Photo Credits: (c) 2016 Harold Michael Harvey
ATLANTA, GEORGIA, Cascade Press,Tuskegee’s administrative woes were on display at a Saturday night football game against Clark-Atlanta University. A Tuskegee graduate, Carl Trimble, clad in psychedelic pants and a white polo shirt hoisted a banner outside the main gate of Panther Stadium on the historic CAU campus, as fans of both schools streamed by on their way to witness Tuskegee defeat Clark-Atlanta University 36-13.
Tuskegee’s football program has won more collegiate football games than any other Historical Black College or University.
Trimble’s sign read “Tuskegee on Academic Warning…. “Probation?”
Trimble, an Atlanta architect, said he wanted to raise awareness that Tuskegee’s accreditation could be in jeopardy because of a warning notice issued to the university by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS).
Last year the university was placed on warning status by SACS. When SACS reviewed Tuskegee’s status this year, Tuskegee failed to satisfy SACS requirements for removal from this status. The university was continued on warning notice for an additional year.
“Are you aware of this?” Trimble, pointing to the lettering on the sign, asked a group of young women wearing Tuskegee paraphernalia. The group paused long enough to shake their heads, “no,” in puzzled bewilderment.
“Do you know what it means, Trimble inquired?”
“No,” the group mumbled, hurrying past Trimble holding his sign.
Undaunted, Trimble yelled to a man with salt and pepper hair wearing the legendary insignia of Tuskegee University, “Do you know about this?”
“Yes,” he said,continuing his saunter toward the entrance gate of the stadium.
“Do you even care, Trimble asked?”
“Yes, I care,” the man said, not breaking his stride.
“You don’t care,” Trimble said.
The man stopped to challenge Trimble’s assertion. By that time, Trimble had focused on other Tuskegee alumni; so the man said to a reporter, “Tell him, I do care, but I don’t like what he is doing.”
“Why,” the reporter asked?
“It’s my choice,” the man said, rushing inside to cheer the Golden Tigers.
Inside the stadium, a Baby Boomer wearing a hat with Tuskegee University embroidered on it, sat down next to classmates and showed them a flyer he had received at the entrance gate.
“Man, they’re out there with a big stack of these flyers, passing them out,” he said to his classmates.
The flyer had a picture of the university’s first principle, Booker T. Washington. The headline asked: “Tuskegee Alumni Did you know? Tuskegee University Needs Us! …Now!”
A discussion ensued. His friends conceded they were aware that the university was under a SACS Warning Notice.
“I don’t think they should be out there passing these things out,” the man said to his friends.
“But something has to be done about this,” one of his classmates replied.
The group seemed to agree that something should be done to redirect the “trajectory” of Tuskegee University. They mentioned firing President Brian Johnson, getting rid of the Board of Trustees and they discussed the fact that all HBCUs need money and are under the gun to prove that they are still relevant.
Their last point was poignantly on display during the halftime show. CAU has temporarily disbanded its marching band due to a financial pinch. The Stockbridge High School Marching Band performed in their stead.
Tuskegee’s administrative problems have crept into the pre-game discussions held by alumni at its football games.
Harold Michael Harvey is an American novelist and essayist, the author of Paper puzzle and Justice in the Round; and the host of Beyond the Law with Harold Michael Harvey. He can be contacted at haroldmichaelharvey.com.
As a graduate of Tuskegee in 1970, with daughters who are graduates of Tuskegee University with excellent careers, I would like to express my dissatisfaction of fellow Alums that publicly display negativity of their “Mother”. I would never express negatives of my mother nor my family. How can we do such a thing. I think a majority of Alums have personal issues. I will say this, I love “Mother Tuskegee”. My legacy is expressed in my loyalty and the recruitment to our University. Don’t talk or spread negatives about my Mother. If you do we have major issues. Burn your Degree. You probably not supporting financially anyway. So keep your negativity to yourself when talking about “My Mother Tuskegee”.
Do we have problems? Yes, but name me one HBCU that is not having survival issues due to integration. Alums stay loyal to your mother like you were taught and with positive support we will conquer the present issues and rise to our appointed place, at the top!!!!
