Obama to Recognize Historically Black Colleges

States and institutions allocate funds for and everyone demands “diversity” on every campus. So how do we justify supporting “historically black” colleges? Aren’t they the exact opposite of what what is now considered a top priority everywhere? Am I the only one that sees a contradiction here? I truly don’t understand. Would someone please explain it?

I am a white faculty member at an HBCU. We have the lowest funding and salary scale among all of the state colleges / universities. Traditionally, we have had difficulty recruiting students because well-qualified students prefer the better-funded institutions. We are in the position of trying to bring under-prepared students up to college standards. Needless to say, we also have difficulty attracting qualified African-American professors, since they can get better jobs elsewhere.In addition, the adiminstrators here are notorious for misusing what funding we do get, and for padding their own nests while cutting budgets in academic areas. Faculty and academic staff are underpaid. The university prefers to stage social events while cutting library funds.This may sound unreal to many of you, but it is what we live with. The faculty try to give our students an education, with paltry support from administration.To respond to the post complaining about “diversity,” I would point out that we have the most ethnically diverse student body in the state. This is not a “black” college; we have a high percentage of White, Asian, and Hispanic students. But we do live with the stereotype of being “black,” which prejudices many against us because they think we are getting preferential treatment. What a laugh.

Steiny, What about historically white colleges? Oh that’s right, they’re all basking in alleged white privilege, if not abundant funding. I guess all those impoverished “white” colleges in Appalachia and in the historically depressed rust belt are just a figment of our imagination of their imagination. Ah yes, that sweet white privilege that apparently flew over without stopping, while en route to the next all-expenses paid “diversity” conference in Aruba. Oh please! Oh and “Tyrone & Tartisha”?…nothing like peddling a stereo-type or two from your laptop ayy? Now go to the farmers’ market and buy some organic turnips and tofu for Brad and Britney.

honore… go back to sleep. your post on the UCSD article reflects that you have been asleep for a looooooong time!!!!

mbelvadi,Very observant comment on my conflicted arguments!I must provide background info on the administrators “misuse of funding,” and maybe others can analyse why the administration of an HBCU might not be a faculty member’s dream boss.In the past, our University has had severe financial problems of its own devising, due to the aforesaid corruption and incompetence. If an HBCU exclusively hires friends and other insiders who may not be the best choice, I think that reflects the historic distrust of whites on the part of African-Americans. And I think that distrust is not misplaced, although it is also, in my opinion, not the best way to go. The practice also seems to reflect a desire to promote one’s own community members, a phenomenon which also happens everywhere, not just at HBCUs.But despite the valid reasons for administrative misfeasance, the practices are still dysfunctional. And this happens also at the academic level, where students are not given their best chance to succeed due to lack of cohesive support. For example, we have student-athletes who go several weeks into the semester without their textbooks because a system has not yet been devised for providing their vouchers in a timely manner. Other examples are related to the hiring of adjuncts instead of creating permanent faculty positions–a problem shared across the academic spectrum. But although some problems are understandable, others relate to the personal greed of administrators. We have more highly-paid VPs than we need. I think that this problem, too, is not limited to HBCUs. And, our faculty senate is continually pushing for better practices. We are slowly improving.Students–minority and white–still need institutions such as ours, whose acceptance standards allow many more to attempt college. Plus, the “historic” element provides a link, reflected in the curriclum and culture, to a not-so-distant past that still has meaning for Black communities. And so yes, I am advocating more public funding for these universities. Maybe I am just spinning my wheels with this answer . . . . I’d welcome another “insider” view.Dagnat