Orangeburg, SC (WLTX) - A group of South Carolina State University alumni, along with members of the state NAACP, say they oppose any plan to shut down the college over the school's current financial difficulty.
The groups held separate news conferences Friday, in the wake of a tumultuous week that saw some state lawmakers propose a plan to close the school for two years and fire the board of trustees and SC State President Thomas Elzey, and let the state take over the school to address its increasing debt.
The measure that could close the school is still under consideration by a House committee.
Elzey has said he will not resign, and believes the school's financial problems can be fixed. Thursday, the Board of Trustees said they backed Elzey.
"This is a crisis. It is time for you to step up and do more than you've done in the past.," said SC NAACP President Dr. Lonnie Randolph to a group of
South Carolina State alum Louis Weldon-Hammond and his wife say their alma mater has always butted heads with those at the State House.
"The legislature has not adequately funded South Carolina State over the years, and I'm not saying the last five or 10 years, but over the years of the existence of South Carolina State," he said.
Weldon-Hammond went to SCSU's business and law schools. And although he's done well in his career, he feels like his university has always gotten the short end of the stick.
"We saw that when we were there as well that we did not get the same kind of education as that we felt we should've had," Weldon-Hammond said.
"Now if you want to get us riled, you bother with State College," Alumna Josephine Evans said.
Evans, a 1954 graduate, was present when SCSU's Orangeburg alumni chapter president spoke on the campus Friday morning.
"South Carolina State University will not close for one day," Willie Owens said, another former student.
Evans says the problem is not with the leadership, but the alumni who are not giving back. "We've got to first give money, talk is cheap," she said.
The alumni are asking people for support, whether that's petitioning their legislator or cutting a check.
"This is is going to be a rallying call for South Carolina State and the alumni to step up and support South Carolina State like South Carolina State has supported us," Weldon-Hammond said.
"Put your money where your mouth is. And I say to them and the Board members, put up, give up or shut up," Evans said.
The Orangeburg Alumni Chapter has started a legal fund for the University called "Save SCSU Legal Fund." They're soliciting donations.
The SC NAACP announced that they're holding a rally at the State House on Monday at noon to oppose the legislative shut down plan.