I agree with Mr. Smith.He said it well. I prefer not to air negatives about our Mother Tuskegee and I will continue to offer my services as well as be a paid member to show my support as an Alumni. We will conquer the present issues and rise to our appointed place at the top!!!. I am a graduate of Tuskegee in 1971.
Mr. Smith has offered an olive branch and I have offered one as well, but if we continue to take sides, in the face of an honest attempt to create positive dialogue, the two sides will never get together. It does not matter which side is right, the problems need to be resolved.
I agree with you both Robert and James, however the current leadership and financial plight of Mother Tuskegee has been damaged severely. Every major news outlet has been notified by Tuskegee University via a series of press release updated and all other infomation posted on the official website ,Tuskegee.edu in an effort to exercise damage control .I agree that we discuss it as alumni, we must tell the story facing us correctly .We all know that protecting the positive image of Mother Tuskegee, should be the subject that all of us who entered Lincoln Gates should and wil continue to hold with a degree of concern.However,please let us not loose focus on the real issue currently and how we arrive at this discussion , which us challenging us all who possess That Ole Skegee Spirit..Our plight begins and ends with those who we entrusted and unfortunately have allowed our plight to fester and obviously still continue to exercise procrastination in
making the best decisions for our beloved Mother Tuskegee. We all at some point have made bad decisions and in most instances we take responsibility and do our level best to mitigate through eliminating the risk of those bad decision recurring again.Our Tuskegee University Board Of Trustees appear to haveb failed in the minds of many to move foward hence creating what is obviously a crisis of instability ,fostering an image that Mother Tuskegee did not ask for.Our problems are now public and those responsible (Board Of Tustees)must step up or step down and allow corrective action .Had prior action been taken, we all would not be here airing our problems in public venues. Please let us promote washing out all that is not so clean and change the beddingb and make sure Mother Tuskegee will get back to sleeping well. We all have work to do in one accord to keep her Healthy.
Very well stated Frank H. Lee. Also kudos to you and your efforts in keeping all abreast of Alumni who have said their last goodbye to this environment. I hope one day that there will exist a photo of all alums in our database to continue the kind of work that you do to keep us informed. As we become season Alums it is sometimes difficult to recall all those we have met at Tuskegee that have moved on.
Hats off to you and what you do to keep us informed.
Robert C. Smith, is it possible to expand the alumni group to include input from minority voices in the alumni group on how to address the financial and accreditation issues facing Tuskegee University?
I don’t believe the gentleman in the picture is talking about anyone’s mother. Stay above the fray gentleman. He appears to be saying the people inhabiting the home of his elderly mother are not rendering the best treatment or providing the best care of his mother too! I believe he is pointing out or bringing attention to the “Hired or Appointed Caretakers” of his mother.
I accept his call for help. I accept his call to action as notice to his fellow brothers and sisters that someone is mistreating “Our Mother Tuskegee”. It maybe time for our brothers and sisters to come to the nursing home or mama’s house other than homecoming and check on “Our Mother Tuskegee”!
I’m sure there where students and Alums that appreciated your information about the academic status of our beloved Tuskegee University. My question to you, is how can I and other alumni assist you in doing something about it?
Mr. Turner, thanks for your inquiry. A group named Concerned Tuskegee Alumni for Change distributed leaflets at the football game. Their contact information on this leaflet is as follows:
P. O. Box 90164
Atlanta, GA 303364
[email protected]
Again, thanks for your inquiry.
What is the protocol for being left on academic probation for the additional year? How do we help?
Mr. Jordan. Usually, you get two years to fix the problem. If you can not SACS takes more punitive actions. See my response below to Mr. Maurice Turner for information on how to get involved.
When did the problems start?
The first warning notice was issued in April 2015. I wrote about it then. If you follow the links at the bottom of this story it will lead you back to the beginning story I wrote on this situation. Thanks for your question.
