CHEYNEY, Pa., (CBS) — Alumni from Cheyney University, the nation’s oldest historically Black institution of higher learning, are gearing up for a rally to show
Governor Tom Wolf they’re serious about saving their beloved alma mater.
“Black lives matter, parity through equity!,” chanted members of Heeding Cheyney’s Call, a group of Cheyney University alumni and supporters. The group sued the Pennsylvania System of Higher Learning last year, renew a federal civil rights lawsuit that alleged decades of discrimination against Cheyney through inadequate funding. They claim the deficit accumulated to roughly $100 million and the result is visible today — Cheyney University is mired in millions of dollars in debt and a shrinking enrollment that hovers near 700.
“We had been negotiating we had been trying to work out a settlement, but we are a little disappointed,” says Coard.
HCC wants funding and other efforts from the Commonwealth that would help revive the institution. Coard says talks stalled under the Corbett administration and are slow under Wolf.
“We haven’t gotten the reception that we expected,” he says.
So HCC is hoping to show the Governor they’re serious about saving Cheyney. They are rallying alumni and putting them on buses headed to Harrisburg on Tuesday morning. read more
