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Howard U. Rallying to Save Morris Brown

By Kerry-Ann Hamilton
Black College Wire

Morris Brown College is in danger of losing its accreditation.

Howard University students, administration, faculty and staff are working assiduously to save Atlanta’s Morris Brown College, one of the oldest historically black colleges and universities, from losing its accreditation.

Howard President H. Patrick Swygert said his university in Washington, D.C., was committed to preserving Morris Brown's legacy.

"We are involved because Morris Brown is a sister institution with a great and important history and a bright future," Swygert said. "We are involved because we at Howard take our leadership responsibilities seriously. This nation should be about the business of creating more, not fewer higher education opportunities."

In a letter to Dr. James Rogers, executive director of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) the accrediting body that oversees Morris Brown, Swygert acknowledged Morris Brown's 121-year contribution and urged the association to revisit its decision to revoke its accreditation.

Swygert’s recommendations include maintaining the institution's accreditation until August 2003, as opposed to the current date of March 2. In addition, Swygert asked that Morris Brown's new president, Dr. James Taylor, be given a reasonable time frame to implement change. He became president in September, only three months before the SACS decision.

The SACS denied the college's accreditation citing numerous violations, including failure to comply with sections 1.4 (conditions of eligibility), 3.1 (planning and evaluation: educational programs), 4.7 (student records), and 6.3.1 (financial resources), among others.

Olu Burrell, a senior English major at Howard, has been instrumental in garnering support to keep Morris Brown’s doors open.

"I heard that Morris Brown was going to lose its accreditation on the news last semester," Burrell said. "I did some research and I did not see any significant outcry from Morris Brown and other schools in the AUC [Atlanta University Center]. So I decided to explore the options Howard students could undertake to help Morris Brown in their current situation."

The Washington, D.C., native admits that when he started this project late last semester he had no idea the task was so extensive, but says his efforts and that of his colleagues will be critical.

"Howard University students have long since been too comfortable living in the wake of a legacy," Burrell said. "We often recount the works of great leaders of the past. We need to use those memories to fuel our present and future endeavors."

With the help of Howard University family, the Burrell-led team is working for a stay on SACS decision to revoke Morris Brown's accreditations. In the long term, the team of students plan to put in place an HBCU "homeland security" to prevent the threat of losing other HBCUs.

Closing Morris Brown could displace more than 2,300 students, some who are graduating seniors.

Irene Schwoeffermann, Howard University Student Association director of political action, has worked closely with Burrell to mobilize students.

"We have begun a letter-writing campaign," Schwoeffermann said. "We want to mail at least 200 letters to the SACS, in addition to 800 postcards of support."

Charlyn Harper Browne, vice president of at academic affairs at Morris Brown, said the college had put in place an accelerated semester of seven weeks. In order to meet the academic requirements, students need to have 2,250 minutes of instruction. Students are to attend each class for 110 minutes three times a week, Monday through Saturday.

"Approximately 1,200 of our students have returned and agreed to do the accelerated semester," Browne said. "Our semester will end on March 7, just before our appeal hearing."

Browne said the semester was designed so that in the event the appeal was not approved, students would graduate from an accredited institution. The vice president also added that neighboring schools such as Georgia State and Fisk universities have agreed to accept Morris Brown students who wish to transfer.

Students and faculty attended a forum on Morris Brown on the Howard campus.

Shari Madkins, a senior chemistry major, is a native of Atlanta. “The experience at a HBCU is priceless," Madkins said. "I studied at a majority college for a semester and really realized what I got from attending from an HBCU I get no where else."

Howard University has established a Web site, http://www.howard/edu/savemorrisbrown, in an effort to bring attention to the Morris Brown issue. Visitors may sign a letter as a part of the campaign to save Morris Brown.

Kerry-Ann Hamilton is a student at Howard University and campus editor of The Hilltop.