graduate a significant number or legislators and elected officials know about the sole option for African Americans who higher proportion of the Blacks receiving other institutions, the same is true for HBCUs wanted an education. So consequently, it’s degrees. Not to mention that in their various as well. The public can also help by sending from these institutions that all of the Black programs, their doors are open to Mexican their children and other students to these professionals, the Black lawyers, the Black Americans, to Whites, to everybody. So conschools. There are over 4000 universities in doctors, and so forth came. But you also didsequently, the access that these institutions this country, meaning there’s not just one unin’t realize that you would then lead through provide to everyone is an important aspect of versity that everyone should attend. But it the teachers and schools all over the country, what these institutions are all about. does mean, surely, there’s one university out that the young people were trained by people Defender: How can the general public supthere for you. Students should be encouraged who were originally graduates of an HBCU port HBCUs? to investigate and look into whether the institution. So, from a historical sense they Rudley: The most significant help the genHBCU is the right college experience for you. were important. eral public can provide HBCUs is scholarship
ple in the community who had asked him to pursue a review of the voting. “In a highly contested race with the vote separated by only 10 votes, I strongly feel that it’s important that we take all necessary steps to ensure that no errors have been made. The request for a recount is not aimed at any particular individual or entities, simply to assure my constituents, as they have requested, that the count was fair and accurate as much as possible. Therefore I am seeking a recount of the voting results. I urge the Texas Democratic Party to approve the recount petition,” Edwards said. Election Day results showed Miles unseating Edwards by 11 votes. After an early-voting ballot board canvassed provisional and mail ballots, 39 votes were added to the total in the House District 146 race, and Edwards closed the gap by one vote. The tally stands at 5,050 for Miles and 5,040 for Edwards. Edwards is a minister and real estate broker who first was elected to the House of Representatives in 1978. Miles, a former police officer who owns an insurance business, unseated Edwards in 2006, but Edwards won the seat back in a 2008 rematch. Miles welcomes the recount, saying he supports the democratic process. “Had I lost by 10 votes I would be exhausting all my options as well,” Miles said. A recount can be requested if the difference between the winner and second-highest vote-getter is less than 10 percent of the votes the winning candidate received or if the total number of votes received by every candidate amounts to less than 1,000.
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10 years is going to be gone as soon as this bill passes.” Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) agreed with McConnell, telling the Chicago Tribune, “Congress can’t keep coming up with grand ideas like this $100 billion jobs bill, [and] pretending it can add to our alarming debt without hurting the economy.” Sen. Max Baucus (D-Mont.) said the bill would give businesses “the tax certainty they need to move forward and families the support they need to make ends meet.”