Langston University Settles a 2003 Civil Rights Complaint

Oklahoma State University and the Oklahoma State University Center for Health Sciences have agreed to pay historically Black Langston University $15 million over 10 years as part of a new agreement.

The resolution agreement to a civil rights complaint filed in 2003 with U.S. Department of Education, will provide Langston University with $750,000 in supplemental funding over a three-year period. The regents also agreed to continue providing Langston University with a special allocation of at least $1.8 million a year and an additional allocation of at least $1.6 million a year for Langston’s goat program over the next three years.

“The funds Langston University will receive will spur investment in innovative programs and services to distinguish the university and advance our mission to offer quality education to diverse populations,” said Kent Smith, president of Langston University. “As a historically Black college and university and a land-grant institution, we look forward to investing in and further elevating Langston University in both presence and stature.”

“As Oklahoma’s only HBCU and a nationally recognized leader in goat research and production, Langston University has an important role and is an integral part of our state system of higher education,” added Chancellor Glen D. Johnson. “At the center of this collaborative agreement with the Office of Civil Rights is a desire to continue supporting Langston University’s focus on providing excellent academic and student services.”

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1 COMMENT

  1. LU-Tulsa/OSU-Tulsa 1

    October 16, 2020
    Dear President Jamila Good, board members and LU alumni:
    Best wishes on your virtual 2020 LU Senate meeting!
    I am Vernetta I. Wilson, 1972 Langston University alum and surviving
    complainant to the United States Department of Education, Office for Civil
    Rights for the case pending of Langston University – Tulsa. The other,
    complainant, Mr. Vernell Redo, Muskogee chapter, passed away recently.
    This letter is to make the Langston University National Alumni Association
    aware of an agreement submitted for approval by Dr. Kent Smith, Langston
    University president, and Burns Hargis, Oklahoma State University
    president, to the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education.
    https://www.bing.com/search?q=osu%20settles%20langston%20suit&cc=u
    s&FORM=EMMXA2&pc=EMMX04&refcv=rHIGZ03ZgxTyq/x0.0.1.5.3.
     
    See The Tulsa World, September 4, 2020, headline "OSU settles Langston
    civil suit."  The article is basically what President Smith shared with me on
    Wednesday afternoon, September 2nd.  I was highly disgusted with
    everything that he shared and I let him know that this was the worst and
    lowest proposal ever with a few choice words added.
    The agreement consist of two parts:
    1. A $15 million package ($3 million upfront for endowment, etc., and
    $1.2 million paid out over 10 years for scholarships, etc.)
    2. $750,000 for assessment, planning, and marketing. 
    The OSRHE news release issued following its board meeting on Thursday,
    September 3rd approved the $750,000 contents. Smith told me that he
    wants to use some money for a consultant to study a possible location of
    another branch in California. I expressed displeasure with that statement
    too! 
    The sad thing is that this agreement will leave Langston-Tulsa providing
    only a few undergraduate programs (rehabilitation services, and nursing in
    cooperation with OSU) which is drastically down from the 16 programs
    originally offered, plus a few graduate programs.

    LU-Tulsa/OSU-Tulsa 2

    The LU Tulsa Chapter alumni and community are vehemently upset about
    this agreement and I understand that the same exists on Facebook with
    alums around the state and country too.
     
    https://hbcudigest.substack.com/p/did-oklahoma-state-just-steal-langstons

    You should also know that in 2016, the citizens of the city of Tulsa
    approved a new health science building for Langston. Construction just got
    started a few weeks ago.  I am not aware of any other state funding
    allocated to support LU-Tulsa.
    In addition, I understand that the business and financial operations are
    handled by Oklahoma State University. Many alumni may recall years ago,
    that an Oklahoma businessman let it be known of the state plans to name
    our alma mater Oklahoma State University at Langston. President Kent
    Smith also said early in his tenure that he didn’t believe that HBCU’s would
    be around in 10 years. We should have been watching his actions. I have
    lost all confidence in his leadership.
    Many LU alums have heard me and others say, “so goes Langston-Tulsa,
    so goes Langston!”
    Respectfully,
    Vernetta I. Wilson, Life member 1111

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