Georgia Senate Higher Education Committee Chairman Seth Harp Suggests Merging Historically Black Colleges With White Colleges To Save Money

It never fails to amaze me how low some politicians will sink. Senate Higher Education Committee Chairman Seth Harp (R-Midland) wants the University System of Georgia to consider merging historically black public colleges with nearby white-majority schools to save money. Black colleges and universities serve an important role and must remain independent campuses.

I agree that the University System, which has 35 public schools and a $2.3 billion state budget this year, will have to make some hard choices to come up with budget cuts that could top $200 million. This is not just a state issue. The same problems are confronting other states as well. But to suggest that the black colleges be merged with the white schools is an insult to every person who toiled and sweat to make these schools a reality today.

Harp said in two cities, Savannah and Albany, white- and black-majority schools are part of the legacy of segregation. “The white schools were begun as segregation schools. It’s time Georgia closed that ugly chapter,” Harp said during a hearing on the University System’s budget Monday. He suggested the system consider merging two Savannah schools — historically black Savannah State University and historically white-majority Armstrong Atlantic State University. And he said the system should look into merging another historically black college, Albany State, and white-majority two-year Darton College in Albany. Source: Atlanta Journal Constitution

Though the idea would reduce administrative costs and cut the duplication of similar academic programs, it is a bad idea that will set a dangerous precedent. Would you consolidate MIT and the University of Massachusetts to save money? Or Georgia Tech and Georgia State University? Those institutions are ingrained in the fabric of American history. Well, so too are the historically black colleges and universities. The idea is not lost on System Chancellor Erroll Davis, who gave his two cents:

System Chancellor Erroll Davis said the decision won’t be based solely on financial considerations. “You can make obvious arguments about the economics of it, but I don’t think economics will drive the decision,” Davis said. “It’s going to be a political decision, not an economic decision.” Davis said if the “body politic” wants the Board of Regents to look at mergers, it will.

Let me echo the sentiments of state Senator Vincent Fort (D-Atlanta), "Black schools serve a purpose of offering not only programs but an atmosphere conducive to black students graduating,” Fort said. “The challenge is not only getting African-American students in but keeping them in.” Harp could suggest programs that would make these schools more competitive rather than merging them with white schools. The message being sent by Mr. Harp is that these schools don't matter and race is still an issue in the quality of education.