Photo Credits: Harold Michael Harvey
Atlanta, Georgia, Cascade Press, Saturday, October 8, 2016, John Page, Chairman of the Board of Trustees at Tuskegee University spoke with the Concerned Tuskegee Alumni in Atlanta, Georgia. He asked the group to quiet its dissenting voice regarding issues confronting the university.
Page’s message to the Concerned Tuskegee Alumni (CTA) was very similar to the “House Divided” lecture he gave to board members last weekend during the board’s annual fall meeting. His speech to the board was largely successful as members who had been willing to take a vote of no confidence on the job performance of the university president decided to get in line behind Page.
Before Saturday’s meeting the Board chairman told CTA’s leaders that he would not speak if any reporters or bloggers had R. S. V. P.ed positively for the meeting. Our sources state that Page asked to review the RSVP list and specified several Tuskegee Alumni who could not attend this meeting. Additionally, he prohibited any recordings or photographs.
When CTA’s leadership declined to allow Page to dictate who could and could not attend the meeting, he emphatically stated that he would not “speak if Michael Harvey was present.”
Needless to say, Harvey attended the conference. He arrived several minutes after Page had begun his discussion with CTA members. Page did not leave the meeting.
The Chairman told CTA members that he thought it was counterproductive to publically discuss issues facing the university. He said that some of the things he has read about President Brian Johnson “are not fit to show to children.” He said he did not believe that Black people should criticize Black leadership.
Page said he was willing to discuss any issue with the group as long as it did not deal with leadership and administration. He talked about the systemic problems facing the university. For instance, one of the infractions included in a warning notice from the Southern Associations of Colleges and Schools had to do with the failure of the university to file an audit of Title IV funds.
According to Page, the audit had been timely prepared, but the university failed to include it with the SACS plan. To compound this problem, after SACS alerted the university that the audit had not been included, the university still did not file the audit.
It took a second rap on the hands from SACS the following year before the university found the audit report on an administrator’s desk. Page said he thought”someone should be fired” over the negligent handling of the Title IV audit. He did not indicate if any administrator had been disciplined for the failure to attach the audit to its SACS submission.
Attorney Page addressed the matter of the decrease in Tuskegee’s endowment. The endowment has fallen from $130 million to $115 million dollars in recent years. However, Page said that the reduction can be explained as the consequent of the 2008 economic downturn. He said that the endowment lost $10 million, but he did not account for the additional $5 million loss.
Also, Page’s explanation tends to suggest that the endowment dropped from $130 million in 2008 to $115 million this year. According to a June 30,2012 financial statement filed by Tuskegee University with the state of Alabama, the endowment was $131,598,836 (See page 14). Despite Page’s matter of fact contention, this means the university’s decrease in the endowment occurred between 2013 and 2016 long after most investment funds had recovered from the 2008 economic downturn.
A look at the 2012 Financial Statement further reveals that of the $15 million value Page places on the endowment today,$7,512,970 was pledged to Regions Bank, along with other collateral, on June 25, 2012 to secure a $10, 000,000 line of credit (See page 15).
Additionally, Page said that the Tuskegee endowment was slightly below the endowments of Spelman College and Hampton University. However, according to HBCU Money, which keeps track of these type of statistics from the National Association of College & University Business Officers, as of 2015, Spelman had an endowment of $362.986 million and Hampton’s endowment was $263.237 million. At $115 million, less $7,512,970, Tuskegee is no where close these two elite HBCUs.
Playing fast and loose with the facts, it is easy to see why Chairman Page did not want any reporters, bloggers or fact checkers in the room to listen to his presentation. It clearly explains why he wants the voices of dissent to go away.
SOURCES:
Tuskegee University Financial Statement, June 30, 2012
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.
First, I unfortunately was not there on yesterday. I do not understand why the group allowed such restrictions of the chairman to be honored. I am sure he did not share any top secrets with the Concerned Alumni. Why was the chairman allowed to set the rules for the game, operate as a player and referee? My frat told me Page even packed up his ball (his papers and iPad) and threaten to leave a one point.
Second, I now believe we have a much greater problem than the remedial academic Brian Johnson. My frat was in attendance. My frat described John Page as an arrogant, hyper-sensitive, paranoid lady! He stated that the panel was delivered to him as humble little non-aggressive almost passive and amenable cheerleaders. He stated he had a problem with having a panel. Though the panel only asked or offered soft-ball boxed questions to help him look good and competent.