Trimble is doing the right thing even though I hate that it had come to this. A warning and a probation from SACS is the first step toward a school losing its accredidation, if that university does not take the necessary steps to correct its problems. And make no mistake about this, people fought long and hard to have Historically Black Colleges and Univerisities to be examined and counted among all of the institutions of higher learning in the American southeast. Spelman College’s former president Florence Matilda Read was one of those individuals who fought long and hard to get HBCUs the recognition they deserved from SACS. As someone who has actually participated in a college’s preparation for a SACS review, I know that a warning from SACS should be addressed ASAP; and that warning can actually help a school figure out what it needs to do to rectify its problems. FYI: The Georgia Institute of Technology (bka “Georgia Tech”) was given a warning by SACS less than 15 years ago, so it isn’t just HBCUs who run into problems. I hope and pray that Tuskegee will respond in the manner in which its rich legacy dictates. Forget about the rhetoric and the public perception and focus on rectifying the school’s problems–the students at Tuskegee deserve no less.
Thank your for your comments. As your experience has taught, SACS do not play. Also, there is no shame in the public knowing about the warning notice. The shame is having too much pride to take the necessary steps to successfully navigate yourself off the warning notice status.
When was the last time you said something GOOD about Mother Tuskegee?
Me, thank you for your question. The links below are a few. Regrettably, while the articles you reference as not saying anything good about Tuskegee were each read by over 20,000 people, less than 500 people combined read the three articles I have attached as answer to your question. Perhaps, you were one of the 5oo people who read these three good things I have written about Tuskegee.
Also, I dedicated a great deal of positive space to Tuskegee University in my book Justice in the Round: Essays on the American Jury System (Cascade Publishing House, 2015).
https://haroldmichaelharvey.com/2016/03/28/tuskegee-turning-corner-woes/
https://haroldmichaelharvey.com/2015/02/25/tuskegee-honored-at-hall-of-fame/
https://haroldmichaelharvey.com/2016/07/04/day-fan-thought-willie-mays/
If you have not read these four items, I recommend them to you.
I respect both Carl Trimble and Harold Michael Harvey opinions on the problems at our dear alma mater. I would like to know if either has submmited any solutions to sacs as the institution (http://www.tuskegee.edu/Articles/tuskegee_university_maintains_accreditation_sacscoc_warning_extended.aspx) has that will will solve the problem. Let us all seek to offer solutions rather than pointing out problems.
Mr. Davis, thank you for your comment.
First, how can one offer solutions without acknowledging or pointing out the problems?
Second, the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools does not receive input from the public. There job is to accredit institutions. When they find areas of concern they ask for additional information. Ii is the role of the university to offer those solutions to SACS.
Moreover, I have been in private conversations with certain Trustee members and have shared possible solutions. I have not discussed the nature of those solutions in my writings in order to facilitate the unbiased discussion of those ideas inside the board.
Also, I believe our blog post on “Who Runs Tuskegee” had an impact in the board removing Chuck Williams as chair. Williams ultimately left the board after he was demoted. Williams day to day meddling in the administrative affairs of the university was one of the problems of concern to SACS.
It has been my experience that a discussion of solutions without a discussion on why the solution should be implemented is desolutory.
There are plenty of good things about Tuskegee University. I personally think “outsider” have much more respect for Our University. The First Lady of this United States of America thought it was worth her efforts to visit and convey encouraging words to our Staff and graduates, not to mention other well known figure heads. Remember we are what we “speak”. Speak positive, positive things will occur; speak negative, negative things will prevail. The power of the mouth and the words spoken can birth reality. Even when times are bad, speaking prosperity, growth, increase, these spoken words will move in that direction. Remember we are what we speak. Let’s spread “positive vides” as we conquer these negative issues affecting our University. AllweDoisWin at Tuskegee University.
Thank you for your comment. I welcome you to submit an article to this blog shedding whatever positive light you want on Tuskegee University. Kindly email your article to [email protected]. Enclose any photograph that you wish to be included with your article.
Also, note when some alumni go to extoridanay lengths to bring positive light to the university, those efforts are shunned and not acknowledged by the university.
