MEMPHIS, Tenn. (localmemphis.com) – Students at Memphis’ Historically Black College,LeMoyne-Owens College, are sitting down to stand up. They are upset overthe firing of an administrator.
They say interim Vice President of Academic and Student Affairs,Dr. Terrell Strayhorn, was an advocate for the students, and letting him go wasa letdown.
Many students decided not to attend classes Thursday. Instead,they held a sit-in at Brownlee Hall, the administration building. Theydemanded answers.
“Today, we are calling it aprotest, but it’s not to protest in the traditional sense of the word becausewe’re being both peaceful and respectful today to make sure that the collegeunderstands that we only need a conversation today. We just want to make surethat they hear what we’re saying, to speak to us and to answer ourquestions,” said Sainna Christian, Student GovernmentPresident.
The College’s Interim President, Carol Johnson-Dean, said Dr.Strayhorn was not the only person to be let go. There were about six others.
“This past year, we had alower than expected enrollment. As a result, we had to reduce the budget byalmost a million dollars. We feel really badly about that and we’reworking pretty aggressively to make sure that we increase our enrollment goingforward, so that our revenue and the enrollment match,” said Johnson-Dean.
The change still hits hard forstudents.
“It’s personal and it’s business. Business-wise, we believe that it was a badact for the school because we feel that the school needed him. He made ussocially aware about our school and about who we are. So many of the studentsfelt like he was a brother, a father, a friend. So emotionally, we arehurt,” said Raven Grandberry, Senior Student.
The administration said they areaggressively working to increase enrollment next year to avoid having to makecuts.
As for the students, they say thisone incident does not define the college but was a chance for them to speak upand be heard.