Could it be that the very difficult to identify “they” have won yet another victory over the alumni and supporters of Texas Southern University? The “they” we speak of are the elusive conspirators that have been trying to close TSU’s open admission door for at least two decades. Listening to TSU’s School of Pharmacy’s Class of 2002 lament on KCOH radio recently, our editorial staff had to struggle mightily to smother an “I told you so.” However, since AAN&I was the only publication to warn TSU alums that the school’s highly acclaimed School of Pharmacy could possibly be the next target for controversy, we have no choice but to tell it like it is.
In case you happened to miss our May 29-June 4, 2002 edition, and failed to be enlightened by the article (“TSU alums should follow PVAMU’s example”), it revealed the following: “It went almost unnoticed when Dr. Slade messed with TSU’s prestigious and highly successful College of Pharmacy that has educated almost a third of the Black pharmacists practicing nationwide. TSU’s College of Pharmacy became an official member of Texas Medical Center in March 2002. The school has leased about 30,000 square feet from the Medical Center in a remodeled part of the former Nabisco Bakery at 2450 Holcombe.” Remember?
It not, the Publisher’s News Analysis went on to explain: “It could be a good thing, but from a historical Black perspective—whenever Black people start integrating with White people—the ham and egg hypothesis applies. I’m sure you’ve heard that one? The chicken, that’s White, considers a ham and egg sandwich business as usual. However, the pig realizes that it’s his butt.” We apologize if we’re being redundant by reprinting text, but as difficult as it is to believe (although our weekly press run of over 350,000 copies has allowed us to become Texas’ widest circulated and read newspaper with a Black perspective), we can’t take it for granted that our readers can always find them.

We assumed that at least 2 million readers should eventually get our newspaper in their hands, insofar as we have over 4,000 racks strategically located in Houston, Austin, San Antonio and the Dallas-Fort Worth multiplex, not to mention delivering over 100,000 directly to homes in predominately African- American zip codes. But you know what they say about assuming? We certainly do, after an unusual number of people traveled to the Malonson Company, Inc. complex, in the 6100 block of Wheatley in Acres Home, to pick up the June 19-25, 2002 edition recently.
It seems that everybody hadn’t read the controversial follow up article (“Did Slade force TSU’s Brittain out?”), about TSU’s ongoing problems. Conversely, it defies logic, but we were finally convinced that it had to be some truth to the rumor that somebody had actually confiscated all of the newspapers off the racks (surrounding or near TSU), as soon as they were delivered. If so, it serves us right for exposing our intentions prematurely. Perish the thought that we’re accusing Dr. Slade, or anybody else connected with TSU of purposely emptying our newspaper racks. Even so, we can’t ignore the fact that somebody pulled a fast one to lessen the impact of the story behind the story of why Dr. John Brittian resigned as dean of Thurgood Marshall School of Law. If that is the case, we certainly owe it to our readers to make the story available to them again, therefore—as unprecedented as it might be—we have republished the article in it’s entirety in this edition. Perhaps, our detractors have forgotten our 1998 editorial, “We ain’t playing?”
So, please allow us to reiterate: when it comes to reporting all news without fear or favor, we ain’t playing. Furthermore, we also have explained that we’re a different, because our publication is different from any Black newspaper that has ever been published. Meanwhile, we hasten to warn TSU alum and supporters that were so upset at TSU’s administration because of the snafu involving the Pharmacy grads: You can’t win for losing until you identify your enemy. We Must Understand, TSU’s real problem has never been about the many controversial issues that have bedeviled the university for the past two decades.

Yes, we agree merging the school with UH, or into some other system is part of the game plan. Nevertheless, that isn’t the main reason TSU is constantly under attack. Would you believe that TSU’s real problem is that they have carried out its primary mission far too well, in spite of all of the obstacles it has faced in the past? Lest we forget, TSU is Texas’ only “Open Admission” university. But the fact that it’s easy for students to enroll into TSU has nothing to do with them striving to achieve excellence. We couldn’t help but laugh when we heard a clueless TSU supporter lament, “That’s why a degree from TSU isn’t respected.”

We would dare say that if the state of Texas in general and the City of Houston, in particular, fired every TSU grad in positions of leadership, e.g., politicians, or practicing as professionals, we would be in bad shape. And we would be in even worse shape if we included those who have earned advanced degrees at TSU. It would be very interesting to compile a list of people (that have made significant contributions to the city, state, nation and world), who probably wouldn’t have attended college had it not been for TSU’s open admission policy. For sure, we certainly know a couple of outstanding coaches, who played pro sports who have no problem thanking God for TSU.

What I’m saying, in essence, is that it makes no difference if it’s poor administrators or bad publicity resulting from the actions of bad administrators, it all works for the good of those who wants to close TSU’s open admissions. We Must Understand, the bad administrators are hired because they’re bad administrators. Bad things happen at TSU, because “they” want bad things to happen at TSU. As we speak, AAN&I has a backlog of damaging information (guaranteed to make TSU look bad) that we intend to publish in the near future.

On the other hand, before you start condemning us for adding to TSU’s problems, please be advised TSU’s problem isn’t bad publicity. TSU’s problem is that damned open admission policy. It gives too many Black kids an opportunity to enter a four -year university and earn degrees in professions that otherwise would be denied them.

AFFIRMATIVE ACTION must be taken to preserve TSU’s “Open Admission” policy that gives all citizens an opportunity to attend a four-year university.