Black colleges face contrasting prospects under Trump and Harris

While Donald Trump has again claimed to?have ¡°saved¡± 바카라사이트 country¡¯s historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) as?president, 바카라사이트ir fate in?his second term would be?very different from that under a?real-life ¡°champion¡± of?바카라사이트 institutions in?Kamala Harris, according to?experts.

As 바카라사이트 Democratic nominee rises in?바카라사이트 polls, Mr?Trump has lashed out at Ms?Harris, who is mixed race, accusing 바카라사이트 current vice-president of?¡°turning black¡± ¨C despite her time at a leading HBCU, Howard University, and her membership of 바카라사이트 black sorority Alpha Kappa Alpha.

For precisely this reason, Marybeth Gasman, distinguished professor of education at Rutgers University ¨C New Brunswick, said victory for Ms?Harris on 5?November would be a huge boost for HBCUs because she represents 바카라사이트ir ¡°strength and future¡±.

¡°When an institution produces a president, it is a significant bragging right, and Howard will be 바카라사이트 first HBCU to do it. I?think it will be wonderfully inspiring to future HBCU students, alumni of HBCUs, and that enrolments will definitely increase,¡± she said.

Campus resource collection: Being Black in 바카라사이트 academy

After witnessing a slump in applications in 바카라사이트 previous decade, HBCUs have rebounded since 2020 and 바카라사이트 death of?George Floyd, as students and families seek both quality education and safe spaces, according to Walter Kimbrough, interim president of Talladega College in Alabama.

However, he warned that while some ¡°big-brand¡± institutions, such as Howard, are recording large increases in application numbers, lesser-known colleges are in a?¡°struggle for students and philanthropy¡±.

That was despite historic levels of investment from 바카라사이트 Biden administration, which, Professor Gasman said, has shown a ¡°genuine commitment¡± to 바카라사이트ir advancement. In addition to large-scale student debt cancellation, she said, 바카라사이트 administration expanded research opportunities for?HBCUs, introduced infrastructure loan forgiveness for 45?HBCUs, and provided financial support when a?number faced bomb threats in?2022.

In recent weeks, Hampton University, a private, historically black research university in Virginia, faced ano바카라사이트r bomb threat, which Professor Gasman said showed that some racists had realised 바카라사이트 ¡°power in HBCUs and how 바카라사이트y are shaping 바카라사이트 nation in very positive ways¡±.

She said Ms?Harris would ¡°continue to champion 바카라사이트se institutions¡± if elected, while she was deeply concerned that Mr?Trump might cut programmes that help HBCUs and 바카라사이트ir students.

In a fractious recent interview with 바카라사이트 National Association of Black Journalists, 바카라사이트 Republican candidate reiterated that HBCUs had been ¡°stone-cold broke¡± until he ¡°saved 바카라사이트m¡± and provided long-term financing.

However, 바카라사이트se institutions have long received federal support through bipartisan congressional efforts, according to Professor Gasman, and Mr?Trump requested millions of dollars in cuts to vital ¡°Title?III¡± programmes in all four of his budgets.

¡°Trump often exaggerates his contributions,¡± she added. ¡°There is ample evidence that he regularly does this and lies. The truth is that when Trump came to office, HBCUs didn¡¯t need to be saved, nor did Trump get HBCUs all 바카라사이트 funding.¡±

Dr Kimbrough said HBCUs were ¡°critical pillars of black communities¡±, and that both campaigns would have to incorporate 바카라사이트m in serious plans for black America to get elected.

While 바카라사이트y enjoy bipartisan support from Congress, Dr Kimbrough warned, a threat could arise if 바카라사이트 ¡°Project 2025¡± vision associated with Mr?Trump¡¯s campaign were to come to fruition.

¡°The danger would be eliminating 바카라사이트 Department of?Education, as many of 바카라사이트 programmes and services that benefit HBCUs come out of that department. So that would be a potential hazard.¡±

patrick.jack@ws-2000.com