LAW DAWG,
I am in no way trying to attack Texas Southern.
1. I do agree that "Open Admissions" can have a negative affect on graduation/retention. I am not sure how that worked out for Southern University-Baton Rouge during the 1980s-1990s but I do know it had a negative effect on Norfolk State during that same period.
2. If Texas Southern knew/knows about the adverse effects Open Admissions, it would have made more sense to discontinue that policy and move in a more respectable direction.
This statement is not directed at any school in particular but it is in my opinion that of 95% of the negative issues facing HBCUs in the last 10 years (low retention/graduation rates, mismanagement of funds, SACS issues, hazing, unethical behavior in athletic departments, multiple presidents in 1 decade, lack of fund raising, little-to-no community involvement, etc.) have been caused by Black people; and in some cases, caused by the schools' own alumni who hold administrative positions. If we continue to conduct "business as usual", it will only give "them" more justification for decreased funding, aspirations of mergers, and other attacks to close our schools.
Not trying to be funny but given some of our schools' track records in the last 10-15 years, I can see why politicians and tax payers (both Black and White) want some of our schools to be either closed or merged. Just keeping it 100, if the retention/graduation rates are low, you have multiple presidents in a decade, have had financial mismanagement, low fund raising, and/or no competent leadership with vision, the public's opinion is that your school is a waste of tax payers' money.