For instance, in 2013, I worked hard to get William Clarence Matthews inducted into the National College Baseball Hall of Fame. Matthews as you may know, not only played baseball at Tuskegee in the early 1890s, but also assisted in organizing the football team at Tuskegee. There has never been any mentioned of this positive contribution on the Tuskegee website, no acknowledgement from the University or the board of trustees. Perhaps, this positive light on Tuskegee can not be seen because it was not delivered, as you put it, by the First Lady of the United States or other well known figure heads. However, it amazes me how all of the articles pointing out the not so good from an unknown figure head, gets the attention and stirs the emotion of the alumni.
In keeping with the theme of your epistle, when we acknowledge, the positive light contributed from minor sources, it leads to an expansion of that light. Embrace the positive no matter the source and more positive experiences will grow from the appreciation given to what appears to be a little light shinning to illuminate Tuskegee University.
In short, do what you challenge me to do.
Your point is well taken and I commit to do what I say. I respect your talents and abilities in communication. Let see more of the positive side toward Our University. Just because someone (Staff) dropped the request does not mean you can’t revisit that request you initiated. If you believe in it, try again. Keep in mind that failure does not reflect the entire University. Don’t take things perpetual, changes are a necessity to success. Stay open and positive.
Now you are putting the onerous on me. I am person who with love and pride for my university went to great expense to travel to Lubbock, Texas to represent Tuskegee University. No one asked me to do it. I did it out of love for Tuskegee. Who even remembers William Clarence Matthews? He has long been forgotten in our history.
After doing the research and gaining this honor for Matthews and Tuskegee two persons in leadership positions thought very little of the effort.
Do you not think that in your position as a new leader in the Tuskegee community, that you should suggest to them, that they should revisit this issue. Moreover, the staffers who dropped the ball on this situation are the university president and the Director of Athletics. Perhaps, your conversation on not taking things perpetual, that changes are a necessity to success, should be had with Johnson and Campbell.
I would welcome an opportunity to sit down with them and you to discuss this matter. Set it up and I will be there. But keep in mind, this Matthews matter is a minor matter. If the meeting is held, everything is on the table, Matthews, SACS, the financial aid audit, the lack of a financial statement since 2011, the dorms, the Kellogg management contract, etc, etc, etc.
Thank you brother for sharing this vital piece of info. Without TU, I would not be where I am nor who I am. I love TU. I love all HBCU’s beause we are a collection of colleges and universities that understand and know our people. I see HBCU’s as sibling institutions. We’re brothers and sisters. Whether or not this brother stood at the entrance with this sign does not change the truth. Our mother university is in trouble. Instead of debating how this brother chose to bring awareness to the issue, let’s discuss how we can take care of our mother TU and other HBCU’s facing these same challenges. And YES, HBCU’s are just as relevant now as they were in our grandparents days. We are slowing reversing back to separate, but not quite equal. Wake up!
I must admit my ignorance. I have never heard of good deals of William Clarence Matthews but I will educate myself on his accomplishments. When ever we can recognize our own we should and I support that. Yes we had Lionel, Tom and others but keep the recognition of accomplishments to continue. It didn’t stop with Booker T. Washington or George Washington Carver, that was only the start of the many talents that have been on the yard.
Help educate me on Mr. Matthews, I welcome your resources.
Here is some information on Attorney William Clarence Matthews and a good bit of positive light on Tuskegee University. Needless to say, very few people bothered to read this story and only one person added a comment. I hope you will share this story with your connections because it sheds a lot of light on what Tuskegee University means not only to her alumni, but to our entire community.: https://haroldmichaelharvey.com/2015/02/25/tuskegee-honored-at-hall-of-fame/
Mother Tuskegee’s problem is not just SACS…If the faculty and staff senate would just voice the truth, I really think we would have a much better understanding. Mother Tuskegee Is Bleeding And Bleeding Profusely. Our Trustees Must Step Up Immediately And Take Corrective Action.Carl’s method might offend some, however prior trustee decisions and corrective action would have been considered , Carl Trimble would not be waving the banner of informing us.Many of us alumni looking from afar have ignored the real challenge and are given the impression that all is well at Mother Tuskegee. I am suggesting the idea of you talking to a student,staff or faculty member, or even a trustee, but in many cases,trustees can’t tell you anything.Ask them if you really want to be informed.I see them frequently and the response is alarming. Please don’t kill the messenger, but listen to the message and seek the facts and form your own opinion.I have and it is more than alarming.We can not solve Mother Tuskegee’s problem here on social media sites.Certainly, it is about time we unite and work on unified solutions, not tomorrow but immediately.Alumni Clubs should begin this process ASAP.