My frat said Page continued to complain about the format. Frat said he continued to insist on knowing the name of each person in the room (not just the panel) though he had already shook hands and greeted everybody in the room (you have got to love the politicians). Page somehow became engulfed in a standoff with another attorney on the panel. Page (the Chairman of Tuskegee University’s Board of Trustees) then tells the panelist who is an attorney something like “you can roll your eyes all you want, I don’t care”! What the hell! What type of professional decorum was he operating under? This must be his MO! Why would any faculty or staff member trust someone who behaved publicly just like Brian Johnson. I know I wouldn’t. No wonder Page protects this imbecile. Page recognizes so much of his own behavior, insecurities, narcissism, hyper-sensitivity and paranoia is reflected in Johnson. My frat said he left the group with the residuals of deep concern and unsettled thoughts. Frat said he never would have thought he was witnessing the presentation of a seasoned attorney seated as the chair of one of the world’s most prestigious boards, bar-none. My friend said Page looked more like a neophyte domestic defending one of his gang members on rival turf in the rough streets a New York borough.
Frat said he turned to the mild mannered but firm moderator and tells her to stop interrupting him as she sat quietly and nodded with a look of what he considered concern and dismay. Frat said the moderator allowed Page to ramble continuously off-subject and used her energy to disengage the panelist in direct fire on Page. My friend’s wife said Page was constantly saying “I know I’m off subject”, “I’m trying to answer your question”, “I forgot your question” and “Did I answer your question”? I hope the moderator was using the approach that moderators have been using with Trump. Allowing Page/Trump the opportunity to allow them and their own words to dig their own ditch! Somehow I think this guy thought he was going to come and deliver his classic “Get On Board Little Children” speech to this group.
The story goes, one of the panelist asked why should alumni trust the board and he then is set completely off. A panelist asked what if you are wrong?
Here is where frat said things get a bit, no really, really strange and the idea that Page suffers from paranoia really is confirmed with the entire audience.
My frat said Page then randomly redirected his attention to an alumni taking notes on his phone and accused him of video taping in front of everyone. The man states he is taking notes and not filming or recording. The crowd defends the guy and raise eyebrows on Page’s erratic behavior. At this point in the story I am sure my frat is exaggerating a bit! I speak with a friend of my wife’s and she confirms this is fact! She added that Page packs up his bags and items to leave before the moderator had to offer an unwarranted apology to keep him and his hypersensitive feelings in the room.
John Page is a Penn University Law graduate. My frat said after his erratic behavior, profuse sweating and juvenile antics he then wants to have a classic Kumba Yah/We Shall Overcome moment with the naive black folks and pray in efforts to redeem himself.
This is all getting old. Every time someone behaves poorly in public or are called to task for the responsibilities under their governance or purview, public prayer is used to coat or mask delivering the facts. Johnson was seen praying last week publicly with the piperettes. Was Johnson praying we won, that no one was hurt or that he and Page didn’t lose their positions?
Frat said Page claimed almost all HBCUs were on some type of academic warning. That may be an acceptable expectation for the chairman of mediocre colleges and universities. Mediocracy is not expected, tolerated or acceptable at Tuskegee University. I doubt and do not believe powerhouses that are of the same caliber the Spelman, Howard, Hampton or Morehouse are facing the same issues with academics not finances.
I regret the group did not push for the town hall format, so my frat could have drilled down on Page’s head as to why the CFOs, VPs, Comptrollers, Deans, Donors (e.g., Blakely, Dickerson, Dean Spears, Dean Bramwell, Dean Burge) jumped off the sinking Johnson-Page Titanic. The manner in which Johnson treated the Smith and Washington-Douglass families was so disrespectful. Page almost made the same mistake in not allowing the families an opportunity to be heard. We would have torn the top off of these clowns (Johnson and Page’s) three rings circus.
Johnson and Page should resign immediately. Neither is prepared for the heavy lifting required to be in leadership at Tuskegee University.
The TNAA and its puppets are not going to do the heavy lifting here. We need a more aggressive group than these committed caring mature alumni. While I respect this group they are working to hard to not embarrass the university or expose members of the board and certain alumni.
Who will step forward? Alumni, alumni board members and supporters must come together and move forward now and save Mother Tuskegee.
Elder board members:
FELKER WARD, Pebblin Warren, FLOYD GRIFFIN
We need your leadership now!
Are you going to let the ship sink on your watch or trust these two-bit hustlers?
IF WE FAIL …. The responsibility lay in your laps!
Dr. Bradford, I respect your opinion and appreciate your comment. However, I do not like to approve comments that include name calling towards personalities. There are a couple of passages where I think you came close to the line.Please tone down the name calling in future comments. Also, there was three law school graduates in the meeting on yesterday. Two of whom are 1973 graduates of Tuskegee Institute. I assure you Attorney Page will not snooker either Mr. Hunter or myself. I am extremely offended that Page, a non-Tuskegeean, would specifically ask to have me barred from attending a meeting called by concerned members of my alma mater.
That being said, there are a number of items in your comment that I do not think accurately reflects what I observed in yesterday’s meeting. I am not sure who your Frat is that attended this meeting, but I do not agree that the following events occurred:
I did not hear the chairman use any profane language. He spoke the King’s English and he spoke it extremely well. Neither did I see Mr. Page pack up his bag and threaten to leave the meeting.Nor did I observe the following scene transpire that you said you were told took place:”Page (the Chairman of Tuskegee University’s Board of Trustees) then tells the panelist who is an attorney something like “you can roll your eyes all you want, I don’t care”! What the hell!”
