Universities, Students Show Support for Morris Brown College

ATLANTA

The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools has received approximately 60 letters asking its board members to give Morris Brown College more time to fix its problems, says the association's executive director, Dr. James T. Rogers.

SACS revoked Morris Brown's accreditation two months ago because of financial problems, its lack of compliance with federal regulations for student financial aid and a failure to maintain audits and other documents (see Black Issues, Jan. 16).

Rogers says while the committee considers the Atlanta-based historically Black college's situation unfortunate, the letters won't be part of what board members review when they meet in the spring to reconsider Morris Brown's accreditation.

When the appeals committee meets, the only issue that will be before board members is whether SACS officials acted unfairly or in a capricious manner in making its initial decision.

"No additional information or statements will be admissible for consideration by the appeals committee," Rogers says. "We're very concerned about this situation. But the fact of the matter is, the issues (Morris Brown is) dealing with right now should have been called to the attention of the community and those that care years ago when something could have been done to resolve them."

A letter campaign, launched last month by the president and students of Howard University, is an effort to support Morris Brown officials and students.

"We're working on making this a nationwide effort to preserve HBCUs," says Howard University senior, Olu Burrell, who is spearheading the effort. The pre-written letters are posted on Howard University's Web site on a page entitled, "Save Morris Brown College."

As of Jan. 23, the Web page had received 17,656 hits and the letter itself had received more than 2,554 hits, according to a Howard University spokeswoman. The school is asking people to click on the site, print and mail the letter to all 77 SACS members.