There you have it, a call to get all voices weighing in on the problems at Tuskegee from Frank H. Lee.
I think the fact that we are talking to each other now instead of at each other, we are getting somewhere. I hope you all keep the conversation going. You can do it here. I will moderate. Just keep it clean and respectfully of each others opinions. There is no doubt in my mind that both sides love Tuskegee. Together we can help her through this crisis.
Thanks for providing the venue to showcase the dialogue all for the continuing support of “Mother Tuskegee”.
You are welcome. Please keep the conversation going. It may be a good idea to invite administrators to participate as listeners if nothing else.Although they are welcome to comment. I pledge to protect everyone who offers a comment.i hold no ill well against anyone who have made angry comments to me in the past. I know they did it out of love for the university. Let the conversation begin. Just keep in mind what is in the best interest of TU.
Now that we have a conversation started, speak up. If anyone has contact information for Richie and Joyner get them involved in this conversation. Also Keenan and his brothers.We need people at the table who take our ideas and make something miraculous happen.All for one and one for all!
Wow! Carl has started something. If there was an effective way to communicate with the University and the TUBOT acts like this would not be needed. When questions are not answered and act are taken that appear to be contrary to best practices you do what you have to do. No one wants to expose Tuskegee’s problems but Leadership at all levels have failed to answer or have a dialog about the problems. I have been accused of being bias, which I am, but there are real problems that have to be addressed including management.
Carl has been aggressive and unless thing change he should as we all should let his/our conscious be his/our guide. People will continue to react to what he does and maybe some good will come out of it. No action is unacceptable. The silence of Alumni is deafening. Maybe this will cause Alumni to wake up and at least look into the matter. If you don’t like his actions get rid of his issues. Some one communicate with him.
Point well taken.
Mr. Harvey,
I live in the Dallas area (Go Cowboys!) and my knowledge of these issues relating to TU is from what I gather from other alums in the area, although, I’ve been following your articles on TU and other issues/topics. I’m curious do you know where TNAA stands on these issues? Sometime change need to be effected from the top. We elect them to represent us fairly and unbiasedly; but it seems to me that they are not doing so; very disappointing. I also believe that Tuskegee does not have a very strong board even though one-third of them are graduates of the school (good or bad???). When things were going bad at Howard University a couple of years ago, a board member spoke out on the situation which later lead to changes.
We need better trustees who have influential power to help the school generate money and of course we, the alumni must step up our game. I just witness my other Alma Mater, SMU capital campaign generate over 1.2 billion.
Furthermore, the faculty senate is a strong voice of any university; any ideal why TU faculty/senate has not issue a vote of the confident level in president and/or board? It is apparent to me if things are that bad, they should speak out.
With TNAA, our board of trustee representatives and the alumni, we should be able to move mountains!
I did contact the Concern Alumni group for additional information.
Mr. PerryE, I think TNAA is taking a wait and see approach. This approach has led minority voices to seek other avenues to have their ideas heard on the long term survival of the university. I understand your assessment of the Board of Trustees. In past years, the Board was an assortment of who’s who in the world of high finance. I think those days are gone and they probably left us because the student body in previous years pushed for a more independent agenda from the Board. So the big boys left and took their money with them. With respect to the Senate Faculty, I understand, however, I have no way to prove this, that the President bullies the faculty. He tells them, I am told, that he is the smartest person on campus. They are quite frankly afraid for their jobs.
I believe in a nutshell this is why we are where we are. The traditional institutions of governance either cannot or is unwilling to require more from the Board of Trustees and the Administration. Therefore, independent alumni are the change they seek.