Inasmuch as we’re still patiently waiting for President Priscilla Slade to rebut or discredit many of the obviously valid complaints about the nettlesome problems existing at Texas Southern University, we came to the conclusion that she is either arrogant enough to believe that she doesn’t owe the school’s alumni or those who consider the school a vital part of Houston’s Black community, an explanation, or she is just plain crazy. And, as I continue to analyze the issue, her latest move has convinced me that the latter opinion is appropriate.

Then again, when you see giant corporations like Enron and WorldCom being run into the ground by arrogant and greedy people, perhaps there’s a reason to believe Marjorie Caldwell’s article (“Texas Southern University audit: When sleeping dogs become comatose canines”), that appeared in the August 2002 edition of University Faculty Voice. It reports: “On June 26, 2002, the Texas State Auditor’s Office (SAO) issued, nearly five months late, ‘A Follow-Up Report on Rider 5: Texas Southern University Accountability Systems.’ With the issuance of the Report, Texas Southern University (TSU) could now be considered a training facility for future chief executive and financial officers seeking to be schooled in the traditions of Enron Corporation and Arthur Anderson.”

The Faculty Voice that is published monthly by Prof. Nancy and Dr. Otis King, erstwhile president of TSU’s Faculty Senate, also addressed the fact that Dr. Slade blatantly ignored existing policy to hire former Mayor Pro Tem Rev. Jew Don Boney, the term limited District D City Councilman, as director of The Mickey Leland Center on World Hunger and Peace. But that was the least of Slade’s alleged transgressions, according to a handwritten letter from a young woman, who will remain “Some one Else Who Knows” (at African-American News&Issues’ discretion), although she boldly signed her name to the letter. The letter writer, who introduced herself as a student and employee at TSU, explained: “I work in the police department where I’m always asking for training. We have a new Director of Safety (not a Chief of Police) and he is from Syracuse, New York. Robert Robinson is his name.

It’s well known that he has cleaned out the police department that had 34 officers and is now down to 17 officers working on the campus only. We no longer help the community. He has been in meetings for his conduct with fellow officers (not good). He was to escort Dean Brittain out. I attached a copy of my bill from TSU that does not help me with my education.”
The student-cop, whose charges were validated by another letter from a young TSU police officer, continued, “I had a sexual harassment case for three years and (all) that President Priscilla Slade says is, ‘What are you crying for. Do you believe in God and that the police department is somewhere to be?’ My story is long, call me.”

The letter writer highlighted items on her student billing statement that she paid for, but has never received, e.g., Computer Services ($17.50), Service Fee ($50.80), Union Fee-Student ($17.50), and Designated Tuition? ($80), Recreational Facility Fee ($50), in spite of having no recreation facility. Resident Undergraduate Tuition ($160), “I live across the street from TSU.” And Liberal Arts & Behavioral Science ($30), “Although I don’t even know what that is.”
Meanwhile, the other letter writer insists that lack of staff constitutes a disaster waiting to happen on the TSU campus, since they can’t adequately investigate complaints or respond to all of the students’ safety concerns. In the interim, many faculty members are concerned about TSU’s accountability after State Auditor Lawrence F. Alwin released an audit revealing that debits and credits did not balance to the tune of $4,379,249. Lest we forget, TSU’s under stocked library leaked information that Slade commandeered its resource room.

A former library worker told AAN&I that Slade took control of the resource room and planned to turn it into a lounge area for “her gang” (faculty members); therefore students have to furnish their own paper. A controversy has also arisen over the lack of an on campus-training field for TSU’s football team. Ralph Cooper, invited TSU’s A.D. Alois Blackwell to call into his Sports Rap show on KCOH (1430 AM, from 5-7 p.m. daily) and explain why Coach Bill Thomas has been forced to search for a place for his team to practice although money was allocated to renovate Durley Stadium last year.

Problems aside, Slade recently launched a million dollar campaign (the first in the school’s 55-year-history according to the foxy prez), touting the good great things that TSU is doing. Slade said the campaign would have an unusually high level of corporate support. Slade, who is the star of TV ads, says that the school expects to spend no more than $100,000 and the rest of the funding will come as inkind contributions from media companies donating air time or providing reduced rates for ads. There are also billboards and she plans to advertise TSU in newspapers, but we seriously doubt we’ll be included.

In spite of hearing a TSU student say, “When I see her skinning and grinning on TV when we need so many things at TSU, I just want to puke,” I can’t help but be amazed that Slade has yet to be reprimanded by the Texas Southern Board of Regents or that she hasn’t outraged alumni enough to demand her removal. Conversely, one has to wonder if she can afford to be arrogant because she is simply a puppet (being manipulated by TSU’s open admission foes), or is she really crazy enough to disregard the school’s so far ineffective and passive alumni, that include several State Representatives.