South Carolina must prove it wants to save SCSU

Dr. Kofi Lomotey
Bardo Distinguished Professor
Western Carolina University

COLUMBIA, South Carolina -- A South Carolina State House of Representatives subcommittee and the House Ways and Means Proviso Subcommittee want to close South Carolina State University (an HBCU) for two years — firing all trustees and employees and starting anew in two years.

While I do not know as much as many with regard to the circumstances surrounding the issues on this particular campus, I do know there has never been an instance where a state has closed down an HBCU (temporarily or otherwise) seeking to make the institution better. This situation smells of politics, nay, racism.

Have you ever heard of such a proposal for another public institution of higher education? In fact, it appears to be an effort to permanently close another HBCU. Moreover, it sets a dangerous precedent; What will happen to the numerous other black institutions that are struggling? Will other states try to close them also, claiming to seek to save them — with little or no input from the people on the campuses?

Actually, I believe there are some colleges and universities — including some HBCUs — that have some grave problems that in many cases have persisted for decades with no serious corrective actions. But the proposed solution in South Carolina is not the answer.

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Dr. Kofi Lomotey has taught at SUNY-Buffalo and LSU. He was Provost at Medgar Evers College-CUNY and at Fisk University. He served as Chancellor at Southern University and President at Fort Valley State University. Kofi earned a PhD, Stanford University,1985; MEd, Stanford University,1981; MA Cleveland State University,1978; and BA Oberlin College,1974.  BIO