Consolidation Provokes Emotion Among Spectators at IHL Meeting

The IHL Board discussed consolidation at its general meeting Thursday.

At The State College Board meeting Thursday, concerns over Governor Haley Barbour's proposed university consolidation sparked some heated dialogue. MPB's Carl Gibson reports.

"I asked you a specific question."
"And I'm answering your specific question..."

State Representative Adrienne Wooten of Jackson confronts Institutions of Higher Learning Commissioner Hank Bounds about the proposed consolidation of her alma mater, Alcorn State University. Governor Barbour proposes merging Mississippi Valley State and Alcorn State into Jackson State University. Wooten says focusing on historically-black colleges and universities, or HBCUs, is discriminatory.

"When I sit down and I look at the numbers and I look at the money we're spending on different universities, the HBCUs are getting, what, a fifth of what some universities are receiving here in the state of Mississippi? To me, there's no comparison."

Barbour also wants to consolidate Mississippi University for Women with nearby Mississippi State, saying the mergers would save on administrative costs. Bounds told board members the proposal is complicated.

"The narrative reads there would be a rationalization of classes at all campuses, including the three not affected by mergers. I assuem that there is an attempt to speak to duplication of courses, but I've not had a conversation with [the Governor's] staff to understand what the intent there is."

JSU Senior Shannon Watkins says student opinions need to be considered.

"We want our degrees to mean something. And we want our degrees to say where we gave our money to and where we applied to, so we can start with something."

Students from HBCUs will rally against consolidation at the state capitol this afternoon.