We can fight for TIII funding for our schools
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Posted By: Arthur Monroe, Jr (Southwest Regional on July 20, 2005 You can get involved in the fight, because this piece of leg will effect everyone at every school. Here is more information on how to get inovled in the fight. Background Information: Public HBCUs receive much of their funding from the federal government through the appropriations process. Dramatically different from the process that you were once taught about with “Schoolhouse Rock,” the appropriations process can be described as a cut-throat process by which lobbyists can insert “pork” (i.e. non-constituent based interests) into the process of determining who gets money and why. How do TMSF and public HBCUs fit into this picture? There has been a movement with one particular lobbyist for another non-profit organization representing PRIVATE HBCUs to change the minimum amount of money the federal government can give to HBCUs. More money sounds like a good idea, right? This is called “raising the floor” on the amount of federal giving and the change will be from $500,000 to $750,000. Unfortunately, like so many promises, this one is not necessarily the best idea for public HBCUs. Using a complex formula that involves total number of enrolled students, number of Pell grant awardees, number of graduates, etc. the Department of Education can determine where federal funds will be allocated. If the floor is raised to $750,000 using this equation, PRIVATE HBCUs will be favored gaining the majority of the federal dollars while PUBLIC HBCUs will actually lose funding. To quantify the problem, 3-5 Private HBCUs stand to benefit while 30-35 Public HBCUs stand to LOSE funding and in some cases, up to 30% of funding will be re-allocated. Please read the attached letter from TMSF’s President and CEO Dwayne Ashley for further information. What you can do to help: Today, June 19th 2005, you are being asked by Joy E. Langley, the Acting Manager of Government Affairs with TMSF to do a number of things for your HBCU. First, review the attached memo regarding the Members of Congress with HBCUs in their Congressional Districts and determine who your member is. If you can only make one phone call, call this person. If you have the time and the minutes available on your cell phone, please call as many/all of these Members. Second, review the attached memo/form letter to Members of Congress. Please make the necessary “embellishments” and personalized changes to this e-mail and send it to as many Members as possible. Third, forward this to as many friends and family members who care about HBCUs as possible and include these instructions. Why this works: At the end of the day, Members of Congress will review the issues that are of extreme importance to constituents. The way they do this is by reviewing the log of phone calls and e-mails/snail mail they have received in the course of the day. If they see that 200 concerned individuals have called and expressed anxiety concerning the appropriations process and funding to public HBCUs, they will be forced to reconsider a position on this issue. Who you’ll be talking to: 9 times out of 10, you’re going to be speaking with interns. Interns, while useful, are (for the most part) young and impressionable. If you sound important, they’ll think you’re important and will do nearly everything to make sure that your message gets across. Don’t be rude but be assertive when speaking to the people answering the phones. Follow the script and don’t deviate from the content. Practice the script 3-4 times before making your phone call so you aren’t nervous and don’t forget certain parts in the course of the phone call. It will be important to reinforce that this is in regards to a hearing IN PROGRESS and that this message must reach the Member AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. Who you’re calling: You will be calling the offices of Members of the United States House of Representatives with TMSF member schools in their districts. Even if it’s not your particular member school, it’s important to call as many offices as possible. Why you’re calling them: Congress Members make a living off the public opinion. They are elected year to year on the basis of their popularity in home districts. HBCUs and students therein make up a HUGE portion of that voting population. Why shouldn’t you voice your opinion? If you make these calls as a group and encourage your other classmates to do the same, you’ll represent a voting “bloc” that the Member can’t ignore. That’s a very powerful feeling on Election Day. Why it’s important: Public HBCUs fight for funding every year but in this Congress, things are really turned upside down. The Members of Congress who used to support us are backing Private HBCUs because they feel helpless to make an impact in a Congress with little funding available to advance higher education opportunities for HBCUs and the students they represent. When you voice your opinion, you’re fighting for the funding your school will receive this year. When to call: Call during business hours (Typically 9AM-6PM Eastern Standard time) What to say: This is **INSERT YOUR FIRST NAME HERE** and I’m a student at **INSERT YOUR SCHOOL’S NAME HERE** a public Historically Black College/University in Representative **INSERT NAME OF MEMBER HERE**’s District. I’m calling today because I’m concerned that my school may be losing funding RIGHT NOW. I’m calling to urge Representative **INSERT NAME OF MEMBER HERE** to join **HIS/HER** colleagues in support of public HBCUs like mine by STRIKING subsection (d) from page 101, lines 10-19 of House Resolution 609 which would unfairly cut federal funding to my school. I’m not sure if Representative **INSERT NAME OF MEMBER HERE** realizes that increasing the floor for federal funding to HBCUs will UNFAIRLY privilege PRIVATE HBCUs over PUBLIC HBCUs like mine. 80% of African Americans enrolled in HBCUs are in PUBLIC HBCUs like **INSERT NAME OF YOUR SCHOOL HERE** and by cutting funding, the entire community will be hurt. The hearing taking place TODAY in the Education and the Workforce Committee’s 21st Century Competitiveness Subcommittee will determine if my school will continue to be a remarkable institute of higher learning or will lose funding due to the undue influence of lobbyists for Private HBCUs. Please pass this message IMMEDIATELY to your Chief of Staff and Legislative Director because the longer we wait, the greater the chance that my school will be hurt unfairly. If you enjoyed this article, Join HBCU CONNECT today for similar content and opportunities via email! |
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Arthur Monroe, Jr (Southwest Regional
From Baton Rouge, LA Southern University and A&M College class of 2005 Member Since February 2005 |
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