WASHINGTON – Hampton University president Dr. William R. Harvey lit into the federal government for their inexplicable and indefensible reduction in contracts and appropriations to historically black colleges and universities during times of great economic distress. And he implored his fellow HBCU presidents to join him in aggressively questioning the U.S. department chiefs to account for their purse-tightening with black colleges in comparison to mainstream institutions.
“Most of you know that a couple of weeks ago, I sent a letter to the executive director of the NIH, really and truly taking them to task for the fact that, of all the money that they give for grants and contracts to institutions of higher education, less than 1 percent goes to HBCUs,” he said at the 2011 National Historically Black Colleges and Universities Week Conference.
“You look at the Department of Defense. Their contributions to HBCUs have declined by 50 percent over the last several years. What I am asking is all of you college presidents, please, please come to the session [where heads of federal government agencies will be present] and be aggressive in your questioning,” said Harvey.
The showing of a united front before the secretaries of the U.S. department of Defense, Education, State and others will prevent them from steamrolling Harvey.
“I’m going to be aggressive with these secretaries and assistant secretaries and the directors of these agencies. But if I’m the only one crying out loud in the wilderness, they are going to soon run over me,” Harvey continued. “I need you — we need you — to come to that session and be aggressive in what you ask and what you say. Because if we do, I think that we can move that needle.”
Harvey added that no one is looking for token handouts to placate HBCUs. The research and talent in residence at HBCUs warrant such appropriations of monies to these undervalued institutions.
“If you think about all of the money that is going to higher education, if we had 5 percent of that, 7 percent of that … I don’t want them to just give it to us. We have talent at the HBCUs,” he said to thunderous applause.
“If we are serious about getting more college graduates, as the president wants us to do, and if we are going to do more than just talk about these things, then they have to make some fundamental stories. Dr. [John] Wilson [director of the White House HBCU Initiative] and I are trying to move that needle. But I need your help. If they hear me but don’t hear from you, then they can give HBCUs whatever they feel like. We must hold their feet to the fire,” he said.
–terry shropshire
