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Is Texas Southern University in Good Hands?

After the constant changes in leadership, takeover rumors, lack of equitable funding, and other disparate treatment, many in the community really want to know: Is Texas Southern University in good hands? Texas Southern University (TSU) is a prized institution, located in the heart of Houston’s Third Ward community, but with its continued success has also […]
The post Is Texas Southern University in Good Hands? first appeared on BlackPressUSA.

Published

2 years ago

June 21, 2023

Forward Times Staff

After the constant changes in leadership, takeover rumors, lack of equitable funding, and other disparate treatment, many in the community really want to know:

Is Texas Southern University in good hands?

Texas Southern University (TSU) is a prized institution, located in the heart of Houston’s Third Ward community, but with its continued success has also come many challenges—both internally and externally.

Most recently, Dr. Lesia L. Crumpton-Young, who was selected as the 13^th President of TSU in 2021, submitted a letter to the TSU Board of Regents announcing her abrupt departure from the University last month. The surprising resignation announcement came less than two years from the date of her being hired following the publicly controversial termination of former TSU President Dr. Austin Lane by the TSU Board of Regents in 2020.

As of this article, there have been no other specific details given as to why Dr. Crumpton-Young chose to abruptly resign from TSU, but it has caused yet another change at the top of the burgeoning HBCU and historic institution.

After a special called meeting of the TSU Board of Regents on May 26^th, TSU Board Chair Albert Myres released a statement announcing that the TSU Board had “unanimously agreed with the request and the mutually beneficial timing that will ultimately lead to the best outcome for Texas Southern University” and that “a board Transition Oversight Committee, chaired by Dr. Mary Sias” would be formed.

Dr. Mary Evans Sias was appointed by Texas Governor Greg Abbott in October 2020, to serve as a member of the TSU Board of Regents.

After that statement was released, there were many calls for an experienced interim president to be appointed by the TSU Board of Regents to ensure there would be a level of stability as they searched for a permanent new leader to lead the University into the future.

In response to those calls to act, the TSU Board of Regents called a special meeting on June 15^th to discuss the matter of leadership and other things in closed executive session.

After roughly six hours, the TSU Board of Regents came out having unanimously appointed Dr. Sias to assume the role of interim president at TSU, effective June 30, 2023.

By taking on this role as interim president, Dr. Sias had to resign from her board role during this interim period. During her time as a member of the TSU Board of Regents, she chaired the Administration and Finance Committee.

Dr. Sias received a Bachelor of Science in Sociology from Tougaloo College, a Master of Science and Doctor of Philosophy in Sociology from the University of Wisconsin Madison. Still, she earned a Master of Business Administration from Abilene Christian University. She was bestowed an honorary Doctor of Public Service from Central Michigan University.

Texas Southern University

According to a statement released by the University, Dr. Sias is nationally recognized as a higher education thought leader, a longtime university president, and an administrator.

“Dr. Sias brings a fresh perspective along with a nationally recognized reputation built on experience, success, and a proven track record of leadership as a chief executive officer and longtime university president,” TSU Board Chair Myres said in the statement. “She is committed to using her wisdom and experience for navigating internal and external opportunities to ensure all our stakeholders: students, faculty, staff, alumni, and community supporters…remain TSU Proud. She has 100 percent support from the board.”

Prior to her appointment to the TSU Board of Regents, Dr. Sias spent more than three decades serving respectively as president of Kentucky State University (2004-2014), senior vice president for student affairs and external relations at the University of Texas Dallas (1995-2004) and chief executive officer of the YWCA of Metropolitan Dallas (1984-1995). During her career in academia, Dr. Sias has been an associate provost, associate professor, and assistant professor at both Grambling State University and Southern Methodist University.

Dr. Sias most recently served as the director of the Millennium Leadership Institute (MLI), the premier professional development program for senior higher education leaders who desire to become university presidents and chancellors. Additionally, she served as assistant to the president for the American Association of State Colleges and Universities (AASCU).

Dr. Sias brings a broad range of administrative proficiencies on a state and national level. She has served as chairperson of two of the big six national organizations in higher education: the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities (APLU) and the American Association of State Colleges and Universities (AASCU). Additional board experiences include service as chairperson of the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association (SIAC), the Educational Testing Service Advisory Board for HBCUs and president of both the Tejas Council of Girl Scouts and The Dallas Summit. Dr. Sias has also amassed a range of community engagement competencies serving on the board of directors for the Frankfort Chamber of Commerce, the Oaks Bank and Trust Company, The Dallas Foundation, Dallas Zoological Society, The Dallas Museum, Children’s Health Services of Texas, Children’s Medical Foundation and Leadership Women.

