TRNN Executive Producer Eddie Conway reports on the closing of Sojourner-Douglass College amid allegations of financial mismanagement

Story Transcript

EDDIE CONWAY, PRODUCER, TRNN: I’m Eddie Conway from the Real News Network in Baltimore. It would be the last time students at Sojourner-Douglass would gather to say goodbye. A bittersweet moment for the final graduating class from this historic institute that has provided a place for low-income city residents to receive higher education. That’s because amidst allegations of financial mismanagement and the recent loss of its accreditation, Sojourner-Douglass College in Baltimore, a higher education institute founded in 1972, is shutting down. Former Black Panther and journalist Paul Coates who served as the graduation’s commencement speaker received the institution’s last honorary Ph.D. SPEAKER: Mr. President, the Board of Directors of Sojourner-Douglass college authorizes you to confer the Doctor of Humane Letters upon Mr. Paul Coates. CONWAY: Since its founding Sojourner-Douglass was the site of community organizing, community activism, with a curriculum focused around Afrocentric studies. SPEAKER: We came out of a brave effort of Antioch College to initiate community control of institutions of higher learning across this country. And that desire and a desire of local community activists here in Baltimore came together and gave birth to this school. CONWAY: Plans to reorganize the college into Stratford University and transfer programs between Sojourner-Douglass and two other institutions, including Morgan State University, fell through. Recently Sojourner-Douglass College filed a lawsuit against the Middle State Commission of Higher Education alleging discrimination from the organization in withdrawing its accreditation. Sojourner is a predominantly black college. Why did the college lose their accreditation in the first place. Persistent financial problems. The school’s finances are somewhat opaque. They don’t cover [supported] finance reports. Last year the IRS filed a more than $5 million tax lien against the institution. Closing the college is a blow for the predominantly black community it serves, as educational institutions like it continue to close around the country. For the Real News Network, I’m Eddie Conway. SPEAKER: Thank you. Gracias. Merci. Shukran.

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School That Served Low-Income Residents of Baltimore Sees Its Final Graduation

by Eddie Conway, The Real News Network
July 15, 2015

<h1>School That Served Low-Income Residents of Baltimore Sees Its Final Graduation</h1> <p class="byline">by Eddie Conway, The Real News Network <br />July 15, 2015</p> <p>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2jqMalfYNF0</p> <p>TRNN Executive Producer Eddie Conway reports on the closing of Sojourner-Douglass College amid allegations of financial mismanagement</p> <hr class="wp-block-separator" /> <h2>Story Transcript</h2> <p>EDDIE CONWAY, PRODUCER, TRNN: I’m Eddie Conway from the Real News Network in Baltimore.</p> <p>It would be the last time students at Sojourner-Douglass would gather to say goodbye. A bittersweet moment for the final graduating class from this historic institute that has provided a place for low-income city residents to receive higher education. That’s because amidst allegations of financial mismanagement and the recent loss of its accreditation, Sojourner-Douglass College in Baltimore, a higher education institute founded in 1972, is shutting down.</p> <p>Former Black Panther and journalist Paul Coates who served as the graduation’s commencement speaker received the institution’s last honorary Ph.D.</p> <p>SPEAKER: Mr. President, the Board of Directors of Sojourner-Douglass college authorizes you to confer the Doctor of Humane Letters upon Mr. Paul Coates.</p> <p>CONWAY: Since its founding Sojourner-Douglass was the site of community organizing, community activism, with a curriculum focused around Afrocentric studies.</p> <p>SPEAKER: We came out of a brave effort of Antioch College to initiate community control of institutions of higher learning across this country. And that desire and a desire of local community activists here in Baltimore came together and gave birth to this school.</p> <p>CONWAY: Plans to reorganize the college into Stratford University and transfer programs between Sojourner-Douglass and two other institutions, including Morgan State University, fell through. Recently Sojourner-Douglass College filed a lawsuit against the Middle State Commission of Higher Education alleging discrimination from the organization in withdrawing its accreditation. Sojourner is a predominantly black college. Why did the college lose their accreditation in the first place. Persistent financial problems. The school’s finances are somewhat opaque. They don’t cover [supported] finance reports. Last year the IRS filed a more than $5 million tax lien against the institution.</p> <p>Closing the college is a blow for the predominantly black community it serves, as educational institutions like it continue to close around the country.</p> <p>For the Real News Network, I’m Eddie Conway.</p> <p>SPEAKER: Thank you. Gracias. Merci. Shukran.</p> <h3>End</h3> <p><i>DISCLAIMER: Please note that transcripts for The Real News Network are typed from a recording of the program. TRNN cannot guarantee their complete accuracy.</i></p> <hr /> <p>This <a target="_blank" href="https://therealnews.com/eddie0714sojourner">article</a> first appeared on <a target="_blank" href="https://therealnews.com">The Real News Network</a> and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.<img src="https://i0.wp.com/therealnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/cropped-TRNN-2021-logomark-square.png?fit=150%2C150&amp;ssl=1" style="width:1em;height:1em;margin-left:10px;"><img id="republication-tracker-tool-source" src="https://therealnews.com/?republication-pixel=true&post=129627&amp;ga4=G-7LYS8R7V51" style="width:1px;height:1px;"></p> Copy to Clipboard

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