This did not happen.
I have no problem with your Frats’ interpretation of what he observed, but I have to set the record straight when I see inaccuracies about the event.
While I disagree with Mr. Pages’ approach to the problems confronting Tuskegee University, I have to be fair with him and accurately report what took place in this meeting.
When will the faculty and students organize and speak up and out?
These two groups could make the greatest impact why are they silent?
Things must be okay and not as bad as we think. Maybe we should trust these guys. They somehow made it to these coveted positions, credentials or not.
You pose several good questions. The problem with trusting this crew without verifying is that when you check behind the rosy picture they paint, the facts do not add up.
I was in attendance at the meeting yesterday. Bradford is correct. The chairman did challenge the gentleman sitting to his right and said something about not caring if the man rolled his eyes. I don’t recall if he was a lawyer. Yes, it was unprofessional. I think Bradfield’s quote ended after that. I gather Bradfield is asking the question “what the hell?” to himself.
My opinion, the chairman came in on the defense attacking everyone. He attacked 2 panelist, the moderator and a member of the audience who was just observing. None of these people did or said anything disrespectful to him at all. They allowed him to basically have a tanrum on his own alone, just sat and watched and did not entertain him. I was there to determine if I should support this group or if they were jumping the gun on the current president and the board. I too left with the feeling that the chairman came only to reprimand them and unprepared to objectively listen to the woes and concerns of alums. As a younger alum I would rather be a member of the Concerned Alumni group than TNAA. I want to join this group but I am not sure they are as assertive and aggressive enough. TNAA’s and ATAC’s former presidents are basically the reason this group had to be formed. There was a legitimate and legal vote of no confidence taken by ATAC. The current president of ATAC should resign because she impeached herself in the last meeting. I lost all respect for her in that meeting. I nor anyone I am associated with would ever serve in an organization where she serves as the president. Leadership requires character, honesty and integrity. She demonstrated in the last meeting she possesed none.
Concerned Alumni were just a little too accommodating to a 5 year veteran of the current board who now serves a chair for me. We don’t have time to sit and wait. I agree with the chairman. We need a new board and I would go even further to say a new president, board and chairman of the board.
Perhaps, it is time to organize a more aggressive group. As Gandhi says, “Be the change you want to see.” I’m sure if you organized a more aggressive group, it will be filled with more aggressive alumni. The goal is to strength the university. As former Tuskegee Institute history professor W. J. Fluker often said, “By all available means.”
Call your meeting and I will be there.
John Page, TU Board Chairman, emphasized on several and numerous occasions throughout the meeting with the Concern TU Alumni on October 8, 2016 that the problems with Tuskegee University were systemic and structural. It is easy to say that there are systemic and structural problems.
However, until Chairman Page and/or the entire Board of Trustees specifically identify what they mean, it is going to continue to be difficult for alumni and stakeholders to understand what and how these systematic and structure problems militate against Tuskegee University’s “success” and that the problems need urgently to be addressed across the university community.
Systemic and structural reflection, not reflexive reaction, is fundamental to short and long-term improvement. The Board of Trustees, President, Administrators, Faculty and Staff, Students, Alumni and Stakeholders must first ask the right questions relative to “Rethinking the Purpose of the institution.”
As a quasi-private supported institution it is high time for competent, stable leadership to become self-evident in order to lend credibility to this institution of “higher education.” The Board of Trustees as usual is equivocating on most matters and therefore lacks backbone and strength of purpose.
The Trustees need to strengthen the integrity of the university and get on with it. Consummated administrators make hard and difficult decisions for the good of the organization. The university presidency is increasingly a place of difficult abode. Is it high time that the current president decides to step down?
Alumni and stakeholders need vision, ideas, constructive values, a servant attitude, sensitivity, high character and honor in persons selected and serving as Trustees and as our President. However, now, is the time to move forward with diligence, strength of purpose and highest priority to settle these unidentified systemic and structural problems which exist at Tuskegee University.
Whatever ATAC, TNAA, and silent alumni who are sitting waiting for someone to save them from this failed president and poorly run board at the will of this unconcerned chairman gets; is what they deserve! Why is it so hard to take a vote on the president and the chairman for that matter? Are there not any real men or women on the board with a backbone. ATAC and every alumni club needs to take a vote of no confidence in the president and the chairman of the board of trustees while asking for their resignation immediately. The chairman has only one vote. Just like he lead the coup to overthrow Williams last year. Overthrow him and save this university.
Send them both packing together since they care so much for each other. Why is the chairman protecting Brian Johnson with his life? What does Johnson know or have on John Page? He has got to know this is coming to a head. Either he gets rid of Brian L. Johnson or we get rid of him and Johnson together.