According to the University, the Acting Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Dakota Doman, will remain in place until the beginning of the interim presidency term on June 30^th.

The decision to appoint Dr. Sias is a much-needed bandaid but concerns still remain as the TSU Board of Regents seeks to hire their 4^th president in less than 10 years.

Corrie Williams, President of Texas Southern University National Alumni Association, addressed the TSU Board of Regents at the special called meeting, regarding some of the TSU alumni’s pressing concerns and demands, which include:

Having one person or one department designated to answer questions from incoming freshman students, so that those students don’t have to call multiple departments and oftentimes wait on hold for extended periods of time to have their questions answered.

Wanting the TSU Board of Regents to have the University put out a statement to clear up current housing miscommunications with students and parents and work on securing and/or building additional on-campus housing.

Hiring adequate faculty and staff to improve customer service and student services in all capacities of the University.

Not having too many staff members serving in multiple roles because they are stretched too thinly and unable to give 100% to the role they were hired to do.

Requesting that each college at the University be fully staffed with deans by the end of the 2023-2024 academic year, and not continue to have as many interim deans as the University currently has.

Guaranteeing that TSU traditions will remain intact regardless of who the TSU Board chooses to hire as the next president.

Keeping an adequate number of alumni on the TSU Presidential Search Committee.

Allowing any presidential finalists to meet with TSU students and TSU alumni prior to being chosen as president.

Ensuring a well-planned, well-executed, and well-funded Homecoming celebration every year, for the purpose of reconnecting and reengaging TSU alumni, so that they can return and give back to the University and its students.

An interim president (as stated earlier in the article, the TSU Board made that decision on the same day of the special called meeting).

Refusing and protesting any plan by the TSU Board of Regents to place TSU under a system by the state of Texas.

It is no secret that there have long been discussions among state legislators in Texas, and other key players across the state of Texas, regarding Texas Southern University (TSU) being potentially taken over and becoming part of a state university system.

There are currently 38 public colleges and universities in the state of Texas, and out of those, only TSU remains as the only independent public university that is not a part of one of the seven (7) state university systems. Prairie View A&M University, the only other public HBCU in Texas, is currently under the Texas A&M University system.

This proposed idea has always been balked against by TSU alumni, faculty members, previous administrations at the University, as well as community stakeholders and education advocates. However, year after year, those conversations continue to bubble and cause the community to rise up and come to TSU’s defense to remain the independent institution it was founded as.

These concerns became even more intense after Texas State Senator Borris L. Miles (D) issued a statement about TSU remaining an independent HBCU on June 15^th. The statement read:

“Last month, members of the Texas Southern University (TSU) Board of Regents met with members and leadership of the Texas House of Representatives to discuss the possibility of TSU joining one of the state’s university systems. I was not aware of the meeting until after it took place. I cannot support TSU joining a system now and I will not support TSU joining a system in the future. TSU was founded to be an independent Historically Black College and University (HBCU) for African American students. Putting TSU under the flag of another university system would go against the very reason this university was created. More importantly, under the leadership of another university system, TSU would be subjected to another system’s priorities that might not be in tune with this HBCU’s unique mission or its priorities. It is crucial that TSU maintain its independence in order for the school and more importantly, its diverse student body, to grow and thrive. I am committed to making TSU a great, independent HBCU, that is fully funded with the resources to ensure its success. Keep the Faith, Keep the Fight!”

In response to the outcry from many stakeholders, the following statement was sent to the Forward Times from the TSU Board of Regents:

“The Texas Southern University Board of Regents has shared publicly on multiple occasions the expressed desire for our great institution to remain an independent, public university. The board believes the unique history, talent incubation for a diverse Texas, and growing research and academic offerings are just some of the reasons to support the case for independence for TSU. We recognize that no actions on the state level take place without the consent and approval of our esteemed elected officials,” the statement continues. “We look forward to joining our state legislators to ensure the continued and collaborative path of independent success for Texas Southern University.”

Founded in 1927, TSU has a tremendous historical significance, as well as the distinction of being designated a special-purpose institution for urban programming and research. TSU was birthed during a time in American history, where the racist and segregationist challenges that African Americans were facing in Texas, made it difficult for Blacks to further their education.

Since its founding, TSU has not only become one of the most diverse and respected institutions in Texas, but TSU has provided higher education access to many underserved communities with academic and research programs that address critical urban issues and prepares its diverse student population to become a force for positive change in a global society.

It is important that this important, historic, and independent HBCU be protected and preserved at all costs, and that everyone is assured that the question regarding whether TSU is in good hands is a resounding…. YES!

The post Is Texas Southern University in Good Hands? appeared first on Forward Times.

The post Is Texas Southern University in Good Hands? first appeared on BlackPressUSA.

Forward Times Staff

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Recently Approved Budget Plan Favors Wealthy, Slashes Aid to Low-Income Americans

BLACKPRESSUSA NEWSWIRE — The most significant benefits would flow to the highest earners while millions of low-income families face cuts

Published

6 days ago

March 21, 2025

Stacy M. Brown

By Stacy M. Brown

BlackPressUSA.com Senior National Correspondent

The new budget framework approved by Congress may result in sweeping changes to the federal safety net and tax code. The most significant benefits would flow to the highest earners while millions of low-income families face cuts. A new analysis from Yale University’s Budget Lab shows the proposals in the House’s Fiscal Year 2025 Budget Resolution would lead to a drop in after-tax-and-transfer income for the poorest households while significantly boosting revenue for the wealthiest Americans. Last month, Congress passed its Concurrent Budget Resolution for Fiscal Year 2025 (H. Con. Res. 14), setting revenue and spending targets for the next decade. The resolution outlines $1.5 trillion in gross spending cuts and $4.5 trillion in tax reductions between FY2025 and FY2034, along with $500 billion in unspecified deficit reduction.

Congressional Committees have now been instructed to identify policy changes that align with these goals. Three of the most impactful committees—Agriculture, Energy and Commerce, and Ways and Means—have been tasked with proposing major changes. The Agriculture Committee is charged with finding $230 billion in savings, likely through changes to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), also known as food stamps. Energy and Commerce must deliver $880 billion in savings, likely through Medicaid reductions. Meanwhile, the Ways and Means Committee must craft tax changes totaling no more than $4.5 trillion in new deficits, most likely through extending provisions of the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. Although the resolution does not specify precise changes, reports suggest lawmakers are eyeing steep cuts to SNAP and Medicaid benefits while seeking to make permanent tax provisions that primarily benefit high-income individuals and corporations.

To examine the potential real-world impact, Yale’s Budget Lab modeled four policy changes that align with the resolution’s goals:

A 30 percent across-the-board cut in SNAP funding.
A 15 percent cut in Medicaid funding.
Permanent extension of the individual and estate tax cuts from the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act.
Permanent extension of business tax provisions including 100% bonus depreciation, expense of R&D, and relaxed limits on interest deductions.

Yale researchers determined that the combined effect of these policies would reduce the after-tax-and-transfer income of the bottom 20 percent of earners by 5 percent in the calendar year 2026. Households in the middle would see a modest 0.6 percent gain. However, the top five percent of earners would experience a 3 percent increase in their after-tax-and-transfer income.

Moreover, the analysis concluded that more than 100 percent of the net fiscal benefit from these changes would go to households in the top 20 percent of the income distribution. This happens because lower-income groups would lose more in government benefits than they would gain from any tax cuts. At the same time, high-income households would enjoy significant tax reductions with little or no loss in benefits.

“These results indicate a shift in resources away from low-income tax units toward those with higher incomes,” the Budget Lab report states. “In particular, making the TCJA provisions permanent for high earners while reducing spending on SNAP and Medicaid leads to a regressive overall effect.” The report notes that policymakers have floated a range of options to reduce SNAP and Medicaid outlays, such as lowering per-beneficiary benefits or tightening eligibility rules. While the Budget Lab did not assess each proposal individually, the modeling assumes legislation consistent with the resolution’s instructions. “The burden of deficit reduction would fall largely on those least able to bear it,” the report concluded.

Stacy M. Brown

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A Threat to Pre-emptive Pardons

BLACKPRESSUSA NEWSWIRE — it was a possibility that the preemptive pardons would not happen because of the complicated nature of that never-before-enacted process.

Published

6 days ago

March 21, 2025

Oakland Post

By April Ryan

President Trump is working to undo the traditional presidential pardon powers by questioning the Biden administration’s pre-emptive pardons issued just days before January 20, 2025. President Trump is seeking retribution against the January 6th House Select Committee. The Trump Justice Department has been tasked to find loopholes to overturn the pardons that could lead to legal battles for the Republican and Democratic nine-member committee. Legal scholars and those closely familiar with the pardon process worked with the Biden administration to ensure the preemptive pardons would stand against any retaliatory knocks from the incoming Trump administration. A source close to the Biden administration’s pardons said, in January 2025, “I think pardons are all valid. The power is unreviewable by the courts.”

However, today that same source had a different statement on the nuances of the new Trump pardon attack. That attack places questions about Biden’s use of an autopen for the pardons. The Trump argument is that Biden did not know who was pardoned as he did not sign the documents. Instead, the pardons were allegedly signed by an autopen. The same source close to the pardon issue said this week, “unless he [Trump] can prove Biden didn’t know what was being done in his name. All of this is in uncharted territory. “ Meanwhile, an autopen is used to make automatic or remote signatures. It has been used for decades by public figures and celebrities.

Months before the Biden pardon announcement, those in the Biden White House Counsel’s Office, staff, and the Justice Department were conferring tirelessly around the clock on who to pardon and how. The concern for the preemptive pardons was how to make them irrevocable in an unprecedented process. At one point in the lead-up to the preemptive pardon releases, it was a possibility that the preemptive pardons would not happen because of the complicated nature of that never-before-enacted process. President Trump began the threat of an investigation for the January 6th Select Committee during the Hill proceedings. Trump has threatened members with investigation or jail.

Oakland Post

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Reaction to The Education EO

BLACKPRESSUSA NEWSWIRE — Meanwhile, the new Education EO jeopardizes funding for students seeking a higher education. Duncan states, PellGrants are in jeopardy after servicing “6.5 million people” giving them a chance to go to college.

Published

6 days ago

March 21, 2025

Oakland Post

By April Ryan

There are plenty of negative reactions to President Donald Trump’s latest Executive Order abolishing the Department of Education. As Democrats call yesterday’s action performative, it would take an act of Congress for the Education Department to close permanently. “This blatantly unconstitutional executive order is just another piece of evidence that Trump has absolutely no respect for the Constitution,” said Rep. Maxine Waters (D-CA) who is the ranking member on the House Financial Services Committee. “By dismantling ED, President Trump is implementing his own philosophy on education, which can be summed up in his own words, ‘I love the poorly educated.’ I am adamantly opposed to this reckless action, said Rep. Bobby Scott who is the most senior Democrat on the House Education and Workforce Committee.

Morgan State University President Dr. David Wilson chimed in saying “I’m deeply concerned about efforts to shift federal oversight in education back to the states, particularly regarding equity, justice, and fairness. History has shown us what happens when states are left unchecked—Black and poor children are too often denied access to the high-quality education they deserve. In 1979 then President Jimmy Carter signed a law creating the Department of Education. Arne Duncan, former Obama Education Secretary, reminds us that both Democratic and Republican presidents have kept education a non-political issue until now. However, Duncan stressed Republican presidents have contributed greatly to moving education forward in this country.

During a CNN interview this week Duncan said during the Civil War President Abraham “Lincoln created the land grant system” for colleges like Tennessee State University. “President Ford brought in IDEA.” And “Nixon signed Pell Grants into law.” In 2001, the No Child Left Behind Act was signed into law by President George W. Bush which increased federal oversight of schools through standardized testing. Meanwhile, the new Education EO jeopardizes funding for students seeking higher education. Duncan states, PellGrants are in jeopardy after servicing “6.5 million people” giving them a chance to go to college. Wilson details, “that 40 percent of all college students rely on Pell Grants and student loans.”

Rep. Alma Adams (D-NC) says this Trump action “impacts students pursuing higher education and threatens 26 million students across the country, taking billions away from their educational futures. Meanwhile, During the president’s speech in the East Room of the White House Thursday, Trump criticized Baltimore City, and its math test scores with critical words. Governor West Moore, who is opposed to the EO action, said about dismantling the Department of Education, “Leadership means lifting people up, not punching them